"mm" wrote in message
...
Is it a bad idea to vacuum the ashes out of the fireplace with a
ShopVac, using the "soot" bag? I feel like it might clog the bag,
but otoh, isn't that the point of a soot-style bag?

What about vacuuming with a regular filter? That will clog the filter
quickly, right?


The alternative is to spray enough water on the ashes to keep them
from getting all over the place, and shovel them into a bag. I've done
that but vaccuming seems like it would be easier.

Use the soot bag. A regular filter is not going to catch it all. Shovel the
bulk of the ash first. Slowly, though, it does not take much to get the ash
to fly around. Use a metal container and be sure the ash is cold before
vacuuming. It can stay hot for a long time after the fire seems out.