Doesn't everyone iron their hearthstone !?!

One of the best things we did to our house, was to remove the ugly 1940's gas fire in the living room. We then opened up the chimney breast and fitted a 200 year old cast iron real fireplace with a limestone hearthstone bought from our local stone quarry and sealed to prevent stains.

That was a couple of years ago and though I regularly black the actually fireplace itself, I have only wiped over and brushed the hearthstone. Today I spend a couple of hours kneeling on the floor, trying to clean our limestone hearthstone.

I started by using soda crystals with vinegar and a lot of elbow grease. Then rinsed with hot water and repeat, so now the stone looks a lot lighter but not completely clean. Then to remove the wax from candles dropped on the hearth, I used a hot iron and kitchen roll to melt and absorb the wax.

I think I'll have another go in a couple of days time, I really struggled to get back off the floor, being nine months pregnant really makes getting up off the floor hard work, I thought at one point I would have to ring my husband to come home from work and help me up !!!

I did complain to my husband that I didn't think I was nesting but I think this might qualify, alongside with my recent moan to him for using the mop I had just cleaned