Winter is no longer coming, it is very much here and it is high time that you dusted out the cobwebs and fired up that hearth to keep yourself warm on the winter nights. You can use your central heating if you like but why not do away with technology and take things back a bit with a real open fire. There is something about the feeling and the smell of a real fire that warms the bottom of your heart and soul and there are few things better than relaxing in front of it with a warm drink and a good book. Once you have cleaned out the hearth and chopped up some wood for the winter, here are the fireplace tools which you will need.
Bellows
Using bellows will help you to pump air into the fire giving it much needed oxygen. This is perfect for when you are first trying to light the fire or for when the fire is dying to a little and you need to give it a touch of encouragement. There are many bellows which you could choose from and you should try to get one which looks decorative so that it fits in with the style of the fireplace which you have. The function is the same with any set of bellows.
Poker
Very often you will need to move the fire around a bit to ensure that it is burning evenly and this is when you will need a good solid, cast iron poker to use. The poker should also have a heat proof handle, some don’t so make sure that you check beforehand. The last thing that you need is a burning hot poker stuck to your hand and a trip to the hospital on the horizon.
Tongs
Sometimes you will need to remove things from the fire or move large items so you will need a good set of long tongs to do this with. Much like the poker you should make sure that the tongs have a high quality heat proof handle, to make using them simple and easy.
Fireplace Screen
The most important tool in your arsenal when it comes to a real fire is a fireplace screen. Fireplace safety should be your top priority. You may not like the idea of covering up the flames but it is absolutely worthwhile. Even the smallest of embers that shoots out of the fire can cause a fire in the house if it even touches a carpet, something which you will of course want to avoid. There are many screens which you can buy that are designed in such a way that you will be able to view and enjoy the fire in all its glory. The choice of screen is yours but just make sure that you invest in one, for your own safety.
Finally try to get tools for your fireplace that will match, they look great when they all hang on the side of the fireplace.
For more tips, check out the I Write a Lot blog: http://www.iwritealot.com/blog/
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