Today’s the great American “smokeout,” when folks are urged to quit smoking for a day. It’s a good day to clean your fireplace flue to keep it from smoking, too. Cleaning a flue is a messy job, and if you’re not careful, black soot will get on everything. Close the damper and glass doors (if you have them). Tape plastic film over the fireplace opening, and pick up a 6- or 8-inch flue brush. Go up on the roof, insert it in the chimney, and clean with an up-and-down motion. When done, check it with a flashlight to make sure it’s clean and clear. Then wait 10 minutes (for the soot to settle), open the damper and the soot will fall into the firebox for easy clean-up. And that's the On The House tip for today.