I own a chimney business, and it definitely "ranks" up there with the dirtiest jobs! Cleaning a chimney can involve being covered in soot, or digging out some long dead critter. Or some very much alive critter, who is enjoying his warm home. There are days I come home, and all that shows is the whites of my eyes! Yes, Mike should pay me a visit, and see if chimney cleaning "soots" him!