a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a smelt spout of a boiler is provided . the boiler includes a boiler wall defining an outlet port for discharging molten smelt and the smelt spout is positioned with respect to the outlet port so that the molten smelt is able to flow along the smelt spout . the cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning tool having a pair of cleaning blades generally aligned with respective side walls of the smelt spout and an actuating assembly configured to move the cleaning blades from a first position to a second position . the cleaning blades each engage the respective side walls of the smelt spout to dislodge hardened smelt deposits therefrom when in the cleaning blades are in the second position .