A system and method to control of sootblowers in a fossil fueled power plant, in particular to plant applications systems using a graphical programming environment in combination with a set of rules to activate sootblowers. The system can be constrained by time limits and/or rule based time limits. Actual blower activation is typically based on the current status of key control variables in the process which alter the actual activation time within a constraints system. The system does not typically require knowledge or models of specific cleanliness relationships. The result is a system without sequences or queues that readily adapts to changing system conditions.