A soot trap for use in chimney cleaning which includes a soot trap housing having a bottom, a circumferential sidewall, and a top which together define an interior cavity. The bottom and the top have axially aligned push rod pass through openings. A closure is provided in one of the top or the bottom to provide access to the interior cavity of the housing. A sequential series of push rod wipers is stacked loosely in the interior cavity of the housing. Each push rod wiper has an opening that is in axial alignment with the push rod pass through openings, such that the sequential series of push rod wipers wipe soot into the interior cavity of the housing as a push rod passes through the push rod pass through openings.