How to Clean Wood Stove Glass
We see many wood stoves day-to-day and some are nice and clean while others are very dirty or possibly in need of replacement. We also hear or see many customers struggling using multiple methods which involve harmful cleaners to razor blades to clean their wood stove glass. We take the time during our inspections and cleanings at Ace Chimney Cleaning to help our customers with cleaning solutions that are less harmful and easier to use and in most cases required less time to clean when burning properly and keeping a regular cleaning schedule between cleanings.
Things You’ll Need
- Wood/Ash
- Rubber Gloves
- Newspaper
- Paper towels
- Drop cloth
- Water
- Vinegar
- Anti-Creo-Soot Liquid (ACS)
- Glass Cleaner (silicone)
Steps to Clean your Wood Stove Glass
1. Burn a hot fire and try to burn off excess creosote build-up on glass. Place wood closest to glass to keep heat near glass.
2. Allow glass to cool down. If glass is hot you may burn yourself or possibly damage glass.
3. Before you start getting your hands dirty put newspaper and towels down covering fireplace hearth, concrete, or ceramic tiles. If cleaner mixer of ash gets on concrete surfaces it will stain and damage.
4. Mix water and natural ash from wood stove/fireplace to create a water/ash paste. Use rubber gloves to apply paste to glass and rub in circle motion until glass becomes clean. may take several attempts til’ it’s completely clean.
5. For dirty and heavy build-up of creosote we recommend the above method, but replace the water with Anti-Creo-Soot Liquid (ACS).
6.Clean glass with water and vinegar to remove dirt and ash residue left behind.
7. Finally clean glass one more time with glass cleaner which contains silicone. Glass cleaners that contain silicone will leave a layer on the glass. This layer will protect the glass from dirt and soot buildup.
Tips to Prevent Soot Build Up on Wood Stove Glass
- Always burn well-seasoned wood in your wood stove. Burning wood that hasn’t been well-seasoned can decrease the quality of your fire and causes more smoke. Smoky fires produce more soot build up on the glass.
- Try burning harder woods like oak, cherry, or walnut, and avoid burning woods known for their higher sap content.
- If your wood stove has a heat setting, try turning the heat controls up a few notches. Hotter fires will keep your glass cleaner.
- Allow enough oxygen to vent into your wood stove. Many of the newer models are already built to help with air flow. Check the chimney/vent to make sure it’s clean and in a good position for air flow.
- If you’re burning smaller fires, try adding some more wood to the wood stove. Smaller fires can’t always produce enough heat inside the wood stove for the soot to burn off the glass.
- Position burning matter closer to the front glass on the wood stove. This will put the heat source closer to the glass.
Enjoy Beautiful Fires from Your Wood Stove All Season Long
You can’t completely prevent soot from accumulating on the glass, but these tips should help increase the time between cleanings. Soot builds up on wood stove glass is less of a problem for newer models than older models, but regardless of how old your wood stove is, you can still experience beautiful fires from your wood stove all season long.
Tips & Warnings
- Never clean hot glass.
- Never use abrasive cleaning products.
- Never use hard or coarse cleaning items ie: brillo pad, sandpaper, sos.
- Never use razor blades. Razor blades can scratch or damage glass.
- Wear protective gloves and old clothes.
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Tags: Ash, Cleaning, Creosote, Fireplace, Glass, Water, Wood Stove
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