Free and easy way to keep stove or fireplace doors clean

One of the best things about having a cozy warm fire is watching the flames dance around, but if the glass doors are not clean it takes away from the experience. An old tried and true method that my grandfather used can solve the problem, allowing homeowners to once again enjoy their fire.

Hearthstone wood-burning stove

The newer wood-burning stoves have an air-wash system over the glass to help keep it clean. This helps but does not keep the glass perfectly clear at all times. Keep wood pushed back away from the doors for cleaner glass Older model wood-burning stoves do not have the air-wash system and the glass gets dirty very quickly. Glass doors on fireplaces also get blackened with soot, and need to be cleaned periodically.

There are stove glass cleaners on the market that work well, but if you want to save some money and a trip to the hearth store left over wood ashes work fine.

To clean glass doors with ashes:

• Wait until the glass is cool before cleaning
• Get a damp paper towel or soft cloth
• Dip the cloth into cold fireplace ashes and scrub the cold glass thoroughly
• Wipe with a clean damp cloth

_________________________________________________________

Marge Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri.  She is a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and NFI Wood-burning Specialist, and writes articles for national magazines and blogs.