A wood fire not only keeps you and your home warm, but can also be relaxing and inviting. Over time though, the glass doors can become dirty with a build-up of soot and other deposits. When this happens you will need to clean the glass.
Your first thought may be to purchase a fireplace glass cleaner. Before spending any money on a commercial fireplace glass product, using one of the methods detailed below will likely get your fireplace glass sparkling clean while saving you money.
A few cautions must be taken before trying to clean fireplace glass. First, do not attempt to clean the glass when it is hot. The glass will not clean as well and you could easily injure yourself. Second, do not use anything which is abrasive. Abrasive substances can scratch the glass. Scratched glass is more easily cracked from the heat of the fire. Finally, if your fireplace glass is still under warranty, read the warranty carefully to ensure that you do not use anything to clean the glass which will void the warranty.
Cleaning Fireplace Glass with household glass cleaners
Soot can be easily cleaned with a basic glass cleaner, such as Sparkle or Windex. Deposits which have not built up too heavily can also be wiped away with the glass cleaner. If the deposits are just a bit too thick or hard for the glass cleaner, using a utility razor to very lightly scrape the deposits and then following with a wiping of glass cleaner will do the trick nicely.
Cleaning Fireplace Glass with ash
I was a bit surprised with this method, but it does work. Begin by scooping the ash from the fireplace for disposal. Wet the fireplace glass, dampen a cloth and dip the cloth into the ash. Rub the ash on the glass, scrubbing a bit if needed. Using a clean wet cloth, wipe the glass to remove the ash and deposit build-up, rinsing the cloth as needed. Finish with a quick spray of glass cleaner and wipe dry with paper towel or a clean lint-free cloth.
Cleaning Fireplace Glass with oven cleaner
If the deposit build-up is too thick or hard for basic glass cleaner or ash to work, then a commercial oven cleaner can be used. The fireplace glass should be completely cooled before applying the oven cleaner. Spray the oven cleaner on the glass, following the basic directions on the product. Wipe the glass with a damp cloth or sponge after the time indicated on the product. Be sure to lay several layers of newspaper under the fireplace doors, if applying the oven cleaner to the glass with the doors attached to the fireplace. Finish with a glass cleaner or soap and water to remove any traces of the oven cleaner to prevent permanent staining of the glass during subsequent fires.
Cleaning the fireplace glass more frequently will help prevent the deposits from building up and make cleaning with a glass cleaner the only thing needed. The type of wood used and the rate of burn will also affect how quickly soot and deposits build-up on the glass. Low fires will allow the build-up to accumulate more quickly than hotter fires. The air flow created by the fire heat moves the smoke away from the glass more quickly and thereby prevents soot and deposit build-up from occurring.
Sources: Hearth & Home Technologies, www.QuadraFire.com
