Cleaning fireplace glass can be a difficult task if you are unsure what you are doing. Before you clean your fireplace glass you want to look at your fireplace manual to make sure you are using recommended or approved glass cleaning products. It is important to check the manual before doing your cleaning in case your fireplace is still under warranty, because if you mess something up or break it the warranty might be voided. Always use standard safety precautions when working with cleaners and chemicals due to possible toxins in them and always pay careful attention to your appliances to make sure they are not damaged before trying to remove parts for cleaning.
Cleaning fireplace glass can be done either with the glass still in the fireplace or by removing the glass from the fireplace. If you are just trying to make it look better then you can leave the glass in, but if you are looking to get all the soot and dust off it it then you might want to take the glass out first. You can use regular glass cleaners on the fireplace glass but it is not recommended because it does not take off the soot or dust very well and will probably leave streaks. If you want to get the soot and carbon off of the fireplace glass, you want to look for specific cleaners that say they will get rid of the carbon on glass, or is extra-heavy duty glass cleaner for tough jobs like cleaning glass with carbon and soot on it. You want to be sure to use gloves or safety glasses if you are working with chemicals specifically for cleaning fireplace glass due to the possible toxic chemicals and also because the soot and carbon are not good to be inhaling. In order to get the best results with cleaning your fireplace glass, you want to clean the glass only when your fireplace has cooled off, and works best with paper towels or rags you would normally use for cleaning. All you need to do to clean the fireplace while the glass is still installed is open the doors to where the glass is exposed, take the cleaner of your choice and pour a small amount on the paper towel or cloth. Then, all you do is rub the cleaner on the glass ensuring you get both sides of the glass and all the edges and corners and let the cleaner set for a few minutes on the glass. After a few minutes you should be able to wipe off the glass and it should remove most if not all of the soot and dust, if you feel that it needs more then just put some more cleaner on and let it set for a few minutes and wipe it off.
If you are removing the glass, the first thing you need to do is open the fireplace doors and look to see how your glass is connected into the doors. Remove the glass carefully by unlocking the clips or by unscrewing the screws, depending on what type of fireplace you have and how the glass has been installed in the doors. Set the glass on a soft flat surface, or set it upright while you hold the top. You then just use your rag and dabble some cleaner onto it and wipe the cleaner on all sides and edges of the glass. Once you have let the cleaner sit on the glass for a minute or two, wipe it off in a circular motion and then repeat the process as needed to ensure all the dust and soot are off the glass. Also, it is important while you are cleaning your fireplace glass to check parts and all hinges that allow the doors to function properly to make sure everything in your fireplace are working properly. After you are done with the glass cleaning, replace the glass back in the doors and either tighten using the clips or screw the glass back in the doors. Depending on how your glass is in the doors determines how to take out and put the glass back in. You just want to make sure that everything is checked over for proper installation as well as checking for any damage to any part of your glass hinges or other parts of your fireplace doors.
