How to clean fireplace door glass?

[Lu-Max]

I get a lot of brown buildup on the glass in my fireplace door, I was curious if someone has an easy way to clean it off without stinking up the house too badly? I've tried a number of things but none have worked very well.
Ideas? Thanks.

 

[pattenp]

I remove the doors and use oven cleaner outdoors.

 

[JeepYJ]

Fireplace glass door cleaner works fine for me.

https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/fireplaces-stoves/fireplace-wood-stove-tools-accessories/wood-stove-accessories/meecos-red-devil-reg-pump-spray-bottle-woodstove-glass-cleaner-16-oz/701/p-1444439436100-c-6881.htm?tid=2140192332104259047&ipos=15

 

[jkeyser14]

Is it a wood stove? If so dip a damp paper towel in the wood ash and use it to rub the creosote off the glass. No expensive or harsh chemicals needed and it won't scratch the glass (been doing it for years after reading about it on hearth.com).

 

[rustyjames]

Yes, the wood ash will work. I use news paper dampened slightly.

 

[wssix99]

They sell special stuff for this. I use Kleer View. The stuff wipes right off and the chemical hardly smells. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Krystal-Kleer-Glass-Hearth-Cleaner-25-fl-oz/183545303

 

[rmanrman]

I have a wood stove. I’ve prepared a 50/50 mix of windex and clear ammonia I spray on the cold glass and rub with a srubby sponge
Then clean up what’s left with one paper towel. Works quite well

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

I use steel wool, on cold glass. Its what the stove manufacturer instructed. Not sure if it matters, but its ceramic glass, assuming all stoves have the same glass, but really have no idea. I think I bought fine steel wool ( 000 ? ).

 

[toolchaser]

I have a wood burning stove & the wife cleans the glass with a single edge razor blade

 

[PCustoms]

Damp rag and ash.

Burn dryer wood/hotter fires.

 

[Moss]

I take a piece of newspaper fold it up and get it nice and damp/wet and wipe glass with it. Then I use a normal towel to clean it up really nice. I'm not sure why the newspaper works so good but it sure does.

 

[Lu-Max]

Thanks everyone.

I'll try newspaper and ash tomorrow.

FYI: Wood burning fireplace.

 

[jkeyser14]

Damp rag and ash.

Burn dryer wood/hotter fires.

If you want a long overnight burn you have to run cooler.

 

[xjfish]

x4 Yup just grab a wet rag dump it in the ash and wipe away with some elbow grease. I didn't believe it until I tried it as a kid.

 

[paulsbunion]

Steel wool would be my suggestion. 0000 Ultra Fine grade only. Make a solution of dawn dish soap and water, apply to glass and then use steel wool in circular motion. Squeegee off or wipe with a microfiber towel.

Test it in a small corner to make sure it won't scratch. I use this for cleaning my home windows and there isn't anything that compares.

 

[PCustoms]

If you want a long overnight burn you have to run cooler.

And then in the morning run it hot when you stoke it up and it should burn off.

 

[jkeyser14]

And then in the morning run it hot when you stoke it up and it should burn off.

I don't know about every one else's wood burner, but once the creosote has built up on my glass it doesn't come off without physical scrubbing. I have run the stove very hot, up to the manufacturer's limit, with no change to the buildup.

 

[Bodj Built]

Is it a wood stove? If so dip a damp paper towel in the wood ash and use it to rub the creosote off the glass. No expensive or harsh chemicals needed and it won't scratch the glass (been doing it for years after reading about it on hearth.com).

Either this or vinegar

 

[HeadsUp]

At our last house I used glass cook top cleaner on the glass of the wood burning fireplace insert. Miss that stove.

 

[Prospecter]

I just use water on a paper towel on a cold stove. Cleans right off most times. I use distilled water, because our water has a high mineral content. I rare cases, some creosote won't wipe off. However, once the creosote has been wiped down with water, it will peel off with the next fire.

 

[f121]

Cream cleaner. Not sure if you call it that in America, but it's super cheap, mildly abrasive universal cleaner for sinks, porcelain etc. Takes the wood residue straight off

 

[dffay]

The wood ash is lye. A great cleaner for that purpose when dabbed with a wetted paper towel. Tough on skin though so glove up.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I like any one of the citrus based orange cleaners. Takes the **** off and smells nice.

 

[jpaw]

I use ash, works well, convenient and free. I will use a cream polish once or twice a year after cleaning with the ash.

 

[Lu-Max]

Thanks for all of the advice.
I used the newspaper/ash combo.
Took some elbow grease and time, but managed to get all of the buildup off of the glass.

BTW, these before and after photos are with the same flashlight in the exact same spot, so you can clearly (pun intended) see what a difference it made.

 

[hans109h]

My go to would be Simple Green. Will probably cut right through it.

 

[The Bean]

Nice discussion. I have this glass screen on my 1927 wood-burning fireplace. I usually remove it (4 screws, I think) and use oven cleaner and scrubbing pad. Thanks to this thread, I'm gonna try the ash trick.

 

[rlitman]

The wood ash is lye. A great cleaner for that purpose when dabbed with a wetted paper towel. Tough on skin though so glove up.

Not quite. Wood ash is potash, which is a combination of alkaline potassium salts including potassium hydroxide. Lye is sodium hydroxide, which is the main ingredient in oven cleaner. The chemicals work in similar ways, but lye is going to be move likely to damage the glass than wood ash, and since you have a fireplace, wood ash is free.

 

[Yankee2bbq]

I have a wood burning insert at my place. I burn around 10 rick a winter. Clean my glass door very rarely. The cleaner noted above works well. (Damp paper towel and ash).
I strongly recommend seasoned and dry firewood to burn. Keeping your firewood properly covered from outside elements is really important!!