How to Clean Wood Stove Glass to Get a Cozy Fireplace

A wood-burning stove adds warmth and ambience to any room, especially on cold winter nights or rainy days. It’s the perfect setting for curling up with a good book or enjoying a romantic evening with your loved one.

However, maintaining the clean and clear appearance of your wood stove glass can be challenging, as it tends to become dirty and discolored over time.

Even though it’s ideal to clean the glass after each use, we understand that life gets busy and it’s not always possible to allocate time for this task. Don’t worry – your wood stove glass can still be brought back to life with some simple cleaning hacks. Today, I am going to show you how to clean wood stove glass easily, and get it looking new again.

All is not lost. Your clean wood burning stove glass can be resurrected with a few cleaning hacks. We’ve compiled a list of some helpful cleaning tips and techniques that you can use to get your stove glass to sparkle again in no time!

How to Clean Wood Stove Glass Key Takeaways:

Let your burning wood stove cool down before cleaning, and never spray cold water on the glass.
Wipe your dirty glass with soapy water, a crumpled newspaper rolled into a ball, and some of the leftover ash. Wipe it off with a paper towel..
Excessive smoke is a huge factor in causing your burning wood stove to become black.
To ensure your fire burns efficiently and minimizes smoke, consider using a stove thermometer

How to Clean Wood Stove Glass

Getting Ready for Cleaning

Before you start, make sure your wood stove glass has cooled down completely. Additionally, remove all loose ash from the stove with a brush, and brush any debris from the glass door.

Though it might be a popular belief that moderately hot glass is easier to clean, you could still burn yourself or compromise the integrity of your wood-burning stove glass in doing so. Cleaning cold glass is the safest option, and it should work just as well.

How to clean wood stove glass with newspaper and wood ash

This is a very popular and effective wood stove glass cleaner. And the best news is that it’s not only effective, but it also makes use of supplies that you already have in the house. This approach only requires a few sheets of old newspaper, the stored residual wood ashes, a cloth, and a bowl of warm, soapy water to clean your stove glass.

Wipe your glass with soapy water and a soft cloth.
Roll the crumpled newspaper into balls for scrubbing, this is basically your cleaning tool.
Dip a newspaper ball into the water mixture, then in the wood ash.
Gently polish the glass using in a circular motion with the damp newspaper ball.
Wipe off any leftover residue with an old rag or cloth.

For more stubborn stains do this:

Dip the damp newspaper into the ashed of the fireplace, the ash actually works as a mild abrasive, which helps to clean the soot from the wood glass good without scratching it. Repeat until all the soot has been removed.

TIP: Please don’t use coal ash as a wood stove glass cleaner. Coal ash coal has some large, hard particles mixed with the ash that could scrape or damage the fireplace glass.

How to clean wood stove glass with vinegar

Another method consists of using a vinegar solution:

Remove ash and debris as mentioned in the preparation section.
Mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle.
Spray the solution onto the glass, and gently wipe it with a clean kitchen towel.
Use a fresh paper towel and glass cleaner for a final wipe on the inside and outside of the glass.

Other methods for cleaning the glass door on wood stoves

Besides using ash and newspaper or vinegar to clean your wood stove glass, you can also try using one of the following products:, you can also clean your stove glass using:

Oven Cleaner: Ensure the product is safe for glass and avoid getting it on cast iron components or door seals.
Bicarbonate of Soda: Create a paste by mixing baking soda and water, apply it to the stove glass, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and wipe off the residue.
Stove Glass Cleaning Spray: Purchase a specialized wood stove glass cleaner from your local hardware store for effective and convenient cleaning.

Be Careful When Cleaning Wood Stove Glass

Now I am going to show you how NOT to clean wood stove glass

Avoid doing when you are cleaning your wood stove glass:

#1 Don’t scrape wood stove glass door

To remove the soot from the glass, avoid using abrasive cleaners or cleaning tools like steel wool or a razor blades. While these tools make cleaning the fireplace of soot and grime simple, they can also leave scratches on the glass.

#2 Don’t clean when its hot

Avoid cleaning the fireplace glass while it is still hot. You should wait until the glass is cool enough to touch before starting to clean it. You run the danger of cutting yourself on shattered glass or scorching yourself.

#3 Don’t spray water on hot glass

When ot comes to cleaning your wood burner glass, this is probably one of the most important things to remember. Don’t spray hot glass with water! It may result in the glass breaking or cracking.

Other tips

Don’t put off the chore to clean your wood burner glass. The build up of soot that accumulates over time, becomes more difficult to clean up the longer you leave it.
Check the manufacturer’s directions for your wood burner before removing the stove door if you really want to put some elbow grease into cleaning the stove glass.
Keep in mind that if the glass door of your wood stove is really dirty, your flue probably is too. To prevent chimney fires, make sure to have it swept frequently.

What Causes Your Wood Burner Glass to Blacken?

First, let’s understand the primary reason behind the blackening of your wood burner glass. Excessive smoke is the main culprit, so identifying the source of smoke is crucial. Two significant factors contribute to extra smoke in your wood stove: using improper fuel and burning your fire ineffectively.

To maintain the cleanliness of your stove’s glass, it’s essential to burn only dry, seasoned wood or low-sulfur smokeless coal. Wet wood generates far more smoke compared to dry wood, resulting in quicker and more severe staining of the stove glass. Both wet wood and processed wood are known to cause blackening.

To ensure your fire burns efficiently and minimizes smoke, consider using a stove thermometer. A smoldering fire indicates that it’s not burning hot enough, leading to increased smoke production and faster blackening of your wood stove glass. Avoid smoldering fires! By monitoring the temperature and using appropriate fuel, you can significantly reduce the amount of smoke produced, resulting in a much cleaner wood burner glass.

How to Keep Wood Stove Glass Clean

A vital aspect of maintaining clean wood stove glass is ensuring proper burning techniques. When you burn fuel efficiently, the glass stays cleaner for longer periods. Most modern log burners include an ‘air-wash system’ to minimize soot buildup. This system uses air vents around the stove glass to draw in fresh air, preventing smoke and fuel from directly contacting the glass.

If you notice your wood burner glass becoming discolored despite having an air-wash system, it could be due to inefficient vent usage. Make sure the vents remain slightly open even when the fire is burning to allow optimal airflow.

By paying attention to proper burning methods and effective utilization of your stove’s features, you can keep your wood stove glass cleaner and enjoy a better view of the flickering flames.

How To Clean Wood Stove Glass Summary

Wood-burning stoves undoubtedly enhance a room’s ambiance, providing warmth and comfort. However, their charm can fade if ash and soot accumulate on the glass door. The good news is that keeping a clean wood stove is a simple task that takes just a few moments out of your day.

With easy-to-apply cleaning techniques, you can have your wood stove glass looking pristine and elegant once again. Don’t let a dirty wood stove become an eyesore in your home – invest a little time and effort into maintaining its beauty, so you can enjoy a beautiful fire anytime you want.

Remember, if this article has been helpful to you, feel free to share it with your loved ones so they can also enjoy the benefits of a clean and cozy wood-burning stove.