How to clean fireplace glass doors to look impeccable

Conserving a fireplace is a strenuous job, but there is nothing better to fight the cold days. Additionally, having a fireplace makes the value of our home increase dramatically. That is why we have to keep it in an optimal state, from the cauldron to the accessories. Today we will show you how to clean fireplace glass so you can see perfectly through it.

Glass doors are an effective way to keep the gases and dirt generated by the fire produced by burning wood. However, crystals are prone, like any surface, to fog over time, turning the crystalline doors into a dark curtain.

Homemade substances and regular cleaning should be enough to prevent stained glass. It does not matter if it is a deep cleaning or routine maintenance since the tips that we give you below will make this task something simpler.

Cleaning fireplace glass – Different methods to use

Image source: DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation

Before applying any of the methods below, you must disassemble the fireplace’s glass doors. To avoid damaging them (and soiling the floor with soot), place them on a blanket or cloth. Since cleaning probably raises a lot of dust, it is best to do the work outside the house or in the garage.

Avoid using your fireplace for at least one day, or else you could suffer burns when trying to remove them from the frame.

To avoid having to reach the point where cleaning requires specialized products, it is best to perform constant maintenance, preventing soot from accumulating and adhering to the glass. No matter what type of door we have, this is a tip that works in all soot cleaning processes.

During periods where we use the chimney the most, it is best to clean it every 2 weeks. If you use the fireplace infrequently, you should try to clean the glass doors when you stop using it so that dust does not accumulate.

Using the fireplace’s ashes to clean it

It sounds ironic, but the secret of our first cleaning technique is to use the ashes produced by our fireplace as abrasive. For this, we only need to have lit it a day before, wait for the embers to cool, and collect the ashes when cleaning the spent logs.

To use them as a cleaner, we will need a rag or newspaper. Lightly moisten the utensil and fill it with ashes. Using circular movements, try to loosen the soot in the crystals.

If the cloth or newspaper starts to get dirty, you should clean it or replace it with a new one. This technique is perfect for removing soot that has strongly adhered to the crystals.

Once you remove the difficult dirt, you just have to remove the rest with any glass cleaner to give it an immaculate and shiny finish. For this stage, it is advisable to use a paper towel.

How to clean fireplace glass using vinegar

Vinegar is the universal substance when it comes to homemade cleaning tricks. In the case of glass, the only drawback of vinegar is that it can leave stains if we do not clean it well.

The application of vinegar should be done employing a sprayer, and to clean it we will need a good number of wet towels, preferably cotton.

For the cleaner to function properly, we must first prepare a mixture of ammonia and vinegar diluted in water. The amounts will be 3 cups of warm water, 1 of vinegar, and a tablespoon of ammonia. This mixture will not only work in the glass but also in ceramics and plastics.

Apply a layer of the mixture that covers the entire glass door and let it sit for 30 seconds. The dirt and soot spots should start to peel off. To remove the product, rub the glass with a cotton cloth with circular movements.

An alternative to ammonia is to use cornstarch. For that, you will use a reduced amount of the ingredients, remaining in 2 cups of warm water, a quarter cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of cornstarch. Use this mixture if you don’t have ammonia or if you don’t want the cleaner to be so abrasive.

Toothpaste also cleans crystals

Do you want to know what to use to clean fireplace glass? If you are looking for an economical and ready-to-use alternative, you should try toothpaste. As with the teeth, this cream will remove (with the help of a brush) even the most difficult stains.

Unlike other cleaning products, toothpaste is not as aggressive when cleaning, so there is no risk of staining the glass irreversibly. Another advantage is that it is a product for everyday use, so it is cheap and most likely you have in your home.

For this to work it must rest for 15 minutes in the area that we apply it. Again, use a soft cloth, preferably made of cotton, for its application.

Toothpaste is also perfect for filling and polishing the smallest cracks in the glass. Just make sure you end the job with a bit of glass cleaner for a professional finish.

Brown spots are the most persistent

Over time, a series of brown spots may appear on the crystals. These are not as easy to remove as soot because they are discolorations caused by carbon emitted from the fire.

We will need a fireplace glass cleaner to remove them. You must make sure you buy one made for the cleaning of wood-burning fireplaces. Avoid using Windex or ammonia-based products if you want to remove brown spots; both options are not effective in removing carbon, and may even react negatively with the stains.

The first step is to get a dry cloth on which to pour the cleaner. These usually come in pasta and liquid presentations. Refer to the product manufacturer’s instructions to find out how much you will apply. Do not place the glass cleaner directly on the fireplace glass.

Apply the necessary amount of glass cleaner to cover the brown stains and let it sit for 30 minutes (or more depending on the product) to detach them.

After the time passes, proceed to remove the paste with paper towels. Use a circular motion that goes from the center of the crystals to the sides. If after cleaning the glass there are still residues of the cleaner on the door’s edges, use a swab to remove them.

It is best to prevent the accumulation of dirt

Perhaps more important than knowing how to clean fireplace glass is to understand that with constant maintenance we can avoid repeating this tedious task frequently. Here are some tips so you can keep the fireplace windows clean for longer periods.

• Periodic cleaning is the best way to prevent soot from accumulating and then becoming impossible to remove. The time between cleanings will depend on the use we give to the fireplace.
• Only burn seasoned hardwood. This type of wood produces less smoke when it is incinerated, so we must clean less once it is consumed by fire. Do not burn paper, wet wood, coal, garbage or the like.
• Keep the fireplace air vents clear so that the fire burns properly and releases all gases to the outside.

If you enjoyed reading this article about how to clean fireplace glass, you should read these as well:

• How to reface a fireplace to look amazing
• How to clean a gas fireplace properly (Great maintenance tips)
• Stone Fireplace Ideas. How to Decorate a Stone Fireplace.

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