How do I clean my glass fireplace doors?

Cleaning Stove and Fireplace Glass – by Ken Rajesky, Hearthlink International

Proper Wood Stove, Fireplace, and Gas Stove Glass Door Cleaning

Before you start any procedure involving your glass door, its important to fist check your manufacturers instructions to ensure that the cleaner or the method that you plan to use complies with their requirements. This is especially important if the glass is still under warranty. Second, always make sure that you have the proper safety equipment such as gloves or glasses. Cleaners may be caustic to your skin, and your eyes are irreplaceable.

There are two ways to clean your glass. The first way is to clean the glass with the glass still attached to the door. I recommend using a cleaner specifically designed for removing the brown and black stains (carbon) from the glass. Cleaners such as Glass Plus do not do a good job when it comes to carbon. There are several brands available, and the cleaner I have had great success comes in the form of an aqua colored paste. Typically the cleaner will come in a 12 oz. Bottle, and say Fireplace Glass Door Cleaner or Woodstove Glass Cleaner. You must clean the glass while its cool for best results. All youll need is a few paper towels, or cloths.

Fireplace Glass Doors

Fireplace glass doors are quite easy to clean, except that they will require a larger amount of cleaner given their size versus a woodstove. Each door design is somewhat different in how the door clips are designed. Most doors, however, have spring-loaded clips along the top, which will allow you to remove the doors for maintenance. If you cannot remove the doors, check your manufacturers instructions for details.

Most fireplace doors are cleaned while still in their frame, so there will not be the need to remove the glass from the frame. This saves both time and aggravation.

1. Open the remove the fireplace door(s) from the track in the frame.
2. Lay the door down on a sift surface like a large towel so that the surface is not scratched during this procedure. This is especially true if the surface is brass.
3. Apply a large amount of cleaner onto the paper towel or cloth.
4. Rub the paste onto the glass in a short circular pattern making sure to clean the edges and each corner. Dont be afraid to use a little elbow grease.
5. Allow the cleaner to dry for a few seconds, and then rub off the paste and carbon with a clean cloth.
6. If carbon still remains in a few spots, repeat steps 2-4.
7. Replace the doors back into the tracks of the frame.