You might wonder why you need advice about cleaning the glass door of your wood-burning stove when it seems so simple. When cleaning the door of your wood-burning stove it is imperative that you do it correctly otherwise it will smudge and the acid in any soot could start to eat away at printed glass doors. We have put together a step-by-step guide to cleaning the glass door of your wood-burning stove in order to guarantee longevity and durability.
Never clean your stove when it is hot
Once you have decided that your wood-burning stove glass door needs cleaning it is tempting to simply jump in, there and then. It is imperative that you wait until the glass has cooled before you attempt to clean it for your own safety and to protect the glass. Many people assume that if they clean the glass when it is hot and the cleaning fluid is steaming then this is doing some good. This is not the case!
Always wear protective gloves
When you bear in mind the heat which the modern day wood-burning stove pumps out on a regular basis can you imagine what kind of temperatures the glass may be subjected to. It is imperative that you wear protective gloves when cleaning the glass in your wood-burning stove in order to avoid accidents and also ensure you get the best finish possible.
Remove soot with a damp cloth
Rather than jumping straight in with a cloth laced with cleaning fluid it is highly advisable to apply a damp cloth which has been dipped in water. This will allow you to remove the often acidic particles present in soot which can cause corrosion and damage to printed glass. It is also advisable to remove any dust and debris from your stove glass so that it is clean and dry before you apply the cleaning agent.
Using the correct cleaning agent
There are various cleaning agents for printed glass and non-printed glass and you should use the appropriate product. Rather than spraying the product onto your glass, which could then land on your rope seal, spray the cleaning fluid onto your cloth. You should also apply the cleaning fluid in a soft and gentle manner because aggressive cleaning could compromise the glass and scratch it. If cleaning fluid comes into contact with the rope seal it is advisable to replace this as it could well be compromised.
Wait until the stove is dry before relighting
Once you have cleaned the glass in your wood-burning stove it is imperative that you leave it to dry before relighting. This ensures that there are no foreign particles within the body of your wood-burning stove and it will also help to protect the glass. These may seem like very obvious snippets of advice but it is very easy to jump the gun if you are struggling for time.
Avoiding soot and tar
The most common reason for soot and tar deposits in your wood-burning stove is the use of substandard fuel. Wood fuel should have moisture readings of less than 20% otherwise this will create unwanted tar and soot. If you can imagine the same process occurring in your flue as you see on the glass door the buildup of potentially corrosive tar could be significant over a prolonged period of time. This brings with it an array of dangers!