Cleaning a glass-fronted fireplace
I was hunting on the Internet to solve the problem I was getting with my new cassette fireplace. It made such a big difference in heating up the lounge area and other parts of the house. However, I noticed that the glass door was turning black inside in places with grained-on soot. Soapy water did not work, nor did a spray-on glass cleaner, and I knew that I mustn’t use a brillo pad or other abrasive on the glass door. I found this article written by Crystal Ray, which I have reproduced below. I hope it helps many other readers who have expereinced the same problem as me. In the end I opted for a watered-down ammonia solution with a hard (but not abrasive) rag. There are still two finger-size areas around the hinges which are still resilient to my cleaning, but on the whole the glass door came out satisfactorily clean even though it took me over 40 minutes to get it looking as it does now. I’m sure there is a quicker and simplier – and less messy – solution; perhaps someone could let me know what it is!
And now… I need to tackle the inside of the oven again. *big sigh*.
Many people have glass fireplace doors, and like glass shower doors, they can be difficult to clean. Fireplace doors coated with soot don’t do anything for the appearance of a room, and what good is it to start a fire if you can’t see it behind the glass? Cleaning fireplace doors can be a messy job, and it’s important that abrasives aren’t used since they can scratch glass. Unfortunately, ordinary glass cleaners meant for regular windows usually won’t cut through layers of baked-on soot.
Those who have glass fireplace doors can try the following safe and easy methods to clean their doors and enjoy watching the dancing flames of a beautiful fire on a cold fall or winter night. These are methods used by people who keep their glass fireplace doors sparkling clean, and they’ve found success with these simple household products, natural remedies, and a little elbow grease.
Fight Ashes With Ashes
It’s hard to believe that fireplace ashes would remove black soot from glass fireplace doors, but many people swear by this method of cleaning. Wad a sheet of newspaper into a ball, and slightly dampen it with water. Dip the newspaper in ashes, and use it to wipe away soot and grime. Repeat the process if necessary.Household Ammonia
Ammonia is a fantastic product that’s great for a number of cleaning purposes, and it’s very inexpensive compared to name-brand cleaners that may or may not work. Next time you need to clean your glass fireplace doors, try ordinary household ammonia and a damp rag. Be sure to provide adequate ventilation, and remember to never mix the ammonia with any other household cleaners.A Flat Razor Blade
If layers of soot are baked, consider using a flat razor blade to scrape it off. Use masking tape or duct tape to completely cover one side of a flat razor blade (not a utility knife), and carefully begin scraping the soot off the glass beginning at one corner. As long as the razor blade is used at a sharp angle, almost flat against the surface, it shouldn’t scratch the glass.
