We all like to stare into the depths of our fire while it burns but what’s the best way to get that beautifully clear result in your fireplace glass?
Below we’ll look at the specifics of how you can get that crystal clear fireplace glass finish, and a few other factors to consider along the way.
Table of Contents
How to Clean Fireplace Glass
Picking the best glass cleaning solution
The first part of cleaning your fireplace glass is choosing what you want to use to get the job done properly.
You can buy glass cleaning spray or paste in most malls or hardware stores. Generally speaking, paste products are usually better when cleaning a fireplace as the dirt will have become burnt on, and spray falls off too quickly and won’t properly soak in.
Some people prefer to use more natural cleaning methods. Here are some ideas of what you can use in that case:
In a bucket, mix 2 cups of warm water with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and a ¼ cup of vinegar. The acidity of the vinegar will loosen some of the dirt, which will attach itself to the cornstarch.
The other option is to mix 2 cups of warm water with ¼ cup of vinegar, ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol, and 1 tablespoon of corn syrup.
The rubbing alcohol serves a similar purpose to the vinegar, but it’s much stronger. Do this if you have stubborn stains on your fireplace glass.
The final cleaner you may wish to use is a damp paper towel dipped in ash. Ash works as a mild abrasive too. This is more of an option if your glass isn’t too dirty. If you’re trying to clean an old fireplace, or glass that hasn’t been cleaned in months or years then you may need to begin with some of the more robust options first.
How to clean fireplace glass
Now you’ve got your cleaning solution ready, it’s time to get cleaning.
Obviously cleaning should only start when the fire is unlit, and completely cool. We would always recommend leaving your fire for 12-24 hours after it was last used.
Start by spreading the cleaner of your choice onto the glass. You can use a soft cloth to do this. It should go without saying but put it on the inside side of your glass – the side exposed to the fire and smoke.
Leave it there to sit for between 30 seconds and two minutes. The dirt will loosen up and chemically bond to the cleaning solution during this time.
And now, it’s time to use a bit of elbow grease. Scrunch up an old piece of newspaper or similar paper. The great thing about newspapers is that they’re rough but don’t scratch. Making it ideal for taking stubborn stains off the glass.
Grip the newspaper tightly, and move it roughly around in circles, making sure to cover every part of the glass. If you have to, use as many pieces of newspaper as it takes. The strong scrubbing motion will loosen the dirts grip on the glass and mix with your cleaning solution.
Keep repeating that whole process until there isn’t anything left on the glass but the solution you’re cleaning with.
You’ll now have glass covered in smear marks. Use a damp cloth to remove most of it. And use a regular glass cleaning spray to remove the rest until it becomes clearer and cleaner.
Simply repeat this process until you’re happy with the end result. Everyone will have their own standard to meet.
What not to do when cleaning fireplace glass
Although you know what to do, it’s equally important to know what not to do.
Firstly, as we’ve highlighted, never clean glass while it’s hot. The most obvious problem with this is that you can burn yourself. But it’s also worth remembering that if you put a cold cleaning product onto hot glass, you could crack, shatter or break the glass and seriously hurt yourself as well as damaging your fireplace.
Secondly, never use a metal scourer. Glass scratches very easily and when scratched there’s little that can be done to repair it, other than a complete replacement.
Finally, remember that this type of cleaning can take type, repetition and plenty of elbow grease. Smoke and ash stains can be particularly stubborn if left for months or years at a time.
Why you should clean your fireplace glass
Now, before we finish it’s important to establish why you should care about having clean fireplace glass.
Some people think that the only reason fireplaces have glass is so that we can admire the beautiful flames. Whilst this is undeniably enjoyable, it’s not the main reason why clear fireplace glass is preferable.
When you can see your fire, you’re able to control it. We know if it’s starting to get out of control only by looking at a fire. Or, the opposite could happen; it can begin to die down. Either way, we need to look at it to be able to diagnose the problem.
If your glass is so filthy that you can’t see the fire, you will be unable to diagnose any issues.
–
We hope this helps and that you’re gazing into your roaring fire again in no time.
For everything else home heating, stick with CosyWarmer.com