How To Clean Fireplace Glass (3 Ways To Do It!)

Chad Kilpatrick
by Chad Kilpatrick

Fireplaces are a great centerpiece, that adds ambiance, and warmth, to any room. Since the fireplace is a focal point, you should try to keep the fireplace glass, as clean as possible. We have an unusual method for cleaning it, which makes it easy!

To clean fireplace glass, you should wait for it to cool down. Then gather some materials, such as newspaper, a spray bottle with water, and ashes from the fireplace. Dampen the newspaper with water and dip it into the ashes. Scrub the glass with the newspaper, multiple times, until all of the soot is gone. Then, wipe it down with paper towels.

Nothing feels quite like a quiet night at home, next to a warm fireplace. If you use your fireplace often, you may have a problem with the fireplace glass getting dirty quickly. We’re going to show you exactly how to clean the glass, with items you problem already have in your home.

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Types of Fireplaces

There are many types of fireplaces. Not all of them have the same process, for cleaning the glass. Identify which type of fireplace you have before you choose how to clean it.

Fireplaces:

  • Wood burning fireplace
  • Natural gas fireplace
  • Propane fireplace

The wood-burning fireplace is the most common household fireplace. You can use multiple methods to clean it. The easiest is using ash.

Natural gas fireplaces can be cleaned with one, of multiple cleaning solutions. Vinegar works extremely well, for cleaning natural gas soot, off of the glass.

Propane fireplaces, also, can be cleaned using either vinegar or a baking soda paste. Some people also use toothpaste.

Any of these fireplaces can be cleaned using the correct method. Now that you know what types of fireplaces there are, and what kind you have, you can start putting together what you need to get the job done.

Gather the Materials

You will need a few materials, to get your fireplace glass cleaned. If you have a wood-burning stove, you will need a few basic things, that you can probably find in your home.

Materials:

  • Spray bottle
  • Newspaper
  • Paper towels
  • Water
  • Vinegar (optional)
  • Baking soda (optional)

Basic, wood-burning fireplace glass, can be cleaned with some newspaper, a spray bottle with water, and some ash from the fireplace. The gas fireplaces will need to be cleaned with a cleaning solution, such as vinegar or baking soda.

Most of these things are household items. The vinegar should be white, household vinegar. The baking soda should be mixed with water, to make a paste. You may also need a soft scrubbing brush, to scrub away the soot, if the paper towels are not strong enough.

Method One: How to Clean Fireplace Glass with Ash

Cleaning fireplace glass has never been as easy, as it is, with this simple hack. Using ash from the fireplace, to clean the glass. This is a simple process, that involves only a few easy steps.

Step 1: Cool Down

First, let your fireplace glass or insert cool down, before putting your hands on it. Use this time to gather the materials you will be needing, newspaper, paper towels, water, and a spray bottle. Collect some ash from the inside of the fireplace.

Step 2: Spray with Water

Spray the glass with water. Then dip your newspaper into the water, or spray it down, and add the ash to it.

Step 3: Wipe

Wipe the glass down, front and back, using circular motions. When the newspaper turns black, use another piece, with water and ash. The newspaper should just be damp, not soaking. Do this as many times as it takes to remove all of the soot.

Step 4: Rinse with Water

Once the glass is clean of soot, spray it down with water, and wipe it down with dry paper towels. Use as many paper towels as you need to get it nice and clean.

Tip – Keep a waste bin close, to throw away the paper towels, as you use them. You will most likely, use a lot.

Method Two: Cleaning Fireplace Glass with Baking Soda

If you have a gas fireplace, you may want to use baking soda to clean it. Just because your fireplace uses gas, doesn’t mean the black soot will not build up. Many gas fireplace owners, will let their glass go a long time before they clean it. This causes the glass, to get thick black layers of soot, on it.

Baking soda is one of the best methods for removing this heavy soot. You may also use this method on wood-burning fireplace glass, that has heavy build-up.

Start by making a paste out of the baking soda, and some water. Use a soft scrubbing brush, or toothbrush, to rub the paste onto the glass. Scrub in a circular pattern. Then, wipe it down with a wet paper towel. Repeat this process, until all of the black soot is gone. Then, dry the glass with dry paper towels.

Method Three: How to Clean Fireplace Glass with Vinegar

Cleaning the fireplace glass with vinegar is an easy process. Similar to baking soda, it works well on gas fireplaces, and wood-burning fireplaces, with heavy build-up. You will want to fill up a bowl with vinegar. For this method, you will just be using, white, household vinegar.

Have plenty of paper towels handy. You will need to dip the paper towels into the vinegar and clean the glass in a circular motion. Vinegar cuts through the soot fast and is a strong cleaning solution, that leaves very little residue.

Wipe it down until there is no more black. Once you have it clean, wipe it down with a bunch of dry paper towels. Use as many as you need, to get it nice and clean looking. Most of the vinegar will evaporate, leaving the clear glass.

How to Keep Glass on Fireplace Clean

You can keep your fireplace glass clean, by having a weekly cleaning schedule, or routine. Wipe your glass down, with a wet paper towel, when it is just slightly dirty. This will keep large amounts of soot from building up.

The longer you go without cleaning it, the more the black soot will build up. If you let it build up too much, you may have to use something stronger to clean it, such as vinegar or baking soda. Even if you clean your fireplace glass regularly, you should still give it a deep clean once every couple of weeks or months.

Fireplace Maintenance

The best way to avoid having to deep clean your fireplace, with a cleaning solution, is by cleaning it after a few uses, with paper towels and water. You can just get the paper towels damp, and wipe it down. Then use dry paper towels to dry it off.

You can let it go for weeks, or even months, but the longer you do, the more the black soot will build up. Thick soot can be hard to remove and takes a lot of elbow grease. If you clean it often, you will get away with using the fast ash cleaning method.

For those of you, who go a year without cleaning the glass, you will have to use the stronger cleaning solutions, and be ready to put in some work. A little bit of maintenance goes a long way. It’s easy to set up a routine so that it stays as clean as possible.

Tips for Cleaning Your Fireplace

We have put together some tips, for cleaning your fireplace. As long as you keep up with maintenance, you should be able to keep your fireplace looking its best.

Start a cleaning schedule. Get into a routine, of cleaning your fireplace glass, at least once a week. Clean any dust, and soot that builds up. This will make the deep cleaning process, much easier.

Use the correct method. Make sure you use the correct cleaning method. Some fireplace glass may have special cleaning conditions. Check the manual for your fireplace, to find out if anything should not be used.

Put down a tarp. Use a tarp in front of the fireplace, to catch any of the soot that may fall onto the floor. If your fireplace glass is a removable insert, then set it on the tarp to work on it. You may also want to keep a waste bin nearby, to throw away the paper towels.

The best tip is to keep it clean in the first place. You can save hours of time, and elbow grease, by routinely cleaning the glass.

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Related Questions

Can you use Windex on fireplace glass?

You should not use Windex, or ammonia cleaners, on fireplace glass. The heat causes the cleaning solution to etch into the glass, leaving permanent marks, on your fireplace glass. These marks cannot be removed.


How do you clean cloudy fireplace glass?

If your fireplace glass has become cloudy, try cleaning it with toothpaste, or a baking soda paste. Rub it gently with a toothbrush or soft brush. The cloudy film will be removed, and you can rinse it with water, and let it dry.

Chad Kilpatrick
Chad Kilpatrick

I'm a writer that is passionate about home improvements, remodeling, and renovating. I enjoy learning new skills and techniques and sharing them with others.

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