- Wipe with a damp paper towel.
- Create a white ash paste.
- Mix the lye or caustic soda.
- Spray with oven cleaner.
Keep reading to learn more about how to apply these techniques using different cleaning materials safely. We will also discuss the causes and prevention of blackened fireplace glass and answer other questions in your mind. Let's get started!
Why is my fireplace turning black?
Before we proceed, let us find out first the root cause of this problem. Blackened or cloudy fireplace glass is a common problem in wood-burning, gas, and propane types. The black particles sticking to glass are called soot. Here are the reasons why your fireplace is turning black:
- Poor ventilation
- Unopened or blocked air vents
- Clogged burner either from constant use
- Displaced burning logs
- Excessive smoke from the high moisture content of logs
- Damaged fireplace because of old age
What should you use to clean fireplace glass?
Prepare these tools or materials you will use:
- Paper towel
- Microfiber cloth
- Pieces of newspaper
- Non-abrasive glass cleaner
- Spray bottle (optional)
- Dust mask
- Safety goggles
- Rubber gloves
How do you clean blackened fireplace glass?
Most homeowners with a fireplace have experienced this common problem once or many times. We collected different methods that are proven to clean your blackened fireplace glass.
Safety Tips
Above all, practice these precautionary measures to ensure your safety while cleaning:
- Cool down the fireplace for 2 days.
- Wear personal protective equipment.
- Avoid scraping the glass with sharp objects. These will cause scratches.
- Clean the fireplace glass and surroundings properly.
- Inspect the glass door if it has a crack or a broken seal after cleaning.
- Seek professional service aside from the household cleaners.
- Restore air quality in your home through air scrubbing and thermal fogging.
Cleaning Techniques
In this section, we will show you how to apply each of these techniques.
Wipe With A Damp Paper Towel
Most of the time, you can easily wipe off the dirt from the glass with a damp paper towel, especially if you perform this regularly. Then, rub again with a dry one. It is best to purchase paper towels that are absorbent and usually made from virgin fibers.
Create A White Ash Paste
Even though the white ash is a waste product, you can still repurpose it. By combining a scoop of ash and water, you will have a cleaning paste without cost.
Apply the paste to the glass using a piece of newspaper. Then, scrub it in a circular motion. If the crumpled or folded newspaper is already black, get another piece and repeat the process until you can wipe smoothly the surface with a microfiber cloth.
This clever trick works because the calcium carbonate present in the white ash is also a key component of cleaning powders. Keep in mind that you should avoid direct eye or skin contact with this paste as it will lead to irritation.
Mix The Lye Or Caustic Soda
Sodium hydroxide is the scientific term for red devil lye or caustic soda. In addition to the soap-making and drain cleaner functions, caustic soda is another alternative to bring back the crystal clear glass of your fireplace. This formula acts as a liquid of commercial soap, dislodging the stubborn stains.
Just blend it until you have a paste. Next, smudge a button-size of paste on a cloth to cleanse the grimy surface.
Click here to see this red devil lye on Amazon.
Spray With Oven Cleaner
For hard-to-remove grease, spray a fume-free oven cleaner to help you eliminate the black build-up in the glass within 30 seconds.
Click here to see this oven cleaner spray on Amazon.
If you're looking for a detailed guide to cleaning your fireplace, check out our post:
How Often Should You Clean Your Fireplace?
Can you use vinegar to clean the fireplace glass?
While it is readily available in your kitchen pantry, vinegar is the cheapest cleaning solution you can use for the fireplace glass. Made from acetic acid, it is strong enough to dissolve the grime quickly.
Create a vinegar solution by following a simple recipe. Other ingredients are also accessible in your home.
Homemade Glass Cleaner
There are many recipes to produce an effective homemade fireplace cleaner. For instance, mix a cup of vinegar with 3 cups of water and a tablespoon of baking soda in a spray bottle.
Using the solution, moisten the dirty glass. Let it sit for a few minutes. Afterward, wipe off the glass until there is no residue.
Click here to see this plastic spray bottle on Amazon.
Being a multi-purpose cleaning material, vinegar is also useful in other HVAC equipment.
What happens if you use Windex on gas fireplace glass?
Windex offers a wide selection of glass cleaners in your local market or online. Some of these have traces of ammonia because of the inherent capacity of ammonia to brighten surfaces. According to the New York State Department of Health, ammonia is a corrosive substance that may shatter upon exposure to high temperatures.
As a result, you must avoid using any glass cleaner with ammonia in your fireplace. If there will be a residue on the glass, this might damage the glass surface when you use the fireplace.
You can opt for an ammonia-free glass cleaner for your fireplace glass. Use it with a lint-free cloth so it will leave a streak-free shine to various glass surfaces like window panes and mirrors.
How do you prevent soot from fireplace glass?
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cleaning techniques. Thus, according to fireplace experts, there are several solutions to prevent the build-up of soot from your glass. We prepared a to-do list so you will miss nothing.
- Ensure that the burning logs you use have a 20% moisture level or less.
- Check logs' placement before using the fireplace.
- Keep the vent open while in use.
- Sweep the chimney and flue liner regularly.
- Schedule a professional cleaning and inspection at least once a year.
- Improve the room ventilation.
- Follow the manual guide's recommended steps to break in.
- Burn the wood away from the glass door.
- Add more logs to produce more heat
Is soot in a fireplace dangerous?
Soot is one of the toxic chemicals from burnt wood. If left uncleaned, it will contribute to air pollution, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people yearly in America. Based on a study, it induces symptoms and illnesses such as breathing difficulty, asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, and cancer.
Apart from this, soot exposure will also lead to immediate problems. These include bad fumes emission and stains. The accumulated soot will affect the functioning of your fireplace and eventually damage the structure.
In addition, soot is a combustible material that blocks the air supply in your chimney. Read this to understand more:
Is Chimney Soot Flammable? What Homeowners need to know.
Soot Vs Creosote
Along with ashes, soot and creosote are both byproducts of poor combustion of wood or gas fireplace. Thus, however confusing these particles are, they signify an underlying problem.
Creosote is a crusty or gooey residue that accumulates inside the chimney and flue liner. Similarly, creosote is a fire hazard you need to clean before thickening. Unlike soot, it is much more difficult to remove.
Manufacturers designed the latest types of fireplaces to address this common problem. Thus, if you want to be free from the dangers of soot and creosote completely, convert your traditional fireplace into an electric one. An electric fireplace is cost-efficient, ventless, and space-saving.
In Closing
Although you cannot fully avoid soot accumulation in wood or gas burners, cleaning the blackened glass frequently is your responsibility as a homeowner. Performing the mentioned techniques will neither need a large budget nor skill. Instead, they require consistency and must become part of your fireplace maintenance.
Remember, the cleaner the glass door, the fresher your fireplace will look. In return, you will enjoy a better atmosphere as you light up your fireplace while you spend quality with your family during the cold season.
Thanks for reading! If you liked this post, visit these related articles about your fireplace:
Can You Open Up A Fireplace On Both Sides?
Fireplace Flue vs. Fireplace Damper: What Homeowners need to know