How to clean a wood-burning stove and its glass

To clean a wood-burning stove, let it go completely cold, clear the ash (leaving a thin layer if you burn wood), and clean the glass with a damp newspaper dipped in cool ash or a dedicated stove-glass cleaner. Sooty, blackened glass is usually a sign of burning damp wood or poor airflow rather than just dirt, so fixing the cause keeps it clearer for longer. Always have the flue swept by a professional at least once a year.

Safety first

Only ever clean a stove that is completely cold, ideally the morning after it was last used. Wear gloves, and lay down a sheet or newspaper to catch ash and soot, which gets everywhere. Keep a metal ash container to hand, as ash can stay hot enough to be a fire risk for far longer than you would expect.

Clearing the ash

Scoop out excess ash with a small shovel or use an ash vacuum made for fires. If you burn wood, leaving a thin bed of ash actually helps the fire light and burn better, so do not clear it down to bare metal every time. Empty ash into a metal container, not a plastic bin or bag.

Cleaning the glass

That black, sooty film on the glass cleans off easily:

• Dampen a scrunched-up piece of newspaper.
• Dip it in cool, fine wood ash, a gentle natural abrasive.
• Rub the glass in circles, then wipe clean with fresh damp paper.
• Finish with a dry cloth or paper for a clear shine.

A dedicated stove-glass cleaner works too. Avoid harsh abrasive pads that scratch the glass.

Why glass keeps going black

If the glass blackens quickly every time, the usual causes are damp or unseasoned wood, burning too slowly with the air shut down, or poor flue draw. Burning properly dried, seasoned wood with enough air keeps the glass much cleaner and the stove more efficient. So persistently sooty glass is a prompt to check your fuel and how you are running the stove.

The stove body and surround

Wipe the cold exterior with a dry brush or cloth to remove dust and ash. Cast iron can be touched up with stove polish or paint where it has dulled. Clean the hearth and surround too, ash and soot spread further than you think, and keep the area around the stove clear.

Don't skip the chimney sweep

Cleaning the stove is not the same as sweeping the flue. Creosote and soot build up inside the chimney and are a genuine fire risk, so have it professionally swept at least once a year, more if you burn a lot. This is a specialist job for a registered sweep.

Keeping the room clean around it

Wood burners create fine dust and ash that settles on nearby surfaces and floors all winter. A regular clean keeps it under control, and our domestic cleaning service can keep on top of the dust around fireplaces and living areas through the colder months, part of getting the home ready for winter.