Anyone with a wood burning stove?

[littledolly]

Any tips on how to keep the glass in the door of a wood burning stove clean? We only got the stove in recently so I haven't tried anything on it yet, but would welcome any suggestions.

Yes! We have a wonderful Morso multi-fuel, and got the best tip ever from our neighbours. Don't buy any special products and don't use glass cleaner.

Get a piece of kitchen towel, dip it in water, and then dip in the ashes in the stove (and yes, the kitchen towel will be all black/grey/beige depending on what you're burning). Rub the wet ashes all over the window. The black creosote will smell like rotten eggs but it will come off brilliantly.

I know you're thinking to yourself that can't possibly work, but you have to try it. It's MAGIC I tell you.

I do the same as Ty above. And make it part of the setting the fire ritual. Wish I could get DH to get in the habit too as it would make life easier.

We use Stovax which costs around £6 per bottle but lasts for years ages.
It looks like wallpaper paste and takes a few minutes to work. Wear gloves.

Just reporting back that I did use the ashes and the glass is like new! Never imagined it would be that clean again, so thanks so much for the tip!

I use the screwed up damp newspaper and ash trick too and ours is years old and comes up a treat, bear in mind the "real" cleaners shouldn't be used while pregnant. It is so easy to keep it clean the ash/paper way and like SS I make it part of the setting of the fire ritual. Someone told me about it just before ours was installed and I think she got it from Kim and Aggie.

Do not let any burning items touch the glass itself, you only get stuff charbroiled on when it burns whilst touching the glass. Then you dont' need to clean so often, anyway.

We've done newspaper+vinegar or washing up liquid, I'll have to try ashes, though.

ragged - good advice not to let items touch the glass, but we always seemed to get a buildup of creosote even if things didn't touch the glass (eg if we're using smokeless fuel ovals). It has to do with the fire not burning at a hot enough temperature (below 275f/130c you'll get creosote in the flue and on the glass) so a flue thermometer is very helpful in keeping the glass and the flue clean.

Ah, didn't know that, although I had a thermometer for other reasons.

I'm pretty good at using my thermometer, maybe that's why not had creosote build up in a very long time, now.

While we're discussing stoves, does anyone have their own chimney cleaners (drain pipes)? I am thinking about investing in some.

I've used vinegar neat on kitchen towel and that does a great job at getting the soot off.
Will definitely try the ashes method though!

We use newspapers and ashes too. The manufacturer told me to do it and said not to bother with lotions and potions. Works brilliantly.