Log burners

[probablynotthesame]

I’m looking for your tips on how you clean the glass on your log burner.
I have a scratch pad thingy that’s specially for the glass of a log burner but apart from that and a lot of elbow grease I have no idea how to clean it!
So any fast fix/easy cleaning tips greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[ttctet]

That should say ‘air vents’ not stair vents!

[ttctet]

Reading about all the chemicals people are using is making me twitchy ash is the only thing that should be used. As PP have said, get a thermometer. We run our fire all day every day, and it’s hardly ever dirty. It occasionally gets murky when it’s first lit in the morning, but as soon as it gets hot, it clears.

How long are you having it lit for each time? If it’s only for an hour or so in the evening, it’s probably not getting hot enough for long enough, and not self cleaning the glass.

If you can keep it lit for longer, the glass will stay cleaner and it will also be a lot lot easier to light next time. We never use kindling anymore, and only occasionally use newspaper, because although by the morning it’s gone out, if you put a few logs on and open up all the stair vents, last night’s heat is enough to get it going.

[Aurea]

Damp kitchen roll dipped in the ash pan works very well. Just needs a little scrub.

[Bowerbird5]

That's ok. Yeah ring the firebrigade( not 999😄) and ask if they do it. We have two on blue watch and white watch. There has been about five altogether. The first one was definitely worth having back😉 but then he moved😥. No, really they do a good job give advice, drink loads of tea and like a bit of cake. We get them every year.
They tend to do four day shifts and were not allowed to work anywhere else then someone approached them as a preventative measure. Now they are allowed to do this work. S brought me a new fire alarm too for free. Once you get the hang of it you will love it. Look out for cheap kindling too.

[probablynotthesame]

@Bowerbird5 you mean to say I can get the firemen round without setting my house on fire...how did I not know this!! 😍
The chimney was last swept in March 2016 so is due to be done again. I never thought about getting some bellows great tip thank you

[Bowerbird5]

It depends on the weather a lot. If it is very still outside it doesn't always draw so well. Get yourself a pair of bellows. You can often pick them up in second hand antique shops. Have you had your chimney swept as that makes a difference. Our local firemen do it and give you free advice in exchange for big mug of tea and some cake😃 need to chase mine up. He got called in for a shout last time as big fire in the south of the county and leave was cancelled.

[probablynotthesame]

Using the ash has worked a treat thank you all for that suggestion! Cheap and no chemicals!!
As for the fire... I’m still getting one good day when it all goes perfectly followed by a few bad days where I’m cursing at the bloody thing.

[jelly10]

How did I not know about the damp paper dipped in ash! THANK YOU so much to everyone who suggested it. I've been using the HG stove Cleaner which is very good but clearly uses chemicals and isn't very nice to use. I've just tried paper dipped in ash followed by a squirt of normal glass cleaner and the glass is even cleaner than when using the HG with much less hassle.
I'm a happy Jelly today

[deecrepid]

Clas Ohlson's Soot Off is amazing.
£6.99 and lasts a whole winter easily. It needs so little effort to leave the glass sparkling.



https://m.clasohlson.com/uk/Soot-off-Wood-and-Pellet-Stove-Cleaner/34-1717

[Bowerbird5]

I tried the ash and it works but no real difference to the vinegar and Fairy. I would say only advantage the ash acts a bit like scouurer on stubborn bits.

[redbirdblackbird]

I got a thermometer on Amazon which is stuck on the flue. It's really useful as it tells me when it's at optimum temp. When it's not, so not hot enough, the burner produces creotose which is the dirt on the glass

[bouncydog]

HG stove glass cleaner just dissolves the stuff!

[Bowerbird5]

Is that to me ShariFf? It is a multi fuel. You get a list of what you can burn on them and then you have to try and match it with what is selling locally. Not many coal men around here but lots of multi fuel stoves😃

We mainly burn wood but put about a coal scuttle a day on. Evening to overnight and morning if I am going to be at work all day and no one else here. It usually keeps it in till I return about 5:30pm so saves having to start again especially when wet.

I haven't been able to clean glass it hasn't been off yet☺️

[specialsubject]

A used kitchen scrubber thing. Dampen, dip in ash, clean cold glass with it. Polish with one piece of kitchen roll.

[ShariFf]

Is it a multi fuel or just log? I have a multi and burn anthracite (house coal should not be used in stoves) and iget the base hot, add a little anthracite and let it het super hot, add a little bit more and burn that then put the logs on. I can put about 4 ligs in and it will last about 4 hours. Takes a little bit of time to get a good one gling but it lasts. And I rarely have to clean the glass but when I do i use babywipes, ash and kitchen roll to dry it.

[Bowerbird5]

That should read " shut down the air A BIT." Don't do it completely or you'll have it smoking. If I am around I let it catch a bit more first and control it more. If you don't shut it down a bit then you get a raging fire and it burns to quickly like burning ten pound notes. When I am going to work I haven't time to fiddle about as much. So I bank it up and hope for the best. I curse if it has gone out especially if someone has kept me back.

[Bowerbird5]

Well it is actually a mixture. We buy Semi anthracite ( which burns well) and Welsh Eggs or Phurnicite which takes a bit to catch but burns slowly. The coal an just tips them in together .

So it it paper twists, a couple of firelighters, well placed kindling then logs I use split ones for this as they catch better and the thinner ones if I have some. I used to love splitting logs but I have a shoulder problem so can't now. Very theraputic if you are cross with someone.
Then I let that get going and then place a few bigger logs in and then with tongs place maybe ten bits. When that gets going I shove a shovel full on and shut down the air.
We have a large stove a Charnwood Country 16 because it does our hot water and all the radiators, we don't have any other heating in the house. I lit my son's fire the other night and it is just a small one. It is a bit different. I used same method but you can only get two. Split logs in at a time and a little coal( eggs) and it was out when we came back from our meal. I can keep ours on all night and as long as I'm not too late leaving I can have it still on when I come back from work say 8:15 - 5:30pm so I actually don't always need to keep lighting mine. I can have it on for weeks continually if I am careful. You will get the hang of it. Make sure you empty the ash out regularly as that stops some of the air flow on ours.
I'm going to try the ash on paper today as lots of people are saying that is a good method. My concoction is about twice the vinegar to Fairy liquid for cleaning the glass. I don't worry about doing it all that often but sometimes when I am re-lighting on a Saturday I do. It does look nicer to see the flames. You will get hooked you realise. My son1 has just put a second one in. He opened up both fireplaces and changed from gas because he missed ours so much. You either love 'em or hate 'em! Good luck. Have you toasted marshmallows yet?

[BiddyPop]

I use a piece of quite damp kitchen towel with some wood ash to clean it first, then a less damp clean sheet of kitchen towel to clean off any smears.

When first lighting, that is the main time for smoke build-up on the glass. So I try to have to top damper fully open (moves smoke straight down over the door not allowing it to hit and stay there). And open the bottom damper enough to have a clean burn (flames) rather than smoky burn as the fire gets going.

Then I can close over both a bit once the fire is going properly and there are red embers established.

Smoke is actually liquid (slightly) so will settle on the door if it gets a chance.

[probablynotthesame]

@Bowerbird5 it’s not sticky tar it’s just dirty. @outofmydepth45 I’ve never used coal can you tell me how you use it.

[outofmydepth45]

Smokeless coal is much hotter !

[Bowerbird5]

If you are getting sticky tar it means your logs aren't seasoned enough. This could be the problem.

[Bowerbird5]

I use kitchen roll or newspaper and a little fairy and vinegar mixed together applied to paper and rub.

[Cataline]

@NotEnoughCats' advice is spot on!

[KeziaOAP]

Damp newspaper dipped in wood ash - recommended by chimney sweep.

[foxandhounds]

Method glass cleaner and kitchen roll - do it every time you use it and it doesn't build up so takes seconds and just 2 squirts. If really black dip damp kitchen roll in ash - really works.