how do I clean the top of woodburning stove?

[Vicky13]

I have a woodburning stove, and a couple of weeks ago I put three bits of old fence post on the top of the fire to help them dry out, as they had been outside. I now have three burn marks on the top of the stove. I think it must be that either some wood resin or some sort of stain / varnish came out of them when they got hot.

Have tried cleaning it with the ammonia stuff they gave me to clean the door, but no luck.

Any ideas?

Could it be creosote?

Is it a black stove? If so you can buy blackening and black over the marks. amazon or ebay or good local ironmongers

is it plain cast iron, or is it glossy vitreous enamel, or is it black heat-resisting paint?

Ours has a mark from Dd throwing a stuffed toy and it landed on the top, and one from something else I put on there the only way to get rid for us is the black heat paint stuff, but It stinks as once you've painted you will have to get the fire hot and open up the house to do it, so I'm putting it off. We have the black matt finish kind.

yes, if it is just matt black paint, you can rub off the mark with wire wool, and repaint the (whole) top.

If glossy enamel, don't do that.