how to clean wood burning tips

As a result of the already falling temperatures, you are moving closer and closer to the time of year when you will be making increasingly frequent use of your wood burner.

Now is the time to give your wood burner a thorough cleaning before the winter season arrives in full force. Clearly, you need to wait for it to cool off before you attempt this, but you should get started on the task before it is turned on permanently.

Now, how to properly clean a stove that burns wood. There are numerous of do-it-yourself cleaning solutions, in addition to a wide variety of commercially available cleaners, for wood burners.

How frequently does one need to clean a wood burning stove?

Whether you have a classic or modern wood burning stove, a multifuel stove, or a pellet stove, you want to ensure that it continues to look nice and operates as efficiently as possible. Maintaining a regular cleaning routine can assist you in doing exactly that.

There is no predetermined routine that must be followed when cleaning your wood burner. The frequency with which you employ it is a significant factor in this regard. It is likely that you will leave it on all the time now that the chilly winter is on its approach. If this is the case, the ashes need to be cleared out once every few days at the very least. When something is used fewer times, there is naturally less of a need to clean it.

It will be necessary for you to clean your stove less frequently if you only use it to burn wood. This is due to the fact that, in comparison to other forms of fuel, it creates less ash and burns more cleanly.

If you use your wood burner on a regular basis, you should clean the interior of it once every four to six weeks at the absolute least. When it comes to the stove door, which is made of glass, it will be very obvious to you when it needs to be cleaned. When this occurs, you will no longer have a clear view of the flames that are contained within the container.

 

Before you start

The most essential step is to make sure that your wood burner is not lighted and is at a comfortable temperature. If you wipe the glass door of your burner with cold liquids, cleaning agents, or cleaning products, the glass could become brittle or even shatter.

You should put on gloves, a face mask, and protective goggles in order to shield your skin from dust and other potentially irritating substances. Additionally, you should consider wearing protective eyewear.

Before you begin, it is recommended that you consult the maintenance manual provided by the stove’s manufacturer. This manual may contain instructions that are unique to your model of stove.

How to clean wood burner glass

In the event that your stove generates a sufficient amount of heat from the combustion of the fuel, the glass should clean itself. On the other hand, a buildup of soot that clouds the glass may take place if you are burning fuel of poor quality or if there is a draft.

You can clean the glass of the wood burner with any one of the procedures described below; however, you shouldn’t let too much time pass in between cleanings. When there is a greater amount of soot that has accumulated over time, it will be more difficult to clean.

Commercial cleaners

There is a wide variety of glass cleaners available on the market today that are appropriate for use on the door of your wood burning stove. WD40 is one of these, and it works quite well for polishing slate hearths as well. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the product’s instructions and double check that the stove’s warranty will not be voided by the use of the product you have selected.

Ammonia and water

It is possible to clean the soot off of your stove door by using a spray bottle with a solution of ammonia and water. Apply the solution to the glass, and then wipe it off with a clean cloth until it is clean. Before wiping, you should let the solution sit on the glass for a couple of minutes in the regions that are the most difficult to clean.

 

Ash and newspaper

The glass door of your wood burner can be cleaned in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner by using this method, despite the fact that it requires a little bit of additional effort. Simply soak a piece of newspaper in water, then roll it in the ash that’s been left over in the stove, and then wipe it on the glass. To complete, wipe everything down with a cloth that has been dampened.

Scraping

Use a glass scraper to remove a buildup that is extremely difficult to remove. However, exercise extreme caution because you do not want to scratch the glass. Not only can scratches have an unsightly appearance, but they can also be weak spots that cause the glass to crack when it is heated to a high temperature.

How to clean the surface of your wood burner

Performing this activity is typically brisk and uncomplicated. A vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment is all that is required to clear the dust and ash that may have accumulated on the surface of the stove. If you do this on a consistent basis, you will never have to deal with a buildup that might be potentially dangerous.

To clean the outside, you might get away with using little more than a gentle cloth in place of a vacuum cleaner. Because moisture might cause rust, this should not be wet or damp at any point. It is best to avoid using liquid cleaners because these products can leave stains on the surface.

Cleaning the flue pipe

A buildup of deposits in the flue pipe of your wood burning stove, which is responsible for carrying away fumes, might cause the pipe to get blocked. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that it be checked on a consistent basis.

Once a year, the chimney pipe should be thoroughly cleaned. If you make frequent use of your wood burner, you ought to clean the pipe on a more regular basis.

While there are certainly some aspects of stove cleaning that you can handle on your own, this is one job that is probably best handled by a professional. A chimney sweep will inspect the flue to ensure that it has been adequately cleaned and is in a usable condition. Additionally, it will help you save a significant amount of time in addition to effort.

On the other hand, there is an abundance of chimney and flue cleaning equipment available to you in the event that you choose to perform the task on your own. Because this is a nasty job, make sure to use plenty of dust sheets and don’t forget to wear safety goggles and a mask that filters out dust.
We hope that you found our tutorial on how to clean a wood burning stove to be informative and helpful. And how you can ensure that your wood burner is safe, looks wonderful, and performs properly with just a little bit of extra effort on your part.

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