Having a blazing wood fire at home that radiates a cozy warmth is incomparable. From time to time, however, the fireplace pane may turn black, impairing the view of the fire.
Therefore, regular cleaning of the stove glass is essential to enjoy the view of the crackling fire and increase the efficiency of the stove. How easy it is to clean the pane with our ingenious trick, we reveal in this post!
Why do stove panes turn black?
Before we show you how to get rid of black soot residue, we would like to briefly explain why the problem of black glass pane arises in the first place. It is a common misconception that a black stove glass is due to poor quality of the stove.
In fact, the discoloration of the stove glass occurs because of the way wood burns. When wood burns, it produces hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and a variety of organic compounds. Some of these compounds are volatile and escape through the chimney. Others, however, condense on the fireplace pane and form a layer of resin and tar. The fact that the pane sometimes becomes black on some days also depends on other factors, such as the oxygen control, the wood, or the pressure in the chimney.
Tip 1: Cleaning with water and ash
There are many expensive cleaners on the market, specially designed for cleaning fireplace glass. But often simple household remedies are enough to clean the glass. A proven method is cleaning with water, ash, and kitchen paper.
Attention: Do not clean the pane until the furnace has cooled down completely!
Take some kitchen paper and dip it into a container of warm water until the paper is wet.
Dip the wet paper towel into the cooled light ash.
Rub the pane thoroughly with the resulting paste, depending on the contamination. The ash acts as a natural cleaning agent and removes the black residue from the pane. Stubborn soot residues can also be loosened in this way. Repeat steps 1-3 several times, depending on the size and soiling.
When the deposits have been loosened, wipe with a fresh paper to remove ash and soot residues.
Polish the pane with a cloth until it is streak-free.
To avoid stubborn stains, it is important to clean the fireplace pane regularly. Ideally, you should clean after each use of the stove. In this way, residues do not burn permanently, and the stove pane remains in good condition for decades.
Tip 2: Alternative cleaning methods
Chemical cleaners:
Chemical cleaning agents can not only be expensive, but also dangerous for your health and the environment. Therefore, do not use aggressive cleaning agents. Instead, rely on natural cleaning agents such as water and ash. These are not only cheaper, but also more environmentally friendly and gentle to the stove pane.
Weitere Hausmittel:
Besides ashes, other household remedies such as vinegar, lemon or baking soda are often mentioned to clean the fireplace pane. These methods also work, but in the long run they damage the materials that are installed in the stove. For example, seals are quite sensitive and can break due to the acid.
Tipp 3: Prevent black furnace pane
To avoid soot completely is hardly possible with wood fires. But there are a few tips that you can use to prevent the black discoloration of the pane.
Use only good and dry wood.
Use only small wood and firelighters when starting the fire. Do not use paper/cardboard.
Pay attention to the oxygen control of the stove. When lighting the fire, it should be completely open. Only when the fire is sufficiently large, slowly close the oxygen control.
It may help to place the logs a little further into the firebox rather than directly against the glass.