Who doesn’t love the warmth and aesthetic appeal of a cozy blaze? Throughout the year, it’s important to give the glass on your fireplace, stove, or insert a little scrub-a-dub-dub to keep it clean. Like many, you may be surprised to discover that cleaning your fireplace glass requires more than just a spritz of window cleaner and a quick wipe down.
In fact, cleaning your glass comes with its very own set of do’s and don’ts – and by following these tips, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars in the process.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What Type of Glass Is It?
Unlike the window you gaze out of while enjoying your morning cup of Joe, your fireplace uses one of two different types of glass: tempered or ceramic. Why? Because these materials were designed to weather high temperatures. Of the two, however, ceramic glass can adapt quicker to thermal changes and withstand exposure to higher temperatures. On average, ceramic glass can hold up against temperatures of 1000°F.
Ceramic glass is typically found on wood-burning stoves, high-quality meant-to-heat fireplaces, inserts, and gas models containing large burners or elevated levels of heat output. For regular gas fireplaces or fireplaces designed to be more for ambiance than heat, you can expect to be dealing with tempered glass. You may also find tempered glass on wood-burning fireplaces crafted with bi-fold doors.
Both types of glass require routine upkeep in order to remove dirt and soot and safeguard your unit from sustaining unwanted damages. Unless you’re looking to get slapped with a $200-$300 bill to replace your ceramic glass (we hope not), you’ll definitely want to show your glass a little TLC.
Are You Using the Correct Type of Cleaner?
This isn’t like the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding where Windex is the answer for everything. Instead, we encourage you to visit our showroom, where we’ve stocked up on glass cleaners designed for both wood-burning units and gas appliances. Using the correct cleaner is a cost-effective solution that’ll make cleaning substantially easier, while ensuring your wallet is protected from paying for unnecessary repairs.
Keep The Owner’s Manual Handy
While we love creativity, there’s no need to improvise under these circumstances – simply follow the directions provided in your owner’s manual and on the glass cleaner. Make sure to cushion any glass that is removed by placing it gently on top of an old towel.
For gas fireplaces, the cleaner will closely mimic car wax. Essentially, all you’ll need to do is rub on the recommended amount and polish it off using a soft, clean rag. When cleaning any wood-burning appliances, we suggest placing newspapers or rags under the door. Because most glass cleaners for wood-burning units come in a spray form, you’ll want to protect the surrounding floor area while you’re wiping down the glass. Otherwise, soot, dirt, and cleaner may drip down the surface of the glass and onto your floors.
Reserve Scraping for Cleaning Your Icy Vehicle
Using any kind of blade or sharp edge to clean your ceramic glass will wind up damaging its surface. This style of glass is coated with microscopic polycrystalline structures that will chip, peel, or be completely stripped away by a razor blade. So, close up the “sharp objects” section of your tool box and adhere to the guidelines found on your glass cleaner.
Is Cleaning a Must?
We all have hectic schedules with plenty of errands and chores already on our to-do lists. So, you may be asking yourself why bother cleaning the glass when soot is going to find it’s way back onto the surface again. This question can really be applied to most chores and cleaning habits we perform on a regular basis. For example, why make the bed if you’re just going to get back in it? However, like most maintenance-related activities, keeping the glass on your fireplace, stove, or insert clean will ensure you fully experience the beauty and ambiance of the fire. It’ll also help lengthen the lifespan of your unit.
Just like cleaning your car windshield, which vastly improves your vision while out on the road, soot-free glass on your wood or gas appliance will create an enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere.