How to Clean Your Fireplace: Step-by-Step Guide

Don't spend too much time getting your fireplace clean and ready for the season. We give you our best and fastest tips for a clean wood burning stove with a clear view of the flames – one that also burns cleaner and better. That way, you can focus on enjoying the warmth of your fireplace instead.

Large glass panels on wood burning stoves are a growing trend, giving you a great view of the flames. For many, the ultimate cosy moment is sitting in front of the fireplace with a hot drink, watching the fire. So it's a shame if the glass is covered in soot that ruins the view.

Here's what you need for the cleaning:

• Rubber gloves
• Newspaper/paper towels
• A little water
• Metal bucket

You don't need much equipment to clean the glass on your fireplace – it's a cheap and simple cleaning method. Just remember to wear gloves (such as rubber gloves) when washing. Soot and water combined form a lye-like substance that can be harsh on your hands.

But how can you actually avoid soot on the fireplace glass?

A buildup of soot is often caused by burning damp wood, insufficient draught, or too little fresh air supply. Keep your firewood dry, and make sure your wood burning stove gets adequate draught and air.

Soot increases the risk of chimney fires

It's not just the view of the flames that soot can ruin. Soot deposits on the inside of the chimney increase the risk of a chimney fire. Under Norwegian law, all fireplaces and stoves must be inspected and swept at least every four years. This is done by the local chimney sweeping service.

How to clean the glass on your fireplace:

This method is eco-friendly, effective and inexpensive! If you want to clean your fireplace glass and remove soot, this is the method to try first:

1. Dampen some newspaper or paper towel, dip it in the ash and rub it on the inside of the glass.

2. Take a fresh piece of newspaper or paper towel and wipe it off. If the glass still isn't completely clean, repeat the process, or use a cream cleaner on a paper towel as step. A microfibre cloth also works well.

There are also other methods you can use to keep your stove glass clean:

• All Jøtul products are designed with an "air-wash" system that helps keep the glass clean while the fire is burning. If soot does appear on the glass, simply burn at a high temperature for a short period – the heat and air-wash system will burn off soot particles stuck to the glass.
• Another option is to use a glass cleaner for stoves, available from most fireplace and stove dealers. Be careful not to get glass cleaner near the painted surface of the stove, as it can cause staining.
  

• There are also glass scraper tools, but use these with great care to avoid scratching the glass. Scratches trap dust and dirt, making the glass difficult to clean.

How to clean the inside of your fireplace:

Many people empty the ash from their wood burning stove far too often. It's actually beneficial to leave a layer of ash at the bottom of the wood stove. This ash insulates and protects the base of the stove – and the floor beneath it – from the intense heat of the fire.

If you do want to empty the ash, wait a few days after your last fire. As mentioned, ash is an excellent insulating material, which means small, glowing embers can stay hidden in the ash for many hours, or even days, after the fire has gone out.

Tips for emptying the ash:

• Empty the ash into a metal bucket with a metal lid. Leave the bucket standing until you're completely sure there are no embers left in the ash. Ash cannot be composted, but it can be used as fertiliser if it comes from clean, untreated wood. Otherwise, it can be disposed of with general household waste.

• You can also use an ash vacuum cleaner to remove the ash. It's important that you never use a regular vacuum cleaner! If there are still embers in the ash, it can be a fire hazard and damage the vacuum.

Cleaning the outside of your fireplace:

On the outside of the fireplace, dusting with a dry microfibre cloth is generally all you need.

If a more thorough clean is required, consider what type of wood burning stove you have:

• If you have a painted stove, be careful with what you use for cleaning, as the painted surface scratches easily. Don't use abrasive cleaners, and avoid using too much water if you have a cast iron stove – it can cause rust spots.
  

• Fireplaces with an enameled surface, on the other hand, can withstand most things without getting scratches or rust stains. You can easily wash them with a damp cloth and lukewarm water. You can clearly see if you have an enameled fireplace stove as they are often very shiny.
  

• If you have a soapstone stove, you must take care of the stone's natural gray color so that it does not become dull. Wash with a damp cloth with mild soapy water, if you have more difficult stains, you can lightly sand them away with fine steel wool or fine sandpaper.

Jøtul also recommends a further check and maintenance of the fireplace once a year

At least once a year, Jøtul recommends that you remove the vault and fire plates and check that they are in good condition. Your local heating dealer can help you with this.

Remember to check the burner plates and the burning chamber(the beige plates in the picture) for damage before the heating season. If you find damage or large cracks, you should contact your nearest heating dealer for further advice.

Also check the riddling grate and the base plate for damage. Brush away loose soot particles from these and the rest of the combustion chamber. Internal parts wear over time and occasionally need to be replaced. Whether and how often depends on how hard and how much you use your stove.

The gaskets around the glass and the door should also be inspected, and replaced if damaged.

The gaskets in the stove door (the black rope seal on the inside of the door and around the glass) should be whole and intact.

A clean fireplace and chimney are essential for eco-friendly burning

A clean wood burning stove and a clean chimney are essential for achieving eco-friendly combustion and avoiding a soot fire, which can damage the chimney and, in the worst case, lead to a house fire. Older, non-clean-burning stoves produce significantly more soot than modern, clean-burning wood stoves. In such cases, the chimney sweep will also offer guidance on correct burning technique and suggest improvements.