Yes, ash is an abrasive. However, what is happening here is that when you add water to wood ash your create caustic lye, caustic soda, or sometimes called toxic alkalies, which consume the hydro-carbons staining the glass by breaking the bonds holding them together. This is a great trick and works very well but WEAR GLOVES. Please! Over time you will end up with nerve damage in your fingers, hand, and or arm. Simple leather gloves will work, just protect your skin from that stuff. Seriously. Thank you for the video.
Thank you for posting this! I had tried everything to clean the church glass votive candle holders. Nothing worked until I watched this video, went to the fireplace, scooped up a cup of ash, and cleaned them!! Thank you!! Ash is used to make soap. YES!
Thank you for this great tip. We just had a wood burning insert installed in our fireplace and have used it about three times -- the glass sure does get sooty. We will give the ash and water or vinegar a try -- I liked the video -- the glass seemed to clean up well. I also like the fact that is a natural remedy. Thanks for sharing.
It gets sooty meaning your fire is not burning hot, if you keep it med to high it will get a lot less soot, there should be no smoke if it is burning hot enough.
Holy cow this is legit. I hate the smell of vinegar. This is so easy thanks for sharing. Just bought my house with a wood fireplace and know nothing about them this definitely helped!
Thank you so much. This is the best ever. I've been using the water/vinager for several years but having problem getting the glass in the back of the fireplace cleaned. I added the ashes & it's coming right off! Plus makes a difference using paper towels over cloth, use paper towels!
Thank you so much !!!! Been driving me crazy and tried your way worked in less than a minute !!!! Thank you so much for sharing this video 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😀😀😀😀
Over time I now use a Paper towel dipped in water when glass is pretty warm, the the water sizzles and steams and bubbles off the black, a lot easier, I use Kitchen tongs to hold it since the steam is hot, but it really removes the thick soot on the corners of the glass.
One guy online uses straight ammonia. I've used both the ash and ammonia, and it doesn't get any easier than the ammonia. You spray it on, let it sit about 20 seconds, then simply wipe it clean. Repeat as needed. Way less scrubbing, but a little more stinky.
Not saying you are incorrect, because this method does work! I found this was far too much elbow-grease for me.... and I’m a big guy that doesn’t mind hard work lol! But I tell you what, I found Easy-Off under my sink, sprayed it on the glass and it literally falls off!!!! I used a paper-towel to wipe it down and it took like 2 minutes. Give it a try. One pass and you’ll be happy you tried it lol
Nice trick. Thanks! I have the same stove. Have you ever replaced the glass frame gasket? It's hidden in the door frame trough beneath the removable glass frame brackets. Trying to find out what material they used. Owner's manual doesn't even identify it as a part. Stuff fell apart when I wiped it. Called the dealer because Quadrafire doesn't want to speak to its customers. We'll see how long it takes. Thanks, Paul
Over time I found an easier way, do it when glass is how use soaking wet paper towels it bubbles right off.. when I say hot not with raging fire but if left on low with logs, open and clean with dripping wet towels, easier.
Hey "think like a horse" guy! I learned something similar by adding water to ash in a bowl and making a paste. Instead of a paper towel use crumpled up newspaper you don't have to scrub so hard, dip in the paste, and scrub!
Been doing it this way for years. The commercially available cleaners are expensive and stink, and don't work any better than this method. I like to do it when the glass is still fairly warm, just enough to make the paper towel steam a little. The steam cuts some of the heavier stuff a little quicker.
Guns - Shooting - Ammo - Police & Military Tactics & Training, Preppers, Survivalist thanks.. I'm in Alabama, seems with the research I've done that is the case here..
+Rob I used to use this method to clean nasty windows on my truck when I was out camping/mudding. Works great and the newspaper was a lot better at getting the mud off.
Rick, Nice trick, Had the same problem and no solutions available. My Method is easier. Get the glass warm and spray with windex and just wipe it off. Start the fire small, It will had some heat to the glass, try to clean and see if it works, if not close and warm it a LITTLE MORE and try again. Not measured, but guessing it will be 125 - 175 F . windex will run down the glass pane vs boiling off on contact ( Less than 212 F ) { 212 is boiling point of water at Atmospheric Pressure } WARNING : if glass is HOT you will most-likely Thermoshock the glass. Start Cold and heat lightly with fire and find sweet spot. Been cleaning mine for 20+ years this way. As for the wood, you could do that, the wood needs to softer than the glass. If you got debris or something different story. Paper towels can scratch glass too depending on glass type, and what you call a scratch. Think about a machinist cutting metal. Tools are harder and tougher than material so you get a chip and no tool damage. Broke a threading Tap in a part the other day. After cursing and wishing I had bought a tapping head. I broke out some carbide drill bits and was able to remove the tap in slow process. Got a box of those drills off of Ebay real cheap long ago. Finally got to use them. Yes I destroyed a few drill, but saved the part. Hardened Tap softer than a carbide drill. Regular HSS drill would do nothing.
I was told by maker not to use any chemicals like windex, however I now clean in the morning after the wood has burnt out and glass is just hot enough to sizzle water and I take a soaking wet paper towel and wet the entire glass and then wipe off, seems to work easier but every once and a while I have to use some ash for tough spots
The OEM 's Attorney and Safety Sally representative more interesting in themselves or your cleaning time? I wouldn't expect anything less. I would say the same thing if I was on their payroll The windex or other cleaning solutions will vaporize and then scary chemicals in the air. Ohh no Mr. Bill. MSDS on windex might be interesting to review. www.scjohnson.ca/pdfViewer.aspx?pkMSDSId=375&language=en Not saying this is a good vapor, just not dead yet thou. Temperature changes hot or cold is a tool in your tool box. I added ASH to my tool list with toothpaste, rouge agents and buffing paste. Thanks for heads up on Plexus btw. TIME is another tool we use without thinking about it... Take a parkerizing solution for a gun got to have it dialed into temperature. Leave a gun slide in solution too long while talking on phone, makes a sloppy gun. Eng buddy still bitches about that one. His error taught me to watch the clock closely when doing that type stuff. Test parts too. lol Ref: Sunnyside has good link for MSDS on common chemicals , I have it on my speed dial. www.sunnysidecorp.com/msds.php
Think Like A Cop - The Rest Of The Story, I cleaned up the glass today and it was really dirty and I was able to get it squeaky clean with your method. It was cold. But it still worked really well.
Yes & also some of the glass has like some type of plastic coating that some chemical cleaners can cause them to yellow or have a rainbow effect that is permanent. My heater is about 10yrs old and the dealer had warned me about using chemicals. Also burn a chimney cleaner & when cool clean glass works really well.
Thanks for the vid. Simple is always the best. Love d.i.y.'s. Inexpensive, effective and you probably have all the components on hand. Just wish I have a fireplace to try it out. Hope your feeling better.
K use a solution called super clean it does wonders 5 mins and it’s like new this product can be used for so many hard task even works wonders on rims and brake dust
Folks, every tip listed on you tube for pellet stove glass cleaning needs to add one important point .... and none of the seem to know an important secret : Never use a cloth rag to wipe off a hot glass window. that action creates burnt fiber from the rag.... a stuck on film that requires a razerblade . Before you try any of the vinegar, razerblade, ashes in water, windex, wet towel, etc .... first try the best and easiest if you are a first time user or owner ... if the glass has never been touched before, simply use 5 or 6 wadded up napkins on the fuzzy ash covering ... it wipes off in 3 seconds flat ..nothing else needed ... then every other month, wipe the clear clean glass with 0000 steel wool which polishes it to a glassy shine ....
Not correct - my wood is aged and dried, you get it from not burning hot enough fire and hot fire hitting cooler surface glass so it sticks. If I get fire hot enough most will burn off but all glass collects this, it is NOT wet or green wood.
I figured this would happen over time so I have been stocking up anyway. Lots of misinformation out there right now, so not sure what is really going on. We have such a weak congress they don't care what people want so writing them is a joke. Until the people stop voting the same assholes in, the problem will just keep getting worse. Anyone paying attention should be buying ammo each month like you would buy gold or silver or other supplies. Some say 1000 rounds per gun others say 10,000 per gun, ammo is a life time investment. If kept right it wont go bad and having too much is not really possible. in SHTF situation ammo will always be like money and can be traded or bartered for other things.
My dad buys silver and thinks I'm not being responsible because I buy ammo instead. I tell him the only precious metal ill ever buy is lead. Your right about the politicians but I've emailed anyway. Every election I've ever voted in the only choices are between two douchbags, so I don't know how to vote anyone out.
Yes, ash is an abrasive. However, what is happening here is that when you add water to wood ash your create caustic lye, caustic soda, or sometimes called toxic alkalies, which consume the hydro-carbons staining the glass by breaking the bonds holding them together.
This is a great trick and works very well but WEAR GLOVES. Please!
Over time you will end up with nerve damage in your fingers, hand, and or arm. Simple leather gloves will work, just protect your skin from that stuff. Seriously.
Thank you for the video.
Good info. Thank you.
Thank you for posting this! I had tried everything to clean the church glass votive candle holders. Nothing worked until I watched this video, went to the fireplace, scooped up a cup of ash, and cleaned them!! Thank you!! Ash is used to make soap. YES!
Thank you. My mom always used oven cleaner. The chem smell was awful. I heard about using the ash, but didn't believe it. You proved it works!
Thank you from Romania! You just made our job so much easier! 😀
Happy to help!
AMAZING! Just watched this and cleaned my yucky glass in about 4 minutes! THANK YOU!
Thank you for this great tip. We just had a wood burning insert installed in our fireplace and have used it about three times -- the glass sure does get sooty. We will give the ash and water or vinegar a try -- I liked the video -- the glass seemed to clean up well. I also like the fact that is a natural remedy. Thanks for sharing.
It gets sooty meaning your fire is not burning hot, if you keep it med to high it will get a lot less soot, there should be no smoke if it is burning hot enough.
Holy cow this is legit. I hate the smell of vinegar. This is so easy thanks for sharing. Just bought my house with a wood fireplace and know nothing about them this definitely helped!
Thank you so much. This is the best ever. I've been using the water/vinager for several years but having problem getting the glass in the back of the fireplace cleaned. I added the ashes & it's coming right off! Plus makes a difference using paper towels over cloth, use paper towels!
Perfect solution, thanks for posting. TOok me less tan 15 minutes to clean my glass to crystral clear condition.
Tried this on my gas fireplace. Worked a bit with water but not enough... so I tried vinegar and holy smokes, it works!! Thanks for the tip!
Glad it helped!
Amazing!, worked exactly like you claimed. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much !!!! Been driving me crazy and tried your way worked in less than a minute !!!! Thank you so much for sharing this video 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😀😀😀😀
Over time I now use a Paper towel dipped in water when glass is pretty warm, the the water sizzles and steams and bubbles off the black, a lot easier, I use Kitchen tongs to hold it since the steam is hot, but it really removes the thick soot on the corners of the glass.
Beautiful fireplace and thanks to you Rick, we can keep them looking that way! Thank you so much for helping us in so many different ways.
tryto helpthem I'm pretty curious about what his house looks like on the inside.
One guy online uses straight ammonia. I've used both the ash and ammonia, and it doesn't get any easier than the ammonia. You spray it on, let it sit about 20 seconds, then simply wipe it clean. Repeat as needed. Way less scrubbing, but a little more stinky.
Thank you man! It worked just like magic!
Tried it today and it worked great.
Not saying you are incorrect, because this method does work! I found this was far too much elbow-grease for me.... and I’m a big guy that doesn’t mind hard work lol! But I tell you what, I found Easy-Off under my sink, sprayed it on the glass and it literally falls off!!!! I used a paper-towel to wipe it down and it took like 2 minutes. Give it a try. One pass and you’ll be happy you tried it lol
Pinesol and ash with newspaper or paper towels works well too. I use a razor scraper for the really thick stuff
Great. Really worked well, and was so easy! I’m really glad I watched this. Thank you for sharing.
Genius! Thanks for posting
Happy to help!
Do the same thing in the video but use a piece of loosely crumpled newspaper instead of the paper towel and it cleans it in half the time.
Nice trick. Thanks!
I have the same stove. Have you ever replaced the glass frame gasket? It's hidden in the door frame trough beneath the removable glass frame brackets. Trying to find out what material they used. Owner's manual doesn't even identify it as a part. Stuff fell apart when I wiped it. Called the dealer because Quadrafire doesn't want to speak to its customers. We'll see how long it takes.
Thanks,
Paul
yes I did, got it off ebay, type in and it will come up
Way to go, man! Thanks for putting out the video!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you. just did this on my fireplace glass. Worked like a charm!
Lifesaver! Great tip, thanks for sharing.
Using 0000 steel wool is great for cleaning soot and other things off glass. Very quick, less labor intensive and won't scratch the glass.
Thank you for this!! I have tie dye glass on my fireplace! Brown, dark brown, black, reddish....
This worked for me too. Thanks a lot for the tip!!!
Over time I found an easier way, do it when glass is how use soaking wet paper towels it bubbles right off.. when I say hot not with raging fire but if left on low with logs, open and clean with dripping wet towels, easier.
Use wet scrunched up newspaper works like a treat.
I posted a month ago that I use water and paper towels, which works. Using the ash made the heavier soot much easier to remove.
Hey "think like a horse" guy! I learned something similar by adding water to ash in a bowl and making a paste. Instead of a paper towel use crumpled up newspaper you don't have to scrub so hard, dip in the paste, and scrub!
This works really well!
I find in the particularly bad areas to carefully use a razor blade, this will very quickly remove stubborn burnt on residues
Thanks I will try it
Will this work if u burn coal and wood. Will the ash contain soot?
Thanks for this 👍🏻
No problem 👍
Great tip! Works very well! Thanks!
Been doing it this way for years. The commercially available cleaners are expensive and stink, and don't work any better than this method. I like to do it when the glass is still fairly warm, just enough to make the paper towel steam a little. The steam cuts some of the heavier stuff a little quicker.
prairie wanderer I tried a lot of different methods, nothing worked. The solution in your video worked great! Thanks
This works pretty good it came right off except for a line that will take a little elbow grease lol
it works real good just did mine thanks for the help
Thank you for this tip!!
It did the job thank you!! 😁
👌👌👌legend
That really helped me a lot. Thanks!!!
Thanks you!
Tried brake clean and goof off, this worked better !
Best thing I have found is CLR GRILL cleaner. It instantly runs off like water.
Worked like a breeze. Thanks. 😃
Thank you
Magic eraser works perfect
Hey Rick, quick gun question. Do I have to register a pistol I'm gonna buy from my brother in law if i plan to carry it? Thanks
Depends in what state you live. In Texas, NO , that is a pvt purchase and no paperwork is required.
Guns - Shooting - Ammo - Police & Military Tactics & Training, Preppers, Survivalist thanks.. I'm in Alabama, seems with the research I've done that is the case here..
Newspaper with water and soot I have found works even better than paper towels
+Rob I used to use this method to clean nasty windows on my truck when I was out camping/mudding. Works great and the newspaper was a lot better at getting the mud off.
Use sugar soap, leave 5 or 10 mins, lightly spray again, wipe off.
Yep. Water, ash and a little elbow grease is all you need.
great tip. Thanks.
Rick, Nice trick, Had the same problem and no solutions available.
My Method is easier. Get the glass warm and spray with windex and just wipe it off.
Start the fire small, It will had some heat to the glass, try to clean and see if it works, if not close and warm it a LITTLE MORE and try again.
Not measured, but guessing it will be 125 - 175 F . windex will run down the glass pane vs boiling off on contact ( Less than 212 F ) { 212 is boiling point of water at Atmospheric Pressure }
WARNING : if glass is HOT you will most-likely Thermoshock the glass. Start Cold and heat lightly with fire and find sweet spot.
Been cleaning mine for 20+ years this way.
As for the wood, you could do that, the wood needs to softer than the glass. If you got debris or something different story. Paper towels can scratch glass too depending on glass type, and what you call a scratch.
Think about a machinist cutting metal. Tools are harder and tougher than material so you get a chip and no tool damage.
Broke a threading Tap in a part the other day. After cursing and wishing I had bought a tapping head. I broke out some carbide drill bits and was able to remove the tap in slow process. Got a box of those drills off of Ebay real cheap long ago. Finally got to use them. Yes I destroyed a few drill, but saved the part.
Hardened Tap softer than a carbide drill. Regular HSS drill would do nothing.
I was told by maker not to use any chemicals like windex, however I now clean in the morning after the wood has burnt out and glass is just hot enough to sizzle water and I take a soaking wet paper towel and wet the entire glass and then wipe off, seems to work easier but every once and a while I have to use some ash for tough spots
The OEM 's Attorney and Safety Sally representative more interesting in themselves or your cleaning time? I wouldn't expect anything less. I would say the same thing if I was on their payroll
The windex or other cleaning solutions will vaporize and then scary chemicals in the air. Ohh no Mr. Bill. MSDS on windex might be interesting to review.
www.scjohnson.ca/pdfViewer.aspx?pkMSDSId=375&language=en
Not saying this is a good vapor, just not dead yet thou.
Temperature changes hot or cold is a tool in your tool box. I added ASH to my tool list with toothpaste, rouge agents and buffing paste. Thanks for heads up on Plexus btw.
TIME is another tool we use without thinking about it...
Take a parkerizing solution for a gun got to have it dialed into temperature. Leave a gun slide in solution too long while talking on phone, makes a sloppy gun. Eng buddy still bitches about that one. His error taught me to watch the clock closely when doing that type stuff. Test parts too. lol
Ref: Sunnyside has good link for MSDS on common chemicals , I have it on my speed dial.
www.sunnysidecorp.com/msds.php
Thank you for this. You make lye by percolating water through wood ashes, IIRC. This may just relate to the cleaning effectiveness here. ;-)
I use Pinesol. Works great. Not an abrasive.
good bro
you can also use tooth past with the crystal granules.
Wood ash is alkaline (caustic), which means it has a high pH level.
...
This is Awsome.
Thank you for sharing this
the warmer the glass the easier it comes off
Think Like A Cop - The Rest Of The Story, I cleaned up the glass today and it was really dirty and I was able to get it squeaky clean with your method. It was cold. But it still worked really well.
Yes & also some of the glass has like some type of plastic coating that some chemical cleaners can cause them to yellow or have a rainbow effect that is permanent. My heater is about 10yrs old and the dealer had warned me about using chemicals. Also burn a chimney cleaner & when cool clean glass works really well.
I burn coal in my fire. can I use the ash from that?
Thanks for the vid. Simple is always the best. Love d.i.y.'s. Inexpensive, effective and you probably have all the components on hand. Just wish I have a fireplace to try it out. Hope your feeling better.
What if you don’t have Ash???
USE WATER PAPER TOWEL ON WARM GLASS
I use either wet newspaper or wet paper towel. i dont use anything else, it comes right off.
K use a solution called super clean it does wonders 5 mins and it’s like new this product can be used for so many hard task even works wonders on rims and brake dust
Folks, every tip listed on you tube for pellet stove glass cleaning needs to add one important point .... and none of the seem to know an important secret : Never use a cloth rag to wipe off a hot glass window. that action creates burnt fiber from the rag.... a stuck on film that requires a razerblade . Before you try any of the vinegar, razerblade, ashes in water, windex, wet towel, etc .... first try the best and easiest if you are a first time user or owner ... if the glass has never been touched before, simply use 5 or 6 wadded up napkins on the fuzzy ash covering ... it wipes off in 3 seconds flat ..nothing else needed ... then every other month, wipe the clear clean glass with 0000 steel wool which polishes it to a glassy shine ....
the stuff that is burned onto the glass is creosote and you get creosote from burning 'green' wood.
Not correct - my wood is aged and dried, you get it from not burning hot enough fire and hot fire hitting cooler surface glass so it sticks. If I get fire hot enough most will burn off but all glass collects this, it is NOT wet or green wood.
has anyone ever tried silicone based nu finish car polish to facilitate things.? "the once a year car polish.."
♥
Sometimes I find that if the fire gets hot enough, it'll actually burn the soot off the glass.
You really are amazing! Is there anything you do NOT do? How is it that you aren't married? And yes, this works great on the glass!
how do even you know he ain't married? you crazy stalker
Baba Looey That cracked me up XD
shelby marie
:)
And now another question, do someone know how to make it protected from getting dirty
Use properly dried hardwood only.
👍🏼
that is so weird and convenient lol
Water and ash makes sodium hydroxide aka lye, aka Drano etc.
There trying to take our m855 Rick. Lets get the word out to email our congressman.
I figured this would happen over time so I have been stocking up anyway. Lots of misinformation out there right now, so not sure what is really going on. We have such a weak congress they don't care what people want so writing them is a joke. Until the people stop voting the same assholes in, the problem will just keep getting worse. Anyone paying attention should be buying ammo each month like you would buy gold or silver or other supplies. Some say 1000 rounds per gun others say 10,000 per gun, ammo is a life time investment. If kept right it wont go bad and having too much is not really possible. in SHTF situation ammo will always be like money and can be traded or bartered for other things.
My dad buys silver and thinks I'm not being responsible because I buy ammo instead. I tell him the only precious metal ill ever buy is lead. Your right about the politicians but I've emailed anyway. Every election I've ever voted in the only choices are between two douchbags, so I don't know how to vote anyone out.
Shane K I always vote for the republican douche bags, lol. Not that I think that is the answer but I HATE democrats. Sorry if that offends anyone.
It's not the way to go. Fine steel wool and little bit of dish soap
What he's doing will scratch the glass over time
Fine steel wool would do the same damage over time.
Dude chimney cleaning and stove installation is what we do been doing this 50 years
Grade 2 steel wool will no scratch the glass ..
Start another fire, close the door. Fire will clean glass. End.
Ummm...clearly they have had mkre than one fire in there and it didn't help. 🤦♀️
You can use woodprix, it has the best handbooks and ready instructions. You can learn much from them and make it yourself.
I will try to do it with Stodoys plans.
I'm in Alabama.. Not sure what the law is exactly
www.handgunlaw.us/states/alabama.pdf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Alabama
I looks like you are pretty good, no gun reg required in AL.
Thanks Rick. You da man.. Lol ur a wealth of information.
Dat ash
I am sure that you will find good way to make it on woodprix Webpage.
Listen up everyone
Use bars keepers friend
No questions asked
Is inexpensive and last a lot.
Home depot.
Case Closed.