How to clean a Wood Stove (Complete Guide)

If you are trying to clean your wood stove, there are a lot of different ways to do it. You can clean the top grate with a vacuum cleaner or just wipe it down with soap and water. If you have ashes on the bottom of the stove, then use a dust pan and brush to clean them out. You can also clean out any ash that has fallen into the firebox by removing the grates from inside if they are metal or by using an old pot handle as a scraper if they’re not.

Wood stoves are great to use in the winter and provide immense warmth for homes. However, they do require a little bit of clean up every now and then. Here’s how you clean a wood stove:

Unplug your wood stove from the power source before beginning any cleaning process.
Scrub all surfaces with soap and water or other appropriate cleaner.
Wipe clean window area with glass cleaner.
Remove ash pan and clean it separately (You can also purchase an ash bucket that will allow easier removal of ashes without having to empty out the entire stove).
Vacuum clean around edges using brush attachment or crevice tool on vacuum cleaner.

Use a Clean Towel to clean Stove Top

If your ash pan is removable, you can use the vacuum cleaner brush attachment or crevice tool to go around the edges of your stove and clean up any dust that may have accumulated. If not, then just wipe down with soap and water (or whatever cleaning agent you prefer) using a clean towel. Be sure to clean the window area as well and wipe it down with glass cleaner. You can then replace your ash pan or empty out any ashes that you’ve collected into a bucket for disposal.

What is a wood stove?

A wood stove, also known as a fireplace or simply a stove, is an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating. It differs from a fire place by its smaller size and primary purpose of heat-only production rather than accessory use for cooking and/or ambience. Wood stoves are commonly used for heating a dwelling.

A wood stove is typically cylindrical or box-shaped, and made of steel, cast iron, or sometimes copper or other alloys. Some newer high tech stoves have clean lines that are designed to suit contemporary decorating styles. These often use small pieces of firewood as opposed to large logs which are more inefficient.

A wood stove works by the principle of “secondary combustion”, where a clean-burning hot fire heats smoke and gases inside the stove which are then released through an exhaust flue or chimney. The heat generated is transferred to all exposed surfaces either directly or via convection (hot air) passing around these components.

A clean wood stove is essential to burn cleanly and efficiently, thus providing more heat with less pollution. However, the process of burning a fuel generates creosote which can accumulate in chimneys or flues over time. This may be caused by combustion gases not fully igniting inside the appliance, resulting in unburned carbon particles emitting from the exhaust.

In order to clean a wood stove, you will need:

A clean cloth or rag
White vinegar and water solution (50/50) in a spray bottle if it is very greasy
Mild dish soap such as Dawn liquid detergent for more difficult stains
Wire brush & clean rags
Gloves.

How to clean a Wood Stove?

To clean your wood stove, follow these steps:

Clean the glass window with soap and water. Do not use too much force or you may break it. If hard stains are present on the glass allow mixture of vinegar/water solution sit for few minutes to clean it.
Use the wire brush to remove soot build up inside stove pipe if present. Vacuum clean or wipe clean with cloth after brushing clean. You can use a rag dampened in water and dish soap for more difficult stains on the stove pipe as well. Allow to dry before continuing further steps of cleaning process.
Wipe clean stove pipe with damp cloth and dish soap. Allow to dry completely before continuing further steps of the cleaning process. Repeat if necessary for difficult stains, but you must allow it to dry well first because moisture can cause rusting inside wood stoves over time which will require extensive repair work down the road and may even pose a danger.
Spray clean cloth with vinegar/water solution and wipe clean the exterior surface of the stove, including all controls if present. Allow to dry completely before continuing further steps of cleaning process.
Using a clean damp cloth sprayed with dish soap, wipe clean interior surfaces such as inside oven door glass or metal mesh screens that cover clean stove interior. Allow to dry completely before continuing further steps of the cleaning process.
Use clean cloth dampened with water and dish soap, wipe clean glass window on inside door surface if present after it is dried well from previous cleanings using vinegar/water solution. Repeat as necessary for difficult stains with fresh clean rags or towels each time.
Wipe clean exterior surface thoroughly with clean cloth dampened in water and dish soap if necessary, including all knobs/controls on stove controls area. Allow to dry completely before continuing further steps of the cleaning process.
Use clean cloth or towel sprayed with vinegar/water solution to wipe clean inside glass window after it is dried well from previous cleanings using dish soap and water solution on clean cloth or towel.
It is highly recommended to clean the stove pipe each time you clean your wood stove because creosote can build up in it over time which can cause chimney fires if allowed to accumulate too much. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning stove pipe.
If stove is greasy or oily clean as necessary with dish soap and clean rags, allowing to dry completely before continuing the cleaning process.
Allow wood stove to air out at least after each cleanings by opening the door for a few minutes if not overnight between cleanings until it no longer emits a strong smell of clean.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance of your particular model stove to clean it regularly, especially following cleaning process described here if not done so already. Do not allow the surface or interior surfaces to become greasy due to accumulation of excess cooking oil drippings over time because this will cause creosote build up which can cause chimney fires.
Further clean stove exterior as necessary with clean cloth or towel sprayed with vinegar/water solution and allow to dry completely before continuing the cleaning process.

Removing the Ashes

Move the ash pan to a safe location and empty it.

Use clean gloves when removing ashes from your wood stove! Ashes are extremely hot, even hours after the fire has gone out.

If you hear an unusual popping or cracking noise coming from inside of your clean Wood Stove that usually means there is still some smoldering embers inside the stove. Stir up those ashes and push them towards to clean Wood Stove’s air inlets so that they can be completely extinguished.

Let your clean Wood Stove sit overnight with its clean ash pan full of clean ashes before you begin another fire again in it. This will allow any remaining hot embers to cool completely.

Vacuum and Sweeping the Stovetop

First, clean the top of the stove. The top should be swept or vacuumed because there are ashes and other debris that can easily dirty your room .

Next, clean up all spills on the floor around it. If you spilled something while cooking (which is very common), clean it immediately to avoid any stains from setting in. You would not want to clean a dark stain on your floor just because you were too lazy to clean up the mess.

Now, clean out all of the ash inside of it by using either an ash vacuum or simply dumping it into a trash bag. Most modern stoves have removable trays so that they are easy to dump ashes from. Place them in a safe location where the wind will not blow it away.

Finally, clean out all of the ash from inside and outside of your Wood Stove. Sweep or vacuum up any remaining debris on top , as well as around it . Be sure to wipe down the exterior with a damp rag so that you can clean off fingerprints and other marks easily.

Cleaning out the Ash Pan with a Stiff Brush

Once clean, you can now continue onto the ash pan. The ashes are of course still hot so be careful not to burn yourself on them or get any of it on your clothes/body as they may cause damage.
The best way is to take a stiff brush and scrape off all remaining bits into a dustpan then clean the pan with a clean damp cloth.
If you have an ash shovel, this can be used as well to scoop out the ashes from the bottom of your stove and clean it off.
To help avoid creosote build up in future empty hot ashes into a metal bucket outside first then dispose them later on after they’ve cooled.
The clean stove can now be polished to a shine with any polish of your choice or left as is if you prefer the matte finish look, enjoy!

Washing any Removable Parts, Such as Grates or Doors

When you clean your wood stove, it is important to clean any removable parts. This includes the grates and doors of the stove. While these pieces are generally easy to clean with soap and water, even better results can be achieved by using vinegar or baking soda instead. You should always ensure that they have completely dried before placing them back in your wood stove.

The glass door of a clean wood stove is important for safety as well as efficiency, so you should clean it with the same care that you use to clean any other piece of your appliance. To clean this part without streaking it up, try using vinegar and newspaper instead of paper towels or shop rags which will leave lint behind. Remember to clean the glass on both sides, inside and out.

While you can clean your stove pipe with a wire brush or steel wool, it is generally not necessary for most people unless they have been working directly in their wood stove recently. If this is needed however, remember that it needs to be completely dry before placing it back into your stove.

Cleaning the ash out of a clean wood burning stove is one of the most important parts of owning an appliance like this, as its presence can be extremely hazardous if it accumulates too much inside or around your home. Make sure that you have adequate protection for yourself before beginning to clean any part of your firebox and clean it in a well ventilated area.

The base of your clean wood burning stove should be swept regularly to ensure that the ash does not accumulate too much before you clean out the inside again. Remember, do not sweep this part with anything metal so as not to scratch its surface or damage any internal parts such as wiring. Also clean out the clean wood stove’s area around it, to ensure that no ash builds up on your walls or floors.

Cleaning a clean wood burning stove is not always easy work and you will need to be patient as well as careful when doing so. However, with these tips in mind you should find cleaning both your appliance and yourself much easier.

Wiping down all Surfaces of the Stove Top

Start by wiping down all surfaces of the stove top. You can use a clean, dry microfiber cloth or paper towels for this task. However, do not wipe any surface that is hot—you don’t want to burn yourself!

Keep in mind you only need to clean those areas where spills happen and collect dust/grime. You can clean the whole stove top if you like, but it is unnecessary.

For stainless steel models:

Use a microfiber cloth to clean all surfaces of your oven. A dry or slightly damp clean cloth will do the trick nicely. It’s alright to use warm water in this case; no chemicals are needed!

For black, gas range ovens:

Use clean water and dishsoap to clean surfaces with heavy build up. Then use a clean dry cloth (or paper towels) to wipe down the stove top until it is completely dry. It’s not necessary to clean every surface of your oven; simply focus on those areas that collect dust and spills.
If needed, clean the oven door as well (with warm water and dishsoap). If you have a self-cleaning stove top/oven, clean it according to those instructions. You may need to replace your nonstick or aluminum cookware after cleaning with soap; check for damage before using again.

Placing an Aluminum Foil Sheet on top of Wood Stove to reflecting Heat Back to the Stove When not in Use

It is a good idea to place an aluminum foil sheet on top of wood stove when it’s not in use. This will help reflect heat back into the stove, which you can then enjoy whenever your fire goes out and clean up time comes around.

You can find out more about this tip in our blog post on the topic of cleaning your wood burning stove.

Environmental Protection

One of the most important environmental issues in today’s world is clean air. It was recently discovered that wood stoves are a major contributor to poor air quality in homes, especially in winter during heating season when they’re used more frequently. So finding better ways to heat our homes has become an ongoing search. If you want clean, healthy living environment clean your wood stove regularly.

Cleaning Process

When cleaning a new appliance, you need to be careful about the chemicals that are used. There is no sense of cleaning an already clean oven or stove with harsh chemicals if there’s nothing on it in the first place! So let’s look at what needs to happen before we clean.

First, clean the stove by removing all flammable items from around it. The last thing you want is for your clean oven to be covered in lighter fluid or kerosene that then ignites because someone accidentally knocked over an open flame near it. Next, remove any ashes inside of the fire box and empty out into a meta containerl.
Next clean the oven or stove by using a soapy sponge, clean rag and warm water to clean off any mildew in the bottom of your oven from all that extra moisture they’re receiving due to not being used often enough. A scrub brush can also be helpful for this process as well. If you have small holes at the bottom of your oven, clean them out with a metal brush to keep anything from sticking.

After cleaning the stove or oven, you will want to clean off any corrosion around the knobs and buttons by wiping down with vinegar. Finally clean off all surfaces inside and outside of your wood stove until it is nice and shiny again! And there you have it, a clean wood stove!

Safety Tips

There are some safety tips that you should know before cleaning your wood stove.
Always clean the stove in a well ventilated area, preferably outdoors or an open garage with doors and windows opened up to allow all of the fumes to escape. If possible, turn on any fans inside so they will help push out fumes as well.
Never clean the stove when it is still hot, as this can cause a fire hazard.
Keep young children and pets away from the clean wood stove to avoid any injuries or burns.
Always wear gloves when you are clearing out the wood stove.
Put on a mask or respirator to avoid inhaling any fumes that may arise from cleaning with water, vinegar, soap etc.
Make sure that the stove is clean and dry before putting it away.
Keep a bucket of water nearby when cleaning to put out any small fires or sparks from the firebox or ash pan in case they arise while you are working on your wood stove.

FAQs

How much does it cost?

The time and energy you put into the clean depends on the amount of work required to clean your wood stove. Generally, a good clean begins with removing ash from the floor and raking out any clinkers (pieces of unburned fuel that didn't burn) that may be stuck in crevices.

How often should I clean my wood stove?

A clean will vary depending on the amount of use your stove gets throughout the year, but if you are burning wet or unseasoned fuel it is recommended to clean yearly. If you burn seasoned wood, cleaning every two years should be enough for most home users. Some professionals clean more frequently, like every six months.

How do I clean the glass?

The glass on your wood stove is likely to get dirty over time, but it doesn't usually need cleaning more frequently than every six months. If you have a glass clean, you can clean it by applying a vinegar-water solution with a cloth. If the glass is very dirty or has smoke stains on it, use an abrasive cleanser sparingly to avoid scratching the surface.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the steps that you need to follow for clean a Wood Stove. With these mentioned tips and tricks, it will be easier for you to clean your wood stove in a safe way. If by chance there is any damage caused due to wrong cleaning methods then do not worry as here we have given some common mistakes made during clean a Wood Stove that you need to avoid at all costs.