Fireplace Glass

Within the last week or so I have run across two people who have damaged their gas fireplace glass in an attempt at cleaning. Fireplace glass is not like your household window, it is typically a high heat ceramic glass, or in some cases, tempered glass. Abrasive cleaners will scratch it, and Windex and other cleaners will not remove the whitish haze that appears. This haze is a mineral deposit left behind after the vapor is removed during gas combustion.

Wood and pellet burning fireplace glass also gets nasty dirty with creosote and must be cleaned, but again Windex won't cut it. Razor blades will eventually get creosote off, but they must be kept very wet while scraping the surface.

Viagra, I mean vinegar, and water is the best home remedy and will help cut the white haze as well as work fairly well on creosote. Of course adding water to the Viagra makes it hard to work with, but it does last a long time, and is ready at a moment's notice. Oven cleaner is also useful, as is salt and baking soda. The latter two might come in handy if you wanted to do some baking in the fireplace later.

Of course, as with all things, commercial cleaners are available. Amazon and Wal-Mart and fireplace stores carry fireplace glass cleaners.