Log burner stoves are a wonderful addition to any home, but to ensure that they continue to look their best, you need to ensure that you are regularly cleaning and maintaining yours. Not only does cleaning the interior and exterior of your wood burner keep it looking fantastic, but it also helps to maximise its efficiency and safety.

While there can be no denying the benefits of maintaining and cleaning your stove, what is the best way to do it?

Tips and tricks to clean the interior of a wood burner

As with any form of maintenance or cleaning, ensuring that you have a regular pattern is essential and will reduce the amount of work you have to do. Your cleaning schedule will depend on how often you use your stove, but you should try to clean it at least once a month to ensure that you are removing soot and debris – just remember to wait for it to completely cool before starting.

When cleaning the interior or exterior of your wood burner, you should wear protective gloves and old clothing to prevent soot or ash from hurting you or staining your clothes. First, use a small spade to remove the ash, placing it carefully into a metal container or bucket.

Once removed, you can then begin cleaning the interior glass door. There are various methods of doing this, but a damp cloth and some elbow grease is the best way to keep your stove looking its best. While cleaning your door, examine it for any damage or signs of wear, and if you have seen potential cracks or damage, then you should replace the log burner glass as soon as possible. During the cleaning process, you should also examine the flue and door seals to ensure that they have not worn away.

Tips and tricks to clean the exterior of a wood burner

After cleaning the interior of your wood burner, you should then turn your attention to the exterior. Cleaning the exterior of your wood burner is a far simpler process, and you can usually remove dust and soot with your vacuum. You can also use a soft brush to get to those hard to reach places.

You should try to avoid using a damp cloth to clean the exterior of your wood burner, as, over time, this can cause the metal to begin to corrode and rust. If you do notice that your stove is looking a little worn, then you could consider freshening it up with some paint.

Keep your stove clean

The best way to keep your wood burner clean and operating as efficiently as designed, then you should remember to regularly ensure you are removing dirt and soot. You should also only burn clean and dry wood in your stove, as this will minimise the build-up of ash and ensure you can always clearly see the flickering flame through the glass door.