How to Clean Fireplace Glass

Co-authored by Guy Peters

Last Updated: September 18, 2025

Nothing ruins a warm, cozy fire like blackened fireplace glass. While it might seem like any type of glass cleaner will work on fireplace glass, some cleaners actually don't work well. Don't worry—we'll walk you through the best cleaners to use on fireplace glass and how to get the glass sparkling clean again.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Fireplace Glass Cleaner

Do not try to clean the glass immediately after you have used the fireplace. Turn off your gas fireplace and ensure that the glass is cool when you try to clean it as this leads to the best results.^{[1]
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2
Open the glass door. Since gas fireplaces don’t require wood, many of them have glass doors that are locked in place rather than easily swinging open. You may have to refer to the owner’s manual or an online guide for your specific fireplace model to learn how to open the glass door.^{[2]
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- Many models require you to release door latches placed behind upper and/or lower louvre panels in order to open the glass door.
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Your local home improvement store, fireplace retailer, or online fireplace retailer will all have special fireplace glass cleaners available.^{[3]
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Guy Peters
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Expert Interview} You should not use Windex or any other ammonia based glass cleaner as it could have adverse effects. This is because carbon is the primary source of buildup on the fireplace glass, and ammonia-based cleaners are not formulated to clean carbon deposits.^{[4]
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Use a soft, dry cloth and pour some of the cleaner directly onto it before using the cloth to apply the cleaner to the glass. Your specific cleaner will provide instructions for the exact amount to use based on the size of your fireplace doors. However, it will probably be a dollop approximately the size of a fifty-cent piece.^{[5]
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With the cleaner on the cloth, begin at one corner of the glass and rub in small circular motions to get an even application of the cleaner across the glass. Continue rubbing until the cloth easily glides across the glass. This is the indication that you have sufficiently cleaned off any buildup on the glass.^{[6]
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Your specific cleaner will provide instructions on how long to allow the cleaner to dry. Ensure that you leave the cleaner on the glass for this full period, so it can continue penetrating any buildup.
Use a separate soft, dry cloth to buff the remainder of the cleaner off the glass after it has dried. As you buff, any cloudy spots from the cleaner will disappear to reveal the sparkling glass beneath.
If you have definitely buffed the cleaner away but some carbon buildup remains on the glass, repeat the process with another application of the fireplace glass cleaner.
Once the glass is clean, you’re all set. Make sure you properly reattach the door or clip it back into place for gas fireplace models.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Ash

This method only works for wood-burning fireplaces since it requires the leftover ash from the fuel source, which gas fireplaces do not leave behind. Open the glass doors to access the sooty glass.^{[7]
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You can use plain water if you wish, but adding the white vinegar helps break down the sooty carbon residue.^{[8]
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Research source} Adding the mix to a spray bottle will make it easier to apply, and the mixture makes a good cleaner for other household surfaces as well.
You don’t need to soak the towel or the cloth. Simply dampen it with the solution.
Find a spot of fine ash in the fireplace and dip the cloth in it to get a light layer over the damp portion.^{[9]
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Research source} Ensure that you only pick up the fine ash and not anything larger on the towel. Anything more abrasive than the fine ash can scratch the glass.^{[10]
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5
Scrub the sooty glass. The fine ash makes the perfect slightly abrasive material to scour the carbon residue on the glass. Scrub in small circles, but don’t worry about scrubbing too hard. You will likely have to apply more of the solution and dip the towel back into more ash several times as you go.^{[11]
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- The soot and ash will work into a paste as you scrub along each section of glass. This is how you can tell when you’re adding enough of the solution and ash.
- If any large pieces of residue are stuck to the glass and won’t budge, use a razor blade to break it down to something the paste can manage.^{[12]
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  Research source} Be very careful to contact the residue but not the glass with the razor blade. Otherwise, you risk scratching the glass.
Once you have scrubbed the soot off all portions of the glass, wipe away the ash/solution scouring paste. You can use another paper towel to wipe it away.
With the sooty paste wiped away, you can use the warm and vinegar solution and clean paper towels or a microfiber cloth to finish bringing the glass to a sparkle.^{[13]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What can I use to clean my fireplace glass?

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Guy Peters is the Owner of MOP STARS Cleaning Service, a complete house cleaning service for residential and commercial clients, based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2014, MOP STARS provides regular, move in/out, deep, and commercial cleaning services. Guy has a BA in Finance from the California State University - Sacramento and an MBA from Cornell University.

Guy Peters

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

It comes as quite the shock for many folks, but the tried and true method for cleaning fireplace glass is to use a mixture of water and ash right from the fireplace. You can add a little vinegar for some extra power, but I typically skip it in favor of a plain ash and water combination.

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Question

How do you clean a cloudy fireplace glass?

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Guy Peters is the Owner of MOP STARS Cleaning Service, a complete house cleaning service for residential and commercial clients, based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2014, MOP STARS provides regular, move in/out, deep, and commercial cleaning services. Guy has a BA in Finance from the California State University - Sacramento and an MBA from Cornell University.

Guy Peters

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Use a glass-friendly towel (microfiber works best) to give the glass a good wipe down with the water and ash solution, removing all the grime. From there, a combination of dishwashing soap and water will make the glass look clean and clear.

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Question

Can I just spit on newspaper and clean it with that?

Dylan Kersten

Community Answer

Well, in theory you can do that, but the spit will actually ruin the glass and leave streaks on it. Using water or a fireplace glass cleaner would be a much better option.

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