Cleaning the glass on wood/pellet stoves

[K3]

You'd think there would be a newsgroup that discusses nothing but
wood/pellet stoves 'cause of all the questions that I ask.

Anyway, Things are going better with my new pellet stove. I've come to
accept the fact that my old VC Dutchwest is being enjoyed in someone else's
livingroom.

Now... my question... being the earth-friendly type of person that I am, I'm
trying to avoid using the glass cleaner that the pellet stove dealer gave
me, even tho it seems to work the best/easiest. I've tried Windex, white
vinegar, and even lots of elbow-grease, but nothing works as good as the
glass cleaner that they gave me. It says that it contains "isopropanol" --
what is that? Is is basically rubbing alcohol? There's lots of warnings
on the bottle about nose/throat/eye/skin/vapor irritations, so I'm guessing
it contains other harmful chemicals.

Any simple, "earth-friendly", homemade cleaning solution that works good on
creosote deposits and soot on glass?

Thanks!

--
Kendall F. Stratton III (K3)
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_THE_SPAM)maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3

[Janet Baraclough]

The message <a6gejn$dl7oq$1...@ID-89669.news.dfncis.de>
from "K3" <k3@(86_THE_SPAM)maine.rr.com> contains these words:

> Any simple, "earth-friendly", homemade cleaning solution that works good on
> creosote deposits and soot on glass?

A razorblade in a plastic holder, the sort you get in DIY sheds,
does the job in seconds (on cold glass).

Janet.

[Ed J]

I dip a dampened paper towel dipped into wood ash from the fire and use
that to clean the glass. Works as well or better than any commercial
product. Clean the ash off with another dampened clean towel.

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ed J e...@attglobal.net

[Steve Dunlop]

Kendall,

Isopropanol is fairly benign. The warnings are there but may
only apply when you breathe the stuff constantly in considerable
concentrations.

We use ammonia cleaner, full strength just like it comes out
of the jug from the hardware store. Takes the soot right off.

--
Steve Dunlop
Nerstrand, MN
www.nerstrand.net

[J Gossett]

"K3" <k3@(86_THE_SPAM)maine.rr.com> wrote in message
news:a6gejn$dl7oq$1...@ID-89669.news.dfncis.de...

It says that it contains "isopropanol" --
> what is that? Is is basically rubbing alcohol? There's lots of
warnings
> on the bottle about nose/throat/eye/skin/vapor irritations, so I'm
guessing
> it contains other harmful chemicals.

It's just alcohol, but probably in a higher concentrate. Usually rubbing
alcohol is only 50-70%.

J Gossett

[K3]

"Janet Baraclough" <janet.a...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:200203102...@zetnet.co.uk...

I believe that the glass on wood/pellet stoves have some sort of a
protective coating on it (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that would
be damaged by the razor blade. (?)

[K3]

I will try cleaning the glass with the ashes next time. Thanks.

--
Kendall F. Stratton III (K3)
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_THE_SPAM)maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3

"Ed J" <e...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3C8BCEB5...@attglobal.net...

[K3]

If Ed's suggestion (using a damp paper towel and ashes) doesn't work then
I'll try the ammonia. Because of allergies I'm gonna try to stay away from
chemicals. Thanks!

--
Kendall F. Stratton III (K3)
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_THE_SPAM)maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3

"Steve Dunlop" <dun...@bitstream.net> wrote in message
news:r%Ri8.10936$Vx1.8...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...

[K3]

"J Gossett" <jjwal...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:a6h8l9$6nb$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net...

So then maybe a paper towel saturated in rubbing alcohol will work? I'll
give it a try! Thanks!

[John A. Stanley]

In article <8k9o8uocfuh30dt7n...@4tx.com>,
Grunyion <gba...@mediaone.net> wrote:

>It's "Rubbing Alcohol aka Wood Alcohol" and very poisonous if ingested.
>Doesn't harm the skin if applied in moderation. Definitely not the
>Drinking Stuff!

Rubbing alcohol is isopropanol which is definitely NOT the same thing as
wood alcohol. Wood alcohol is methanol, and I'm quite certain you DON'T
want to apply it externally.

--
John A. Stanley Remove delicious mucilaginous vegetable to email

[Goedjn]

That, as written, doesn't make any sense.

(1) If it's allergies that are bothering you, most chemicals
won't make any diference, and (2) If it's chemical sensitivity
that's the issue, you should note that ashes work because
they've got a lot of potash (a chemical) mixed in with assorted
abrasives. If you have skin sensitivities, you'll want to
wear gloves while using the wet ashes.

If it's volitile vapors that give you troubles, I'd expect
ammonia to be just as bad as isopropyl alcohol.

[K3]

... and I can't say that I disagree with you... just 'bout any cleaning
solution bothers my sinuses. I'm not only concerned 'bout myself, but also
the environment. I've cut back to using only white vinegar, baking soda,
bleach and Simple Green for cleaning (which seems to help a lot with the
allergies). I'm still uncertain 'bout using ammonia or rubbing alcohol,
but it just seems that they might be better/safer (for you and me and the
environment) than using the harsh chemicals that are in everyday cleaning
products that we pick up at our local supermarkets.

I'm not saying that what I do will make sense... I'm just looking for tips &
suggestions for being more friendly to you, your family, my family, and our
environment. Please... no flaming 'bout me being one of those
nature-freaks!!!

--
Kendall F. Stratton III (K3)
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_THE_SPAM)maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3

"Goedjn" <Goe...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:3C8CD009...@pobox.com...

[Ray Manning]

My stove glass is self cleaning (Lopi Endeavor) I just need to get a hot
fire going and the brown burns off the glass. I only need to wipe ash off it
once in a while. I don't know if you can get a pellet stove to burn hotter
or not but if you can, you might try that. I've used the ash and paper towel
method on a couple other stoves with success too.

- Ray

"Ed J" <e...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3C8BCEB5...@attglobal.net...

[K3]

ABSOLUTELY!!! My old Elmira Stove Works woodstove (that's down in my
basement workshop which is burned 24/7 during the winter) and my *sold*
Vermont-Castings Dutchwest (which was replaced with the new pellet stove)
will eventually clean itself once I get the fire hot enough... but the new
Harman Advanced Pellet Stove seems to get those "wavy ripple" marks on the
glass and won't clean itself no matter how hot I burn the pellet stove. I
removed the artificial log (and the bracket that holds it) and have noticed
a much better job the "air wash" does on the glass, but it ain't like a
woodstove where it'll all burn off -- still needs a scrubbing daily. I'm
anxious to see how the wet wood ash & paper towel method of cleaning the
glass works.

--
Kendall F. Stratton III (K3)
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k3@(86_THE_SPAM)maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3

"Ray Manning" <re...@newsgroup.net> wrote in message
news:JC6j8.15597$IN3.3...@kent.svc.tds.net...

[TJ]

WINDEX works. When I go to start a new fire, first thing I do is spray
down the glass from a bottle of Windex (or generic substitute by the
gallon from Farm & Fleet) that I keep by the stove and let it sit on
there and soak while I deal with the ashes and build the fire. Last
thing before starting it is wipe down the glass with a paper towel. A
single edge razor blade kept nearby finishes the tough spots if I'm
feeling anal (seldom). Then toss in the paper towel and fire it up.
Hot fires do reduce deposition on windows. Depends mostly on kind of
wood though.

I'm gonna try that wet ashes approach though -- but maybe not till next
Fall the way the season's moving now.

TJ

[Sherwood Botsford]

Various people have proposed various things.

All the uses of alchohol either isopropanol (rubbing) and methanol (wood)
are tough on people, although diluted in the environment decompose
fairly quickly. (It's the fumes that are harmful to nerves.)

I usually just run a BRASS scraper. Some other people advocate using
a razor scrapper, but these make me nervous. They have sharp corners
and can scratch glass. Once a scractch starts, successive heat/cool
cycles could cause the glass to shatter. I've not seen this happen,
so maybe I'm a nervous nellie.

A lot of the good car winshield scrappers have a strip of brass with
rounded corners.

The junk on the glass is essentially something between tar and coke
(coke, the fuel, not the drink, and not the drug.) Any organic type
solvent should work fairly well. Try a nylon scrub pad wetted
with diesel fuel or mineral spirits. DON'T USE GASOLINE.

Needless to say, since these are flamable liquids, use with
some common sense. e.g. Putting your fuel soaked hand in the fire
is probably a Bad Idea (tm).

[John Gilmer]

>
> The junk on the glass is essentially something between tar and coke
> (coke, the fuel, not the drink, and not the drug.) Any organic type
> solvent should work fairly well.

IF the junk is really "tar" then regular organic solvents will not work
(including paint thinner, alcohol, and even gasoline.)

Stuff like benzene is usually effective against tar. Some other stuff MAY
work too (this isn't a problem I face often.) Some of the "other stuff"
can be found in auto accessories and parts stores and is used to clean fuel
system parts or brake system parts. What you want is something that says
in big print to NOT get on your car's paint!

Note that "road tar" is used in place of asphalt when you want black top
when gasoline is likely to end up on the ground. When gas gets on
"regular" black top, the gas washes away the "black" and leaves sand and
gravel behind.