Oven-Off for cleaning fireplace doors

I've been using oven cleaner on you wood stove glass door window for a long time. It works great!

What's wrong with cleaning the glass with the ashes in the fireplace? Works great and doesn't cost anything.

I have not heard of using fireplace ashes for cleaning. I would worry about scratching the glass if I used ashed.

I've been doing it for 4 years and my glass doesn't have any scratches on it.

Wood ashes are caustic, just like oven cleaner so I guess they would work. You could scratch the glass if there was something like sandy grit in them. I assume you wet them down before using.

You can make soap from hardwood ashes. Mix with water and animal fat.

Exactly!

Wet a paper towel, lightly dab in in the fine ash (ours are finer than flour) and scrub the hell out of the glass. When the towel is covered and the glass has a powdery haze, grab another sheet, dampen it and clean off the haze.

Our woodstove's glass door is ~ 14" diagonal and still in perfect shape after about 31 years of cleaning in this fashion.

I had similar experience with a carburetor from a lawn mower. In the case of the cheap metal carb, I'd suggest about ten seconds between spray of oven cleaner and the warm water rinse. Oven cleaner spray eats some metals.

Thank you for sharing. Success is usually good.

I've also used a spray can of oven to clean my stainless kitchen sink. Nylon scrubby, and use the sprayer to rinse. Works nicely. Also cleans congealed cooking oil off my spaghetti strainer.

Someone should send this list to helpful hints from Heloise. Or Ann Landers.

A quick spray of oven comes out toaster oven, not full size.

I do. I actually use a damp paper towel and dip that in the ashes. I think it works really well.