We have only had our woodburner a few weeks and used it successfully for the first 2 times. The third time i had real trouble lighting it even though dry wood was used, it never really got going so gave up but it had left the glass with like a dark brown inground smear in places. I have tried to wipe it off when the glass was cold with dampened kitchen roll but all that came off was just like the thin sooty film and not this darkened stuff - it seems deep in the glass.

I have re lit the fire tonight (took me a while) in the hope that this dark area wood burn off with heat but it hasn't, its not so noticeable now the fire is going well but i know tomorrow when the fire is out it will be noticeable again and its horrid.

any ideas of how to clean it off please?

White vinegar does the trick!   I find with our woodburner that if it gets hot enough, then it burns the soot off itself.

hi its very very simple to get rid of. get a cotton cloth (we use an old tea towel), dampen it a bit, then dip the damp cloth in the fire ashes.... the grittier bits the better it works.........then rub like hell on the glass and it all comes off (do it when cold).

ok thanks will try that, but will it not scratch the glass??

I've used a small amount of washing up liquid on a damp cloth on mine with good effect, but you do have to rub quite hard. Also used Cif the same way, which worked well. But you must do it when the glass is cold.

no it doesnt scratch the glass and one of our woodburners, I think its the Jokl one, that is actually the method given in the manufacturers instruction book!

I seen that tip on "How clean is your house" and it works!!

Its the tar off the wood my Dad used to use white vinegar as well..

you people are fab u lous!

tried the damp tissue dipped in ash and it work a treat without much effort.

Thanks to all

We've had our wood burner since last winter and have noticed that some wood doesn't burn as well as others.  We have found that Kiln dried wood is the easiest to light and gives off the most heat but burns away in minutes so not very cost effective.  Hard wood is better than soft.  The best are the offcuts that my hubby gets from various chippies, burns nicely and it's free!  I think it depends on how well the wood has been seasoned and where it's been stored. 

If you keep the wood ashes they are also good for the garden. 

Well I have to say I'm off to try some of these alternatives on mine!

I'm terrible, I use Fairy foamy spray stuff that you get for getting stubborn stains off pans etc.  I used it on my woodburner last year & I used it on my oven yesterday (spotless results both times)  However I do wonder about the flammable side of things :-O