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How To Clean Fire Pit Glass

Fire Pit View

Introduction

Inevitably, your fire glass will eventually lose some of its shine. The good news is that cleaning fire glass is easy and even baked-on soot stains are not difficult to remove. To learn how to clean fire pit glass and easily restore its luster as good as new, read on!

Fire Glass Basics

Since the advent of fire glass homeowners and interior decorators have been able to transform the fireplaces in our homes.

Before fire glass, our fireplaces were naturally the focal point of our room when alight, but unlit they tended to be a little dull.

Now with fire glass, the opportunities are endless, limited only by our imagination. The huge range of colors allows us to complement existing decor styles or use the fireplace to set the decor theme throughout the room.

How To Clean Fire Glass

Nowadays the fireplace will be the center of focus whether or not it’s alight, and it is so easy to transform a dull-looking fireplace with just the addition of some fire glass.

Good quality fire glass is almost maintenance-free. It does not produce fumes, ash, or soot nor should it discolor or crack. In fact, quality fire glass will have a Lifetime Warranty such as the Fire Glass and Fire Beads available here on The Magic of Fire.

However, every so often you may notice that your fire glass has lost a little of its ‘shine’, or may seem to lack a little of its original luster, after all, life in gas fireplaces or fire pits can be pretty tough!

Why Does Fire Glass Get Dirty?

There are two main causes of your Fire Glass getting dirty:

  1. Location – Outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are exposed to dust, pollutants, and debris.  Outdoor fire features will require cleaning on a more regular basis than those indoors. Indoor fireplaces will collect dust and eventually need a cleaning, but not as often as outdoor units.
  2. Type of Gas – The second issue is the gas type you use. Natural Gas is a clean gas and produces very little in the way of deposits. On the other hand, Propane is a ‘dirty’ gas, well known for producing soot deposits. Should your propane fireplace produce a lot of soot check that an Air Mixer Valve has been installed. If so, check that it is the right size (capacity) for the BTU rating of your burner and is installed correctly with the arrows pointing in the direction of the gas flow.

    Having the correct mixture of Propane and Air will help reduce the amount of soot being produced, and help to prevent your fire pit media from turning black. 

Items You Will Need To Clean Fire Pit Glass

We suggest using the following tools to make the job as simple as possible:

  • Plastic Bucket
  • One Gallon of water and One Gallon of Vinegar
  • A metal strainer (not to be used for cooking again after this process)
  • A scoop or trowel
  • Large bin bag or tarpaulin

How To Clean Fire Pit Glass

  1. Gently scoop out some of the glass and pour it into the bucket containing a 50/50 mixture of water and ordinary household vinegar.
  2. Gently stir the solution in a circular motion with the scoop and ensure the glass gets a good soaking for a minute or two.
  3. Remove the glass, place it in the strainer, and then rinse thoroughly under a garden hose or tap.
  4. Allow the glass to air-dry by spreading it over a tarp or a plastic bin bag. You can wipe the glass carefully with a paper towel to remove excess water to speed up the drying process but you must allow the glass to dry completely before putting it back into your fireplace.
  5. Pour it gently back into the fire tray when completely dry, remembering not to compact the fire glass.

Things To Consider When Cleaning Fire Pit Glass

  1. Some fire glass is tumbled and while this removes some of the sharp edges from the glass it also dulls the finish, which is why some manufacturers do not tumble their glass. So please be aware that you will be handling potentially sharp objects. Use protective gloves if required.
  2. Do not use any commercial glass cleaning products. These contain chemicals that if not completely removed may produce toxic fumes when you next light your fireplace or fire pit.
  3. Do not use washing-up liquid or dish soaps as they may also leave a residue that can cause fumes. The sticky residue also holds more dirt particles on the fire pit glass.

American Fireglass, the leading producer of fire glass in the US recommends using a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar as the best agent to clean your glass. Despite a lot of experiments, there is nothing better.

Good quality fire glass will last you a lifetime and with just a little bit of attention now and again it will look just as bright and lustrous as the day you got it.

Pacific Blue Reflective Fire Glass
Pacific Blue Reflective Fire Glass by American Fire Glass

Top Tip For Keeping your Fire Pit looking its best

To reduce fire glass maintenance in outdoor fire pits use a fire pit cover or fire pit lid which will also extend the life of the fire pit burner and tray.