An increasing number of homeowners today use woodburners as they are cheaper to run than gas, environmentally friendly and there are various models to choose from to complement your interiors.

However these stoves do produce smoke which can create ugly deposits on its glass sections and lead to dangerous build-ups in chimneys. This is why you need to follow a regular cleaning regimen for it.

1. Make sure you clean your stove at least once in three months of regular use. Follow the users’ cleaning guide so that you get acquainted with its safety precautions and fittings.

2. To prevent hard-to-remove soot deposits on the glass doors, just give them a quick wipe every time you light a fresh fire. This way its soot build up will be easier to clean.

3. Use a wad of paper dampened with diluted vinegar and dipped in some ash to clean off light soot deposits. Instead of ash, you can always use regular dish soap to get rid of the soot. In case of hard-to-remove soot build-ups, you can sprinkle a little baking soda on a damp newspaper to remove most of the soot in woodburners.

4. It’s not advised to use abrasives on glass; however if you really want a clean and transparent door, you can gently buff it using a piece of fine sand paper or wire wool. You can also carefully use a fresh craft knife to clean sooty deposits before cleaning with soap, window cleaner or vinegar.

5. Follow the guide’s instructions for regularly removing and cleaning the catalytic combustor, located between your fire and stovepipe. The ash deposits can be removed using a gentle brush and vacuum.

6. Once the wood burner cools down, clear the old ashes and cinders. You can use a vacuum cleaner or first dampen the ash before removing it. This prevents any mess related with the ash covering surfaces inside your room. Hot ashes have to be carefully removed and keep a steel container handy for carrying the mess outdoors to safety.

7. The best way to keep the woodburners glass doors sparkling is by not using green or unseasoned solid wood as it is usually when the fire is poorly made using unsuitable fuel that maximum smoke is created.

8. Cleaning of flues is best left to the experts. However regular sweeping and smoke tests are essential as the build up of fire wood tar can lead to bothersome and potentially dangerous chimney fires. Never try to deal with these chimney fires along; call the fire brigade as these fires can distribute down and into the house through an open grate or stove door.

So in a nutshell, the following maintenance tips also prove helpful at prolonging the life of your wood burner and make it an attractive and energy-efficient centrepiece in your home:

• Never burn green or unseasoned raw wood
• Make it a point to regularly polish its glass doors
• Have qualified staff carry out smoke tests
• Regularly check and sweep flues
• Never use abrasives to clean the exterior of the stove