The Unexpected DIY To Remove Stains From Glass

While cleaning may not be the most enjoyable task, seeing the results of your hard work is often very satisfying, like glass items that were once dull and dirty, eventually restored to their sparkling clean selves that you can see through. While most glass cleans easily with soap, water, and a sponge, stubborn stains often require a different approach. One unexpected option is using wood ash as a cleaning aid.

It may sound strange and totally unexpected, but removing stains from glass is really one of the genius ways to repurpose fireplace ash around your home. Interestingly, one of the glass items that benefits the most from this cleaning hack is the fireplace glass door itself. With repeated use, especially in the burning season, that glass door often ends up caked with layers of soot that are almost impossible to remove. Thanks to the mildly abrasive property of wood ash, it works like a charm. Ash has actually been recognized for its cleaning abilities for centuries and was traditionally used to make lye, which is one of the components used for natural soap. It's no wonder it does such a great job of cleaning.

Before you start this DIY cleaning hack, make sure the ash you intend to use is completely cool for your own safety. If you're sourcing it from a fireplace you just used, then you must let it sit for several hours first so every last ember completely dies down. Once the ash is cool, scoop up a little into a small container. Sifting the ash through a sieve helps remove larger particles that could scratch the glass. Next, add a small amount of water and mix until the ash forms a thick paste. Now your DIY natural cleaning agent is ready for use.

Using a damp cloth, soft sponge, or paper towel, take a bit of the paste, smear it on the glass, and rub it on the stains in a circular motion. Be ready to apply a bit of elbow grease to remove the really stubborn dirt. Almost immediately, the soot and grime should begin lifting as you scrub. Take more ash paste as needed and continue rubbing until you're satisfied. Finally, rinse the glass with clean water and buff with a clean, dry cloth. Now you can sit back and admire the sparkling clean glass. But you don't have to stop at just your fireplace glass door; you can also clean your oven glass door naturally using this wood ash hack, and all that caked-on grime will be gone in no time.