The glass insert on the fireplace is just coated, if I start a fire, I won't be able to see it. How do I clean that up? Never having a fireplace before, I am at a loss.
Can you take it outside and spray it with oven cleaner?
We can't use our fireplaces because the chimneys are original and would need liners But it's pretty easy to clean the glass: Cleaning Soot from Glass -- Heloise Hints
I've had a fireplace or a wood stove for years. Before you light a fire, check to be sure the chimney is clear and wide open. Critters and nests are common. If the fireplace was used a lot, you may want to have it checked for creosote build-up and possibly have it cleaned. You don't want to deal with a chimney fire.
Good advice to have it checked. Sounds like it was well-used.
The silly thing is, the inspector we hired took a couple of pictures of the chimney, it had recently been cleaned. But they either didn't clean the doors or the renters set off a soot bomb after the inspector had been here.
I also need to buy a set of fireplace tools, I have nothing to clean out the leftover ashes.
I also need to buy a set of fireplace tools, I have nothing to clean out the leftover ashes.
If money is tight the first year or you don't find a set of fireplace tools that you really like you can get by cleaning up the COLD ashes with a dustpan and broom from the Dollar General. Also check to see if the fireplace has a little metal door in the floor of the fireplace to sweep the ashes into the basement portion of the fireplace.
In one house I had here in CA we had one of those - except it led to a little trap door outside on the back of the fireplace, where it could be opened and the ashes scraped into a metal bucket to dispose of. I've always wanted a basement but they're not common here.