As more and more people break away from fossil fuel heat sources, more cast iron wood stoves are finding their places in homes around the world. With this increase in popularity, many people want to know exactly how to care for their wood burning stove. The methods below work for any stove made from cast iron.
There is no need to purchase costly specialty cleaners just because they suggest on the label that they are made for cast iron cleaning. After all, you may well have owned a good cast iron skillet for years and never had to buy such a product to clean it!
1. Preparation: Before you begin, you should gather the materials you’ll need to perform the cleaning. Layer the floor around the stove with newspapers, a painter’s drop cloth or a tarp to prevent damage to the floor. If you have pot hangers, a water receptacle or any other accessories, remove them before you begin cleaning.
2. Empty: After making certain the stove is cool to the touch and there are no live embers in the firebox, empty the firebox into a pail or bucket.
3. Clean: Work from the top toward the bottom and from left to right so that you do not move dirt and debris onto areas you have already cleaned. The last places to clean should be the sides and base of the stove.
4. Dust: Use a duster to remove dust, loose residue, ash and dust. With a wire brush, scrape off any hard to remove dirt or residue.
5: Sandpaper: If you see rust or calcification on the stove, use sandpaper made for use on metal and rub the spots away – but be gentle as you do so. These spots are made from leaks or humidity accumulation and you do not want to gouge your stove metal while cleaning them away. Go over sanded areas with your dust brush to clean the loosened debris away.
6: Rag and oil: Identify any scrape marks on the cast iron wood stove. If you see any, use a soft, clean rag to apply a little cooking oil, shortening or grease to properly season the cast iron.
7: Corner and crevices: Now it is time to get into all those little corners and crevices. Use an old soft toothbrush to remove dust and dirt from any areas your duster can not reach into.
8: Vacuum: Using a vacuum with a flexible hose and hose attachment, thoroughly clean the firebox of all ash. Be sure to get into the top corners, remove the grate and get underneath it for complete ash removal.
9: Firebox: Use a clean rag and work from the top down and left to right to wipe out the firebox well. You can allow the debris removed to fall into the bottom of the firebox for removal later in the cleaning process. If necessary, use your wire brush to get rid of grip or stubborn debris. Vacuum the firebox once again.
10: Clean grate: Place the grate on the covered floor and use your wire brush to clean away all the dirt and built up grit. Then replace the grate into the stove.
Finish: As a final step after making sure you have all surface dirt removed, apply a coat of stove blacking over the entire stove. Allow the blacking to dry on your cast iron stove completely before using the stove again.
Tags: antique cook stoves, Antique Wood Stoves, cast iron wood stoves