Can I wipe warm glass when I reload?

Hogwildz said:

If clear when wet, and haze after drying, it is most likely etched. Had the same issue with my first glass years ago, due to cleaning while not cool or cold.
Although some profess doing so, I will not clean my glass with wet rag and ashes due to just this issue.
The only way to assure you wont etch the glass, is clean it while cool/cold, using a clean, soft rag and glass cleaner/polish. Most good cleaners are same stuff as glass top range cleaner.
Always read how some are too cheap to spend a few bucks on correct cleaner, and advising using ash for free. That is great until the glass gets etched. The replacement glass will cost much more than the money they saved on cleaner, using ash. Just my opinion of course. Never had etching problems since the first glass, and changing my cleaning habits.
Once it is etched, It's etched, there is no going back.

My comments are not directed towards you or anyone else for that matter, just a general statement.

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gyrfalcon said:

Hog, why would cleaning the glass when it's not totally cold cause etching? It's ceramic glass, not a fancy cake.

I've been cleaning mine for years when it's still warm (not hot, because it only smears), and have no etching. I've also never used glass cleaner, only water, which in my experience takes off not just that gray haze but also the occasional dark brown spot if I spend a little time on it.

I mentioned the ash thing in this thread as something that could damage the glass and was promptly and firmly smacked down on that by Begreen. You know something he doesn't?

Just on the practical side, it's simply not possible for those of us in cold climates to wait until the glass is totally cold before cleaning it. It's either clean it when it's warm or don't clean it until the end of the heating season. I for one am NOT going to burn oil for half a day while the stove goes totally cold every couple of days just to clean the glass, and I can't see that it's necessary.

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begreen said:

Our bottle of Rutland cleaner is like 8 yrs. old, and still 3/4s full. It doesn't take much at all.

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Hogwildz said:

Could be several things, minerals or water hardness, sometimes simple as a dirty rag. If using ash, could be hard deposits in the ash.
You don't have to wait till the stove is out to clean the glass. I usually do it at a time prior to reload, usually when I spaced or purposely let the stove drop lower than typical, perfect time to clean.
I don't obsess a lot about dirty glass, most that usually happens is outgassing from splits loaded north to south, and fly ash. When I get to it, I do it, which is about 4 times a season.
I too believe ash can cause etching, cause you never know what kind of minerals or compounds are left after a load, and clinkers alone show me there is some hard composition of materials in the ash.
My first glass etched, have not had an issue since, so I stick with what works for me. It is not the only way, just the way I use. There are many that use ash and say they have no issues. Whatever works for ya, kudos. If you get etching, then time to adjust cleaning habits, but at that time it is too late. Some use steel wool, or razor blades, I personally don't. All it takes is a bent corner on a blade to scratch the glass, and steel wool is abrasive, no matter how fine. If it works for someone, I am glad they have no issues, I just don't feel the need to use something else, when I have a cleaner made for the task.

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