Even a wood stove needs maintenance from time to time.

For cleaning, the stove and ash must be in a cold state. Here is what you can do yourself:

• Clean the glass ceramic pane with ash. Dip a damp ball of newspaper or household paper into the cold ash and rub the glass with it. Wipe with a clean, dry ball of paper. Otherwise, you can also clean the glass with a glass ceramic cleaner. Spray the cleaning agent onto a cloth and not directly onto the pane. This will prevent glass cleaner from being sprayed onto the seals and steel of the door.

• Remove the ash residue from the firebox, shaking grate and ash drawer. Tip: Use the ash vacuum cleaner. It's quick and easy.

• Lubricate all moving parts such as the door hinge, door catch and door slide rails. We recommend repeating this several times a year. Use a lubricating spray that does not leave any deposits. The lubricant should not get onto the stove's coating. It is best to protect the paintwork with a cloth or household paper. You can find out how to lubricate your stove in another tip.

• Check the seals and the firebox lining. If necessary, ask your local specialist partner for replacement and support for the replacement.
  

• Clean the steel parts of the fireplace with a clean and dry cloth. You can wipe soapstone and ceramic panelling with a slightly damp cloth using mild soapy water.

Many dealers offer servicing for stoves and fireplaces. Simply ask your local specialist partner.

Not everything can be done by yourself. A chimney sweep should be called to your home once a year. This is because combustion residues are produced during combustion, even if the firing system is optimally adjusted. These can impair operation, increase the risk of fire and cause higher emissions and energy costs. The flue gas system should therefore be checked and cleaned by a chimney sweep once a year.

Your stove or fireplace insert is now cleaned and maintained and ready for the next season.

Tips for soapstone cladding

Soapstone is basically an easy-care stone. Any traces of fingerprints or small scratches on the stone can be easily removed with a scotch fleece. Dust on the soapstone can then be wiped off with a slightly damp cloth.

If candle wax gets on the soapstone stove, you can remove it as follows: Place a piece of blotting paper/fleece paper on the spot and go over it with a hot iron. The stove itself must be cold when you do this. You can also gently sand the area with fine-grained sandpaper.

As soapstone is a soft stone, the candle wax can penetrate deep into the stone. The more you fire the stove, the faster the wax disappears into the soapstone.

Tips for steel panelling

Minor paint damage to the steel cladding can be repaired on site by a professional using an Attika colour spray. Contact your Attika specialist partner for this.