How to Clean a Vermont Castings Vigilant Woodstove

Vermont Castings made the Vigilant model woodstove between 1977 and 1986. In 1986, the Vigilant model name was used only on the company's coal stoves. The older Vigilant woodstoves are not as efficient as more modern woodstoves, but many are still is use today. If you have a Vigilant woodstove, you'll want to keep it clean and operating at its peak. The cast-iron body of the stove requires only a little care to keep it looking its best.

Step 1

Open the front door of the stove. Wait to do this until the fire is out and the stove is cold. Use a small fireplace shovel to scoop the ashes from the floor of the stove. These shovels have flat bottoms that make it easier to slide them along the bottom of the stove to collect the ashes. Place the ashes in a metal bucket or can.

Step 2

Vacuum any remaining ash in the stove and around the stove. Again, make sure the stove and the ash are cold before attempting this.

Step 3

Spray any glass in the stove with window cleaner and polish with a paper towel. If soot buildup makes the glass difficult to clean, dampen a paper towel and sprinkle on a non--abrasive cleanser and rub the glass until it is clear.

Step 4

Polish brass fixtures on the stove with a soft cloth. The brass plating on the Vigilant stove is sealed and should not tarnish or need cleaning with brass polish.

Step 5

Apply stove blacking to the cast-iron portions of the stove. Stove blacking comes in a tube in paste form. Spread the blacking with a soft rag in a thin, even layer over the stove. Allow to dry.

Step 6

Buff the blacking with more soft, clean rags to remove excess blacking and create an even matte black finish on the stove.