An outdoor wood burner is built to be enjoyed—not constantly maintained. But like anything that lives outside, a bit of regular care keeps it performing properly and looking its best.
The good news? If your stove is made from high-quality materials like corten steel or stainless steel, cleaning is quick, simple, and doesn’t turn into a full weekend job.
This guide walks you through exactly how to clean your outdoor wood burner properly—without overcomplicating it.
Before you start, grab a few basics:
No specialist kit required.
This is where people get caught out.
Ash and internal components can stay hot for hours after the fire has gone out. Always leave your stove to cool fully before cleaning—ideally overnight.
Tip: Hot embers can stay hidden in ash for a long time—never use plastic bins.
Cleaning an outdoor wood burner is simple: let it cool completely, remove excess ash, wipe down the exterior, and clean the glass if needed. Stoves made from corten steel or stainless steel require minimal maintenance, making the process quick and straightforward.
This is where material choice really matters.
Avoid scrubbing the patina, this is what protects the steel underneath.
Quick, simple, done.
If your stove has glass panels:
Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive pads.
A quick check keeps everything running smoothly:
Better airflow = cleaner burn = less mess next time.
Keep it simple:
If you’re constantly deep-cleaning, it’s usually a fuel issue.
Our Mat Stainless Steel Silver Finish
If you own one of our RB73 Quaruba outdoor woodburners in the mat stainless-steel silver finish, then it is important to understand how it will naturally change with use.
Discolouration is normal
Exposure to high temperatures will cause subtle colour changes in the steel, often appearing as light gold, blue, or darker tones.
Soot around the door
As this is a lighter colour material, leaving the door open for extended periods of time can cause soot to build up around the door. Likewise you will notice more discolouration around the door and directly above the door due to the heat that escapes the fire when it is being re-loaded. Avoid leaving the door open for long periods of time to minimise this.
This is not a fault
These changes are a natural reaction to heat and are part of how stainless steel behaves in real-world use. Over time, this creates a slightly more characterful, lived-in look
The matt finish highlights variation
Because is an unpolished, unpainted, raw sandblasted finish, you can expect tonal colour changes which will be more visible compared to shinier finishes.
No maintenance required to “fix” it
This isn’t something that needs to be removed or corrected—it’s purely visual and doesn’t affect performance or longevity.
The level of maintenance required depends heavily on what your stove is made from.
Avoid these, and cleaning becomes quick and easy.
Cleaning an outdoor wood burner shouldn’t feel like a chore—it should feel like a quick reset, ready for the next fire.
With the right materials and a simple routine, you’ll spend less time maintaining your stove and more time enjoying it.
RB73 outdoor woodburners with glass panels should typically be positioned 1 metre away from combustible materials. However, this can be significantly reduced depending on the model and configuration, to as low as 10cm.
Yes — RB73 Quaruba & Fennek stoves can be converted from a 4-sided to a 3-sided configuration (and back again) by replacing one of the back/side panels. This uses the same process as swapping a panel, as outlined in the RB73 repair manual.
Replacing glass in an RB73 stove depends on the model and location: door glass is removed using pop-out clips, while side and rear panels (on certain models) lift out or are unbolted first. In all cases, the new glass must sit perfectly flat with no wobble—there are no rope seals or tightening involved.
