Lazy firestarter

Amarillo

To clean the soot you get a damp piece of newspaper, dip it into the remaining ash in the grate (be careful that there aren't any hidden glowing embers) then wipe it over the glass, might need a bit of elbow work on stubborn bits but the ash will loosen the soot. You then get another piece wet paper to rinse it off and then dry it. It will come up good as new.

hollydays

quote=Amarillo;14736941]To clean the soot you get a damp piece of newspaper, dip it into the remaining ash in the grate (be careful that there aren't any hidden glowing embers) then wipe it over the glass, might need a bit of elbow work on stubborn bits but the ash will loosen the soot. You then get another piece wet paper to rinse it off and then dry it. It will come up good as new.[/quote]

Thanks,I knew I would get some excellent moneysaving answers here.

Welshwoofs

If you go with firelighters, try ringing round local coal merchants before buying the boxes from the supermarket.

My local coal merchant sells a massive bag of firelighting cubes for £3 which lasts me around 6 months. Also when I trim back any bushes or trees in the garden I put the twigs in a basket in the garage to dry out and use those for kindling