Cast iron stoves and wood-burning stoves can easily be refreshed with traditional stove blacking. Over time, the iron in stoves wears and becomes dull and may need touching up. A good quality stove blacking quickly restores the stove's former shine and appearance. It's also very satisfying to see the cast iron absorb the blacking as the color darkens!
Ensure the stove is completely cooled down before starting. Begin by brushing off rust and dirt with a dry root brush. Sandpaper can also be helpful. Wipe off with a damp cloth in between to remove any sanding dust.
Apply a small amount of blacking using the soft side of a regular kitchen sponge. Wait for about 10 minutes. Then, wipe away any excess with a dry cloth and polish the surface.
It's perfectly fine to light a fire right after the treatment!