There’s something special about a real, wood-burning fireplace: The scent, the crackling sounds, and watching the logs slowly burn down to glowing embers. But they’re also a hassle, and pretty dirty.

Gas fireplaces are a great addition to any home since they are so easy to use, clean, and maintain. Additionally, they are energy efficient and more environmentally friendly than wood-burning ones.

Ideally, you would have cleaned your fireplace thoroughly in the spring, after you used it for the final time of the season. But if that didn’t happen—or if you want to tidy it up before using it this ...