Cleaning Fireplace Glass with Ash

“When we first got our fireplace the glass got so dirty so quickly and when I tried to clean it off with windex I got nowhere and was like “efff this is IMPOSSIBLE” and I was right on the cusp of buying some purpose-made chemical and then somehow I stumbled on the tip that you can just scoop up some ash with a damp paper towel and clean the glass with that and I was like “no way that’s gonna work but what the heck” and boy am I glad I tried it because it’s frickin’ MAGIC, almost no elbow grease required. You don’t even need glass cleaner after, just get it mostly there and finish with a dry cloth or paper towel.”