Once the cold hits and sticks around my routine when loading is to first push all the junk as far back into the firebox as possible with a garden rake and welding glove, then I gently rake the large coals forward, I then take my splits and load N / S in the firebox, trying to make them as tightly packed as possible, works well for myself and many others, never get coal build up due to raking them front and center. I will clean my fire box as weather permits or every 2 weeks, which ever comes first. If the weather is warm like this coming Saturday, then I'll keep the air open to the max, rake all coals forward and burn them to dust, load them in my safe container, make a new fire and let the ash cool for a few days before dumping. If I'm cleaning in the depths of winter, I'll rake large coals to one side of the box, scoop out the ask, then rake to the other side of the box, scoop some more ash, usually I only get about 2/3 of the firebox clean, but that makes plenty of room for more wood. I also find that my stove works a bit better when there is a layer on ash on the bottom brick.