Cleaning Stainless steel

[smokeisgood]

Getting ready to do some spring cleaning on my Pitmaker. The smokestack is stainless, and I need to get some carbon buildup off the top of it. Anyone have a magic formula for this. I tried SS cleaner, my next move will be to try Simple Green. I know I can't use oven cleaner without pitting the stainless coating and setting up future rust. I mean, it's a smokestack, but I'd like to get it off.

 

[jzadski]

Vinegar and baking soda. Make sure to rinse after due to vinegar acidity.

 

[Smoke Dawg]

Bar Keepers Friend makes several good cleaners. The link is for Stainless cleaner / polish


https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726544684785&psc=1

 

[kls44]

Try scrubbing with a ball of foil dipped in white vinegar. Rinse well.

 

[93_confirmed]

Bar Keepers is excellent.

 

[Gimmethecash]

Bar Keepers Friend makes several good cleaners. The link is for Stainless cleaner / polish


https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726544684785&psc=1

Thanks for that! I recently started using the powdered BKF cleaner and I’m so amazed with how well it works that I hit the “add to cart” button & placed an order as soon as that link opened. I’ve got plenty of stainless already and a big stainless Santa Maria grill on order, which I expect will be quite the challenge to keep relatively clean.

 

[legendaryhog]

I use barkeepers friend powder and whink stove top cleaner. Both work very well.

 

[smokeisgood]

Thanks for the suggestions.... I may get out of doing it since I have an interested party on Marketplace, but the flip side of that is it will screw up my planned weekend brisket. Still hesitant on the sale myself.

 

[93_confirmed]

Getting ready to do some spring cleaning on my Pitmaker. The smokestack is stainless, and I need to get some carbon buildup off the top of it. Anyone have a magic formula for this. I tried SS cleaner, my next move will be to try Simple Green. I know I can't use oven cleaner without pitting the stainless coating and setting up future rust. I mean, it's a smokestack, but I'd like to get it off.

I did alot of research for a new offset and this thread is the first time Ive heard of Pitmaker and their smokers. They look nice and Im surprised I havent come across them before. Are they a newer manufacturer?

 

[smokeisgood]

I did alot of research for a new offset and this thread is the first time Ive heard of Pitmaker and their smokers. They look nice and Im surprised I havent come across them before. Are they a newer manufacturer?

No, I bought mine 8-10 years ago. You see a ton of them in Texas, and you see their Vaults and Safes around a lot. The offset Sniper, I have no idea why you don't see more of them. They hold temperature like a champ, the door becomes a drip shelf, and they'll last several lifetimes. If I was going to stay with an offset, I'd never sell this one. I just need to go a different direction for several reasons.

 

[ttkt57]

I know I can't use oven cleaner without pitting the stainless coating and setting up future rust.

What do you mean by a "stainless coating" that could lead to rust if pitted?

 

[smokeisgood]

What do you mean by a "stainless coating" that could lead to rust if pitted?

From what I have read, oven cleaners strip the chromium oxide layer off stainless, allowing it to then pit and rust. Just what I read, I'm not a chemist so I don't know for sure.

 

[smokeisgood]

And we have a winner!!!!!! I knew Bar Keepers Friend did a good job on sinks, but figured it would take forever to get the gunk off my smokestack with it. So I grabbed it from under the sink. Naw, it basically wiped it right off in 15 seconds. I will hit it again this weekend when I do a thorough cleaning, and use a toothbrush to get in the crooks and nannies, then use a stainless polish to really make them shine, but if you saw the "before pics" in the sale ad, these are just a few minutes of work. Still have to take it off and get the top of the lid, but that's no biggie. Thanks for the info...... I can get it done and cook my wife's birthday brisket Saturday! You guys rock!

 

[LloydQ]

Crooks and Nannies. Gotta love that!

 

[ModelMaker]

Crooks and Nannies. Gotta love that!

I ran out and looked my cooker from top to bottom and all I could find were Nooks and a couple crannies.
Ed

 

[smokeisgood]

I ran out and looked my cooker from top to bottom and all I could find were Nooks and a couple crannies.
Ed

Well if you don't have crooks and nannies, you're not drinking enough bourbon.