Cleaning idea?

[H3]

Since we all love our Lazy Q, I was wondering if any has tried to Lazy clean it. My idea is to put a big tin of water in the wood box with the lid open and have the steam do most of the work. Hopefully most of the grease would just drip out the drain hole and I could wipe up the rest with a paper towel. Any ideas or thoughts on this?

 

[DivotMaker]

My idea of lazy cleaning it to remove the foil, wipe out the bottom and call it good.  The shelves go in the dishwasher.

 

[swthorpe]

+1!  ;D

 

[mizzoufan]

same here and the side rack guides go in the dishwasher too

 

[SuperDave]

....and the side rack guides go in the dishwasher too

Any particular reason you wash the guides?  Mine just look like the walls of my smoker and there is no apparent build up them. 

 

[swthorpe]

My side racks build up some grease or something over time, so I run them through the dishwasher once every couple of months.  Otherwise, they just stay in the #2.  The meat racks are cleaned every time with a brush.

 

[Durangosmoker]

Ditto for me on the side rails, but I have a question about the temperature probe: I think I read somewhere on this forum that people clean the analog temperature probe with windex and paper towel.  I have never done this, but wonder if I should. Did I miss the Memo that said to do this, or is it optional?

 

[swthorpe]

Probably optional, but I do clean it with soapy water and a paper towel from time to time just to get rid of some of the build up that forms on it.  I think it probably helps to keep the tip clean.

 

[DivotMaker]

I leave the shelf guides in.  If they get too built-up, I'll clean them with a little EZ Off, but that's only about once a year.  I actually do an EZ Off clean once a year on the whole smoker, then re-season.  The creosote buildup on the door and top seems to be the worst, so I don't mind starting fresh when it just gets too much.  By "too much," I mean black creosote flaking off the door when I open it.

 

[1stlink]

Easy-off and re-season..  Sounds like a winner Tony.

 

[SuperDave]

Easy-off and re-season..  Sounds like a winner Tony.

They must have changed how they make Easy-Off.  I tried using it yesterday and thought it wasn't near as strong as it used to be.  I Easy-Offed racks but still ended up soaking and SOS pads to get chunks off. 

 

[jcboxlot]

EZ Off has two kinds now.  Don't get the "better" smelling one.  I forget the name they call it, but get the original

If you have an Ace Hardware near by try the ZEP Commercial brand.  Larger can, cheaper, sprays better at all angles of the can.

John

 

[SuperDave]

John, I wasn't gaging while I was doing the cleaning so I must have gotten the "better smelling" version.  LOL!

 

[Barrel99]

I clean the box probe with Windex and paper towels after every smoke.

 

[1stlink]

I'm glad you guys mentioned the box probe because being permanently installed it is out of sight and out of mind.

I will make it a point to clean that every smoke if I remember  Lol

 

[rich b]

While the foil is still on the bottom I use a long handled wire grill cleaning brush to knock off the chunks on each shelf, I do that before bringing the shelf in to clean.  The chunks just get wrapped up in the foil when i take it out

 

[Walt]

When it gets heavy, I use a paint scraper.  Then wipe it out with a wet rag. No chemicals & no need to re-autotune. Wash racks in Dishwasher after each smoke & side racks in dishwasher monthly.

 

[DivotMaker]

When it gets heavy, I use a paint scraper.  Then wipe it out with a wet rag. No chemicals & no need to re-autotune. Wash racks in Dishwasher after each smoke & side racks in dishwasher monthly.

If you do the "strip clean," with E-Z Off, it requires re-seasoning, but not re-autotuning.  Doesn't change the tuning, just gets rid of the extreme buildup.

 

[jcboxlot]

+1 Walt, paint scraper or wood plane iron works well.  Stuff just peels off and no fumes.

Did the door today and took very little time. 

John

 

[DivotMaker]

+1 Walt, paint scraper or wood plane iron works well.  Stuff just peels off and no fumes.

Did the door today and took very little time. 

John

I agree, for a quick clean, but it's about impossible to get all the nooks and crannies with a scraper.  Chemicals are no problem, if they're followed by a thorough rinse and re-season!  To me, a "fresh start" is a good thing, but I understand if it's not for everyone!   All good, and no wrong answers!