I've been cleaning a couple of lids and bowls over the last week, and thought maybe I'd post up my favorite cleaning techniques. Most all of which I've learned from the folks around here, but maybe some of our newer members will appreciate some ideas from us crusty veterans.
1. Razor blade. Kudos to the first person to ever try something that seems so sure to scratch the heck out of the porcelain, but damn this works like a charm. I grab mine with a pair of Vice-Grips to give me extra leverage and to keep my hand from cramping. First thing I do is to go over the whole inside of the bowl and lid dry, before...
2. Long soak. Seriously, water works wonders. I put the lid upside down in the bowl, then submerge the whole works in a big Rubbermaid container. After an overnight soak, I scrape it again with the razor blade, then repeat.
3. Stainless steel scrubbing pad. I get these at Target, and they are great for cleaning up SS skillets in the kitchen. While I would technically not consider this a fully approved method (I'm too chicken to try it on the outside of the bowl, where I always use softer 0000 steel wool), it does a great job of scrubbing out the last of the hazy stuff once the razor blade has done its job. I use it with dish detergent, and haven't seen it scratch the porcelain at all.
4. Trash can. Big ups to Bman for suggesting this. Take an old plastic trash can and use it to hold your lid and bowl while you scrub it out. Makes a stable base, and saves your back a bit. (I've also started putting a trash liner in the can, which is a handy collection point for all the black bits that come out of the inside of these used kettles.)
...alright, what is *your* tip for cleaning up kettles?
