How often do you guys clean your kettles, and with what?

[1buckie]

Thanks for the replies everyone!  Interesting to see everyone's preferences.

Which brings up another question from me.  How do you guys clean your dirty vents? 

IE this

That's a nice one.....Marty's gonna love that pic.......

[colin.p]

Thanks for the replies everyone!  Interesting to see everyone's preferences.

Which brings up another question from me.  How do you guys clean your dirty vents? 

That's what my dog is for.

[cbpeck]

Thanks for the replies everyone!  Interesting to see everyone's preferences.

Which brings up another question from me.  How do you guys clean your dirty vents? 

IE this

Personally, I think that vent is gorgeous. I probably wouldn't clean it one bit.

When I buy a used kettle it gets an initial once over with OOOO steel wool & Bar Keepers Friend. After that, all of my kettles get regular wipe downs every few uses with Simple Green or a similar product. I have a bottle of Weber's Exterior Grill Cleaner, but it's worthless, IMO. The vents usually get left alone because I happen to like the smoked, almost case hardened, look.

[mtonto20]

I go with the Al Bundy method, which is never.  One of my favorite episodes ever was when Peg dumped the ashes out of the grill and Al Bundy explained that years of built up ashes was where the flavor was.....

[pbe gummi bear]

I go with the Al Bundy method, which is never.  One of my favorite episodes ever was when Peg dumped the ashes out of the grill and Al Bundy explained that years of built up ashes was where the flavor was.....

Here's another good one from Al Bundy.

http://youtu.be/inubkn_TmUs

[Craig]

I forgot about that scene! Love that show!


As for the vent, I'd be lying if I said that it needed to be cleaned. It gives it a little character. I left my brown vent a little smokey from when I did some wood fired pizzas last night.

[mtonto20]

LOL, I was trying to find the video last night, thanks a lot for that link.  I wonder who has Al's redhead or  was a studio prop or something.....

[mtonto20]

Here is the full episode....

http://youtu.be/MRwce_h_09Q

If you notice the old style ash pan is inside the grill with the lid leaning on the ground.  It has a lot of last years ashes and grease but it is definitely a Weber.  One of the seminal Weber TV moments if you ask me.  The grill was a integral part of the storyline of the entire episode.  I also love how Peg lights a bunch of cigarettes to try and get ashes, I always remembered that part too......