Forum: outdoors.stackexchange.com
Tags: <gear><camping><backpacking><cooking><backcountry>
Title: What is the easiest way to remove creosote from pots and pans?
Question: I just returned from a five day trip during which we used a friend's Solo Stove (wood burner).  My pots are now covered with a thick, sticky, black layer of creosote.  I've tried steel wool and soap, but this is a HUGE amount of work (20+ minutes per pot).  What is the easiest way to remove this gummy mess?

Answers:
sents: text: Heat up the creosote covered pan.
text: This softens it.
text: Then pour some denatured alcohol on it and scrub it off.
text: I used a scotch bright pad to scrub with the alcohol, and then wiped the now liquid creosote off with a rag.
text: It will make the rag black and perhaps ruined but it will come off slick and easy.
text: Do this in a well-ventilated area!
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/16246/Ben Smith
score: 10
sents: text: Unfortunately this advice may a bit late for you now, but if you cover the outside of the pots in washing-up liquid before putting them on the fire/wood burner and clean it after use.
text: The washing-up liquid should stop the soot sticking and it should wipe of fairly easily.
text: This approach is best if you are at a fixed campsite where you can easily wash your pots after use and the extra washing liquid is not too much of an issue.
text: If you are backpacking it means you have to carry a large amount of washing liquid and/or carry sticky washing liquid covered pots neither of which are great ideas.
text: If you've already got your pots in a mess your options are limited.
text: You'll probably need to do a lot of scrubbing, like you are.
text: If you haven't already soaking your pots in soapy water overnight may help
text: but I doubt it will solve the problem entirely.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/3234/nivag
score: 8
sents: text: Unless the black stains bother you for visual reasons, let them be.
text: Wash the pan off with normal dishwashing methods.
text: This will take care of the stickyness and most contamination from pan to clothes/fingers etc and having a black layer on your pan does not harm its performance.
text: In fact, where I am from, sporting a shiny clean kettle will get you a few scornful laughs, and people will complain about the food / coffee not tasting as it should =
text: P
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/13536/Stian Yttervik
score: 6
sents: text: According to this page on DollarStretcher : Simply apply ketchup (any cheap brand) to the pan and scrub with a steel wool pad.
text: Sometimes it takes a little elbow grease, but it works great!
text: The acidity of the ketchup works wonders and steel wool is a great shiner.
text: I've also used this technique on brass and chrome with great results.
text: (However, this is just a general dishwashing tip, rather than a specific technique for creosote.)
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/6387/RV Park
score: 2
sents: text: I haven't tried this on woodsmoke creosote, but in general I've found that dishwasher powder or tablets do a much better job on organic gunk than standard dish soap.
text: I would try dissolving a hefty amount (maybe half a cup) of dishwasher detergent in a sinkful of hot water and leaving the pots in it overnight before scrubbing.
text: You'll probably still need the steel wool but you might cut down the scrubbing time a bit.
text: Safety note: dishwasher detergent is pretty caustic stuff.
text: Make sure to wear thick rubber gloves when working with it.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/8887/Pont
score: 2
sents: text: Acetone or nail varnish remover dissolves the tars.
text: It's possible that kerosine or gasoline could work but acetone worked.
answer_details: author: outdoors.stackexchange.com/users/18841/Karl Rosenqvist
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Along with steel wool, ketchup, dishwasher powder, acetone, nail varnish remover, kerosene or gasoline are recommended.
Acetone, as well as kechup, dishwasher powder/tablets and washing up liquid work well.