It is important to clean a Blackstone griddle before using it for the first time. There are different ways that you can do this, but one of the most effective ways is using soak and water. Fill up a bucket with warm water. Add soap and keep stirring the mixture to form a soapy lather until it reaches the desired pourable consistency. To remove any kind of residue from shipping and storage, scrub the surface with a clean towel that has been soaked in soapy water. Now dry the griddle with new dry towel or paper towels. Allow the Blackstone griddle to dry thoroughly before use or storage. This eliminates the risk of rust.