Cleaning gunk from bottom of cook chamber?

[kawboy]

The new smoker I brought home the other night has a giant layer of greasy gunk covering the bottom of the cook chamber. What is the best method of cleaning it out? I can probably scoop a lot of it out, but some looks pretty crusty. What's a good cleaner to use? Cooking grates are disgusting as well. Those i suppose I can do with soapy water. Just don't want a giant fireball first time I fire it up. Thank you.

 

[bdskelly]

Some cleaners will leave a chemical smell and taste to your next smoke.
Scoop out as much as you can. Buy a gallon bottler two (depending on the size of your rig) of cheap white vinegar. Saturate the area and let it sit for a bit. Use a wire brush in the tough areas if needed. Then Flush well with the garden hose. Assume your going to get messy! B

 

[kawboy]

Some cleaners will leave a chemical smell and taste to your next smoke.
Scoop out as much as you can. Buy a gallon bottler two (depending on the size of your rig) of cheap white vinegar. Saturate the area and let it sit for a bit. Use a wire brush in the tough areas if needed. Then Flush well with the garden hose. Assume your going to get messy! B

Eewwww......messy☺. Thanks, I was hoping there was something simple. I use vinegar for pickling and sunburns, so I try to keep a bunch on hand.

 

[BKING!]

I know Ben lang recommends heating the smoker up to 300 deg and gently spraying water into the cook chamber to steam and loosen up build up. If you have a drain on the smoker it will just all drain out. You can do that 1-3 times before a cook and not worry about rust since the heat from the smoker will dry all the excess moisture out.

 

[SonnyE]

TLC - Cleaning up the abused cooker is a lot like taking in a rescue dog.
There will be some issues to get over, but with TLC the cooker (and the dog) will become fiercely loyal and love you back for the rest of their lives. Giving many hours of happiness!

After you have enjoyed getting to know the most intimate covered secrets, you can vow to take better care of it. ;)
Because it is yours. :D

 

[dcecil]

Well said Sonny,

 

[daveomak]

Heat up the smoker and drain the grease out... Put in a drain if you do not have one.. I recommend a 1" pipe and full flow gate/ball valve... or larger...

 

[daveomak]

 

[wimpy69]

If you have or access to a weed burner you could burn it off after you scrape it out well with stiff spackle knife, paint scraper etc. Stiff wire brush or wheel burn offs then give a wash of some kind. If you do use vinegar, remember that it does kill grass. On a used buy, you really dont know whats on there or how long. Clean, season then go with a regular cleaning like a Lang method. Torch and brush racks, wash. Even if you buy one for this cleaning you use it for quick burn offs and charcoal/log starter.

 

[hardcookin]

6" putty knife, scrape most of it off.

 

[SmokinAl]

I have a weed burner that I use to start my fire with, I also use it to sterilize the grates.
It will melt that gunk or just burn it up.
Al

 

[rjob]

Goo Gone oven and grill cleaner. Spray on cold wait and wash off bulk of mess. Used it to cleanup a SM160 that smelled of fish. Use it after every cook to clean bottom 1/3 of cooker. Then rinse with hot water, wipe down with rag.

 

[johnmeyer]

View attachment 364292 +View attachment 364293

People keep recommending that Purple Power. I have looked everywhere, but can't find it. I even tried ordering it online, and while Amazon took the order, it was later canceled because the vendor didn't actually have the product.

Where can I buy this stuff? (I'm in California.)

[edit]The forum software has a bug and it didn't properly quote the picture. I was trying to show the pic from post #2 above.

 

[kawboy]

Thank you for all the ideas. Went better than I anticipated. Gunk was up to the fire box opening. Filled an ice cream bucket plus. Vinegar did the job, just lots of wiping! I'll need to put in a drain, that would be much easier. Burning some wood through it now to dry it out and reseason. Seems to run hot, but I don't have a good therm in there yet so may be ok. Leaks bad. Thanks again, it's gonna be fun.

 

[SonnyE]

Thank you for all the ideas. Went better than I anticipated. Gunk was up to the fire box opening. Filled an ice cream bucket plus. Vinegar did the job, just lots of wiping! I'll need to put in a drain, that would be much easier. Burning some wood through it now to dry it out and reseason. Seems to run hot, but I don't have a good therm in there yet so may be ok. Leaks bad. Thanks again, it's gonna be fun.

Holy Macaraina!
That looks like it could burn for a week if it caught fire!
Good Job cleaning that out.

 

[kawboy]

Holy Macaraina!
That looks like it could burn for a week if it caught fire!
Good Job cleaning that out.

That's what I was afraid would happen.

 

[SonnyE]

That's what I was afraid would happen.

Wow! Your second picture wasn't up yet when I replied.
What a monumental task you took on! Looks like a tar pit down there.
But you're on your way! Good Job!

 

[bdskelly]

Wow that’s a lot of gunk. B

 

[kawboy]

Wow! Your second picture wasn't up yet when I replied.
What a monumental task you took on! Looks like a tar pit down there.
But you're on your way! Good Job!

Thanks, I used a lot of rubber gloves!

 

[chopsaw]

People keep recommending that Purple Power. I have looked everywhere, but can't find it. I even tried ordering it online, and while Amazon took the order, it was later canceled because the vendor didn't actually have the product.

Where can I buy this stuff? (I'm in California.)

[edit]The forum software has a bug and it didn't properly quote the picture. I was trying to show the pic from post #2 above.

I've never bought it , but have seen it at auto parts stores .