Ref; Cleaning the MES 140s And Tips. Please Help Me!

[TomKnollRFV]

Alright, my MES 140s is now a mess and I don't mind the window being rather useless and glazed up with smoke residue, but the interior looks like shit to be fair. I got one last smoke for this week and I'm really wondering if I can just shove the racks in my oven and hit self clean cycle? I gotta clean out the oven as a family member made pizza in it and the pizza sort of ...I don't know what happened. Suffice to say, burnt cheese and grease all over the oven!

Also any one got tips for keeping the bottom clean? I saw some people mention putting tin foil over the bottom, some google results I saw also were against this because foiling the bottom and over the heat/wood unit impedes smoke etc. I don't want to end up wrecking my smoker within a few weeks of buying her!

So any general cleaning tips etc would be nice!

 

[Geebs]

You can certainly pop the grates in the dishwasher, its going to smell like a smoker for a few days after. As far as the inside I recommend this https://www.walmart.com/ip/Citrusafe-Grate-Cleaner/49324595. Another poster suggested it and it has been great for my 2 smokers and grill.

 

[tropics]

Foil any thing you don't want drippings on.I foil the bottom and open the little hole for the drip pan.
Richie

 

[dwdunlap]

I pull the grates and the hangers out after the smoke and soak in the sink. I put a plug in the sink, add the grates, add a couple of big squirts of dish soap and add hot water to cover. I let them soak a couple of hours. Then I use a dish brush to wash. If still has debris, I repeat the soak with fresh hot water and soap. I use some vinegar mixed with warm water and a dab of dish soap to remove the smoke off the glass. Works for me!

 

[hillbillyrkstr]

I soak mine in a big tube I have. Warm soapy water and then some scrubbing. I did hear years ago you can thrown them in a garbage bag and spray them down with oven cleaner. Then put the bag in the yard and let sit in the sun all day. Then pull out and rinse off and they are like new. Forgot all about it until last week. Never tried it but it’s been years since I heard it and I told the wife we’re trying it this summer.

Scott

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Aha! Alright, I think I have some big tubs around..if not, I got some huge coolers I never use either! Still; can I toss the water pan and drip plate and grates in the oven and hit self clean? Just wondering because I gotta stink up the kitchen with that later and was thinking I could kill two birds with one stone..and I'll have to snag up some of that cleaner. I was thinking of ordering some from Cabellas otherwise.

I'm pretty OCD against using dish soap on outdoor cooking any thing; when I was younger either my father or mother once tried to clean their crummy propane grill with the stuff, by scrubbing the plates whilst still on the grill. I ended up sick for a few days because of dish soap being cooked into my burger.

 

[chopsaw]

can I toss the water pan and drip plate and grates in the oven and hit self clean?

I would not do it myself . I think you at the very least you are asking for another problem , if not worse .
Just my thoughts .

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Fair enough, nice enough out to fill up a tub with water and some soap and leave it outside out of the way any how.

 

[buzzy]

Pressure washer to get off main mess. Then into tub with some elbow grease

 

[chopsaw]

Fair enough, nice enough out to fill up a tub with water and some soap and leave it outside out of the way any how.

Thats good to hear . Let em soak .

I did hear years ago you can thrown them in a garbage bag and spray them down with oven cleaner.

I've done this for kettle grills . Works good . I always spray part of the bag first just to make sure it won't melt the bag .

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I won't try the Amonia method for simple fact if I get a whiff of that stuff, I get a pounding migraine. People keep asking me how I can stand cooking with charcoal etc but cleaners give me migraines. No idea, but I'd rather not spend all day vomiting and a migraine ;) ..Unless it was from beer LOL!

 

[tropics]

I think the oven would warp your grates.
I have used Awesome from the dollar store to clean my window and grates also.It smells bad but wash with hot water and scrubby sponge they will look new

Window

All clean takes 15 minutes

Richie

 

[TomKnollRFV]

..That looks cleaner then my bed room windows and they aren't being smoked up!

 

[tropics]

..That looks cleaner then my bed room windows and they aren't being smoked up!

Tom just to show how good it works I did one side of my MES 40

If you have a big enough laundry sink use it.If not a big contractor bag hit the grates with Awesome let them soak
Richie

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Nice! After my snack sticks are done, I plan to put them in a tub with some water and dish soap for a few hours then hose down and all. Darn mosquitos are coming out in force though!

 

[jted]

Hi, Geebs suggested using a grate cleaner. I use Weber Grate cleaner. I use a sink in the garage and set them in it with out water and spray them down give them a hour or so and scrub with a SOS pad. Easy peasy nothing to it but a little elbow grease. About your window I don't have one but I would try vinigar and water to clean them up after each smoke. Don't let anything get away from you. just clean it up when you get done. I clean mine while the meat is resting.

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I didn't clean last night because by the time I was done smoking the pork butt it was late, and I was basically falling asleep. Did a quick clean today then on went my snack sticks. Gonna have to do a 'deep clean' this evening!

 

[Bearcarver]

I think the oven would warp your grates.
I have used Awesome from the dollar store to clean my window and grates also.It smells bad but wash with hot water and scrubby sponge they will look new
View attachment 364871
Window
View attachment 364872
All clean takes 15 minutes
View attachment 364873
Richie

I used to use Windex, but the last Windex Mrs Bear got wasn't even blue, and it wouldn't touch my MES window grease.

However Mrs Bear got me a bottle of that "Awesome", like Richie is showing above---That's the best stuff I ever used!!!

So all I do it wipe off anything on the ceiling or walls of my MES that is loose, Cover the floor with foil & punch the hole at the drain, and cover my water pan with foil.
When I clean my Glass, before every use, I sometimes clean around the two sensors on the back wall.

And Mrs Bear cleans the racks that I get dirty. She's a Sweetheart!!!

Bear

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I try to delegate cleaning things to other people or get help. Every thing isn't as bad when you ain't doing it alone. Now to train the family how to put wood in the smoker.. ..

 

[dr k]

TSP trisodium phosphate 1lb box at Home Depot for $4.00. It's the degreaser surfactant taken out of dishwashing detergent because plants love it and it causes waterway plant over growth. It's an alkalizing food additive and emulsifier in cheese. It rinses clean without fumes and a teaspoon in a cup of water in a spray bottle is great for the window and scraping with a razor blade in two minutes. Putting all the grates/pans in a plastic tub and follow the box directions on water and TSP makes for scrub free degreasing. Rinse with the hose. Gloves keep your hands from getting dry. It is now sold as a wood prep degreaser before painting in the wall covering isle. Put a teaspoon in with your dishwashing detergent to get your dishes clean again like before 2010.