MES Window Cleaning Solution

[frankasr]

I have been using apple cider vinegar not only for the inside and outside of the glass but for the inside of the MES also. I do this clean up every time I smoke and does a pretty good job. And yes I probably do used a lot of paper towels. Oh well.

 

[oldschoolbbq]

Windex.......................cures everything , see "My Big ,Fat Greek Wedding"...

 

[palladini]

I simply use a Dollar Store Sponge, steel wool dish cleaner, rubber gloves, keep them in an old Ice Cream pail and a Bucket with some water and dish detergent.  That and a little elbow grease gets the job done perfectly. 

wash bucket.jpg

• palladini
• Dec 5, 2014

 

[brycraft]

The key is keeping it clean from the start. Usually any spray cleaner my wife makes up from a bottle of condensed cleaner works fine with paper towels or with a SOS pad.. Usually a SOS pad is if I let the glass cool down and is a little tougher to clean, but if the film on the glass is still warm its easier to clean... Only 6 months use of mine but glass is perfectly clear..

 

[garyinmd]

This is all I have ever used.  3-4 towels if cleaned each time works great, I usually only do the window and door gasket.

Cleaner.JPG

• garyinmd
• Dec 9, 2014

Gary

 

[jerryo]

White vinegar works great. And it's cheap!

 

[garymaxx]

I agree a razor blade is the best just scrape off and spray a paper towel with a little Greased Lightning and wipe remaining smudges off and clean with windex.

 

[timberjet]

Professional window cleaner here and I just saw this. Sos pads will scratch glass, do not use an sos pad on glass. You can use a very sharp razor blade but wet the glass down first or it will scratch glass too. Bartenders friend is a great product for this as well as stove bright. You should use the liquid versions not the powdered version as they will also scratch glass. If using steel wool only use 0000. You probably don't know you have been ruining the glass slowly over time by using sos pads and kitchen scrubbers but you are. The grease and carbon gets into the scratches and then becomes very hard if not impossible to get clean. Ammonia is the window cleaner's friend. A way better than windex cleaning solution is made with a little dawn dish soap, a good size splash of ammonia and a half gallon of water. I like to use the white scrubber pads which are for easily scratched surfaces. Vinegar is an acid and very good at getting hard water off of glass. Ammonia cuts grease. Hope this helps. I just hate going to a new house to do the windows and seeing sos pad scratches all over the dang windows. The best bet for keeping that glass clean on the smoker or woodstove is to clean it very often. Just get in the habit of cleaning it after every smoke.

 

[timberjet]

Another note.... on razor blades, only scrape away from you and always use the same way. It will develop a burr on the edge and if you scrape back and forth you will scratch the glass. Wet the glass with your cleaning solution before doing this. every time. squeegee off. buy yourself a squeegee, you can use it on your shower door or whatever too.

 

[timberjet]

Are you ready for this one? Hair conditioner. Really.

These are the type of people I charge big bucks to for cleaning their windows. I have even seen people who swear by furniture polish on glass. BAD!

 

[phillip p smith]

Rubbing alcohol. They make a 90% alcohol solution. About $3 for a quart. Cleans smoked up door easily. Just pour a small amount on some newspaper and rub it down.

 

[hamrhead1971]

I use the same stuff the wife uses on the cooktop stove. It does a fantastic job.

 

[exromenyer]

I cannot remember who posted it but many years ago I asked this same question and the best thing I ever used is plain ole $1 bottle of rubbing alcohol and a bunch of paper towels.... I have even mixed it with a little water and put it in a spray bottle.....Try it you will be amazed, I was!!!!!!

Tony

 

[jd0110]

I just cleaned mine for the first time ever.  The window had what seemed to be like an 1/8th of goo on it.    Easiest thing ... just set smoker @ 275 degrees with water in pan, additional foil pan with water and vents shut.  This steamed the inside and allowed 1/2 of the window to be cleaned with a rag and loosened thick residue with putty scraper and repeated steam for an hour adding additional water...  rinse repeat..

 

[twoalpha]

Razor blade is quick and no chemicals.

 

[BandCollector]

The one we have at work we use the razor blade, then some vodka to get the thin film that is left. I will usually wipe with a clean towel with water to get the last little bit if needed........ I look at it as it is a smoker and does not need to be crystal clear, but that is me.......

Vodka at work!   Cool!

 

[gary s]

Great Info from timberjet   

Gary

 

[timberjet]

 
Great Info from timberjet   

Gary

Thanks Gary. I hate to see people mess up good glass.

 

[rickyldd]

 
Professional window cleaner here and I just saw this. Sos pads will scratch glass, do not use an sos pad on glass. You can use a very sharp razor blade but wet the glass down first or it will scratch glass too. Bartenders friend is a great product for this as well as stove bright. You should use the liquid versions not the powdered version as they will also scratch glass. If using steel wool only use 0000. You probably don't know you have been ruining the glass slowly over time by using sos pads and kitchen scrubbers but you are. The grease and carbon gets into the scratches and then becomes very hard if not impossible to get clean. Ammonia is the window cleaner's friend. A way better than windex cleaning solution is made with a little dawn dish soap, a good size splash of ammonia and a half gallon of water. I like to use the white scrubber pads which are for easily scratched surfaces. Vinegar is an acid and very good at getting hard water off of glass. Ammonia cuts grease. Hope this helps. I just hate going to a new house to do the windows and seeing sos pad scratches all over the dang windows. The best bet for keeping that glass clean on the smoker or woodstove is to clean it very often. Just get in the habit of cleaning it after every smoke.

How much is a "little" and a "splash" 

 Mine may be different than yours , Thanx

 

[timberjet]

 
How much is a "little" and a "splash" 

 Mine may be different than yours , Thanx

Pour said ammonia into said water and listen for glug, glug. then squirt dawn into water in a small amount. It is not an exact science man. If you need more ammonia use more. You don't need much dish soap. Just enough for a little bubble action. Too much soap leaves streaks. I make 2.5 gallon batches and a large bottle of dawn goes 6 months or more. A quart of ammonia makes in the neighborhood of 10 batches give or take. Too much ammonia and you will have a lingering odor in your smoker, otherwise you could use a whole quart in a batch. It is the ammonia which is cutting the grease. Whatever you do don't use a magic eraser in conjunction with ammonia based window cleaning solution or you can get sick from the fumes, or dead in the right conditions.