So I never grew up using cast iron to cook. My husband was introduced to cast iron about 10 years ago when he was hired on the fire department. All the fire stations in his department have huge cast iron skillets that they use to cook with. My husband likes using cast iron so much that we have gained a few cast iron skillets in our kitchen at home. I have also been trained on how to clean cast iron. I had no idea there was a right or a wrong way….so I will at least share with you the fire station way! 🙂 
When cleaning your cast iron cookware you first want to let it cool. Then I take it to the sink and scrub it out with my dish brush as best I can. Avoid using a steel wool sponge or harsh detergents. You can actually use mild soap if you need to but you don’t have to. I know lots of people say no soap but it won’t actually strip the seasoning off your pan! 
I usually do skip the soap though unless I really need it. Instead I bring it back to the stove and sprinkle the pan with kosher salt and then with a paper towel I scrub the pan until the pan is clean of any additional stuck on food. I love how the salt helps to season the pan. Then I bring it back to the sink to rinse it off. 
After that I bring the clean pan back to the stove and I turn the burner under it on high for a minute or two to help dry the pan off. When it is all dry turn off the heat. 
Then I take my cooking spray and spray a little on the pan and I use a paper towel to spread it all around and soak up any excess oil. Just be careful not to burn your hand on the pan because it is really hot! 
Then let the pan cool on the stove top before putting it away. Now it will be all ready for the next time you need it! 
Just for fun here are some benefits of using a cast iron pan:
Cast-iron pots and pans aren’t coated with synthetic (and potentially harmful) materials.
Cooking with cast iron pans can help boost your iron intake.
Cast iron cookware retains heat and stays hotter much better than other cookware.
I love how you can used them on your stove top and then put them right in the oven.
They last longer and get more seasoned the longer you use them!
**I would love if you would join my new Friday link-up party!
Hi Jen,
Great tips for cleaning cast iron. We have a Miele cast iron roasting pan which was a bonus gift when we bought our stove of the same brand and everything I’ve cooked in it is simply delicious!
Visiting from JES’,
Poppy
Hi Poppy, thanks for visiting! I would love to have a cast iron roasting pan, sounds wonderful and a nice bonus gift!
Such great tips! I just got my first cast iron last year. I would love you to share this on Smell Good Sunday http://jaytriedandtrue.blogspot.com/2017/02/smell-good-sunday-8.html
Thanks for sharing your link up with me! I added my post and added Smell Good Sunday to my list of link ups! Have a great week!
We are really starting to enjoy our cast-iron over here after years of intimidation! Thanks for sharing your tips with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth! 🙂
Glad your are enjoying it and thanks for visiting!
Visiting Strangers and Pilgrims and had to bookmark your very helpful post! Still looking for a cast iron skillet within our price range, but now I’ll know how to take care of it! Thanks!
I have a few Lodge cast iron skillets and they seem to be pretty affordable. Not sure your price range or what size you are looking for but they have a few sizes to choose from on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006JSUA?ie=UTF8&tag=afirwif-20&camp=1789&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=B00006JSUA&th=1 I hope that helps. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!
Great tips! Thank you!
Love my skillets! They were a wedding present almost 27 years ago, and they still are as good as new!
That is so cool that they last so long! Thanks for visiting!
Pinning to my handy tips board! We would love to have you at our To Grandma’s house we go link party – it starts every wednesday! grandmashousediy.com
Thanks for the pin and telling me about your link party. I went to visit your blog and link up! So cool how you remodeled your grandma’s old farm house. I also added your blog to my list of link parties. Have a great week!
I’ve never used salt as part of my cleaning routine but I’ll definitely give it a try. We love cast iron cooking!
I love cast iron cooking too! I hope you have a blessed week!
I love cooking with cast iron. I saw an article the other day that complained about how difficult it was to clean cast iron. My husband and I had to laugh. If anything, cast iron may be the easiest cooking implement in the kitchen to clean. LOL
I think it can be intimidating if you are not used to using it! But it is very easy, just heavier! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing with us at our To Grandma’s house we go link party! You will be featured tomorrow (Wednesday) morning when the new party starts!
Awesome! Thank you so much for the feature!