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Howard Jokela/Demand Media

If you prepare foods outdoors over an open flame or campfire, you should clean the cookware after each use, or soot can build up on it over time. Avoid trying to crape off the soot with a knife because sharp objects can quickly scratch your cookware. Instead, you can use a cleaning technique that removes soot without scratching your cookware.

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Howard Jokela/Demand Media

Scrub the soot with a dry nylon scrubbing pad to scrape off the excess.

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Howard Jokela/Demand Media

Fill the sink with about 2 gallons of hot water, 2 tablespoons dish soap and 1/4 cup baking soda.

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Howard Jokela/Demand Media

Soak the cookware in the soapy water for 5 minutes, then scrub it with a nylon scrubbing sponge.

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Howard Jokela/Demand Media

Rinse the pot, and check for any leftover soot.

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Howard Jokela/Demand Media

Heat a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water in a larger pot, if soot remains.

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Howard Jokela/Demand Media

Place the cookware in the pot and allow it to boil for 5 minutes.

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Howard Jokela/Demand Media

Rinse the cookware with warm water and scrub again with the nylon scrubbing sponge. Rinse the pot with warm water after cleaning.

Tip

To prevent soot buildup in the future, try coating the outside of your pots with a thin layer of bar soap or dish soap.