Scrape it, don't soak it

You don’t really clean it, you scrape it and burn it off.

Baking stones are porous and absorb moisture. Soap soaks in and ruins the stone. Water on a hot stone causes thermal shock and cracks it. So the two obvious methods — soap or water — are exactly what you shouldn’t do.

Instead, scrape the stone while it’s still warm (not screaming hot) with a metal spatula, grill brush, or scraper. Most burnt-on cheese and flour will come off. For stuck-on residue, just leave it. Next time you preheat the grill to 500°F+, that stuff will turn to ash. Burn it off, then scrape again. That’s it.

If you absolutely need water (e.g., something greasy that won’t burn off), let the stone cool completely to room temperature first. Then wipe with a damp cloth — don’t soak. Let it air dry fully before using again.

A little char is flavor, not dirt.