[BigV]

Cast iron?! The best cookware ever, the older the better.

You're right, no soap and water. That's a killer, it damages the "seasoning". That's the blackness you see on the cooking surface. Iron is porous, and during use, it absorbs some of the oils in the cooking, and gradually develops a smooth, (mostly) non-stick surface. Soap is the enemy of this desirable patina.

Let's clarify some things, first, ok? Are you talking about the outside of the pots/skillets/pans? If so, any cleaning you could do to it is really only for cosmetic purposes, unless it's actually covered in nasty food. Assuming you've given the outside surfaces a good wipedown with hot water and a scrubber (metal or scotchpad) you're probably good to go.

The inside, the cooking surfaces are in need of cleaning? Ok, well, same initial drill. HOT water, sufficiently aggressive scrubber tool, and enough elbow grease to satisfy yourself. It is acceptable to scrape out the crusted/burned on food funk. That charcoal that you know isn't pan, but something else, just scrape it off with a metal tool (spoon, knife (CAREFUL!! Pressing with a knife in hot soapy water is dangerous. maybe a butter knife can do the job. Or a putty knife.)) Get the chunks out. Then hot water and scrub. If you must, you can add a little soap if it's really greasy and awful.

But with regular use, they usually only require the hot water/scrape/scrub for regular cleaning.

I love my cast iron skillets the most of all my stove top tools. I also have a couple of cast iron dutch ovens and they're loved in the same way, both cooking love and cleaning love. NO SOAP.

It is possible to cook them clean too. Fill partly with water and boil. Then use a tool (careful again) scratch/scrape/scrub the cooking surfaces, rinse, repeat, and then you can even cook them try. MrsV prefers this method. I usually wipe them as dry as I can and then let them air dry for any remaining wet wipe marks.

Maybe that's the problem. Are they rusty or crusty? Rust indicates disuse, neglect. They're worth saving. Wipe clean as before and then coat with oil and bake in a low oven. Remove, cool, wipe, repeat until surface is slick, but not oily.

I love cooking in iron.