Is it okay to clean my Wusthof steel?

[venividibitchy]

I just got my first steel in the mail. Being a neurotically clean person in the kitchen, I'm wondering if it's even advisable to clean it? If so, anything to avoid?

Many thanks-

[Chemicalkinetics]

This probably should go to the cookware section.

Aside from the fact that I am not a big fan of a typical grooved steel, which I assume this is, there is nothing against washing and cleaning it. There is nothing I can think of that you can do to damage it. Obviously, you don't want to clean it with a steel wool or dip it in acids or bake it in an oven....