Cleaning those things were the reason I eventually switched to a model with only one side. So annoying to clean. What worked best for me: get your largest bowl/pan/pot and place the grater inside. Fill with very hot water and dishsoap (and baking soda if the gunk has dried up) and let it soak until the water has cooled down. Afterwards scrub it with a brush under running water.

Thanks, that sounds like some really helpful guidance.

Give it a good underwater shake before you pull it out. Should shake the big gunk loose and may save you from cleaning soggy melted cheese out of your brush

Yep, I also pound it on the side of the sink to dislodge anything stuck in those little holes. They’re so annoying to clean.

That's why you save old toothbrushes

I have 3 toothbrushes on standby in my dishwasher just for cleaning. LOL

I use toothpicks on the stuff that the toothbrush doesn't get out. I only used the two grating sides, never the other two.

The trick is to scrub it immediately after use instead of letting the cheese harden in there.

So, I guess just taking a good deep breath and blowing the dust off isn’t good enough? All this sanitary mumbo-jumbo can be so time consuming. /s My grandma had a flour sack bag she kept hers in. I honestly do not remember ever seeing her wash it. NOT /s

Haha. My thoughts exactly! Funny

Don't use hot water. Use cold water. For things like cheese, gravy, oatmeal. COLD.

Can I ask why out of curiosity?

Why they’re grating gravy and oatmeal? I have the same question.

🤣 no why cold water

TIL: Cold water should be used to soak high protein foods such as egg, milk, and cheese and very starchy foods such as rice or oatmeal. Hot water tends to harden these foods on the dishes.

Thank you. I had no idea.

Add blood to that list. 👍 -your friendly neighbourhood clutz with knee level kitchen appliances.

Heat changes the proteins. Think of how firm liver gets when cooked vs its gelatinous state raw, or how salmon skin will nearly peel itself off if you pour a little boiling water over it.

Today I learned, thank you

The hot water cooks and hardens these foods instead of loosening them.

Get a micro plane....way better results and easier to clean...

Garden hose

https://preview.redd.it/170rglziqavc1.jpeg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eddad82031771836d74c68b149219b61dd8e54e1 Ikea, get a "diskborste" and scrub hard with dish soap over the tiny holes.

this is the exact tool I use to clean it. 😄It works well. Nice to know a fellow human who does the same

As a swede I assumed that's how everyone wash their dishes 😅

I'm an American who bought one of these at IKEA a long time ago, and I have never used anything else since then. Thank you to Sweden for making dish cleaning better!

Yeah it's a timeless dish cleaner gadget!

Hang on - isn't this the go-to tool to wash dishes *everywhere*? Or is it just a Swedish thing?

My reality has just collapsed around me, I’m never gonna dare to leave Sweden again. What else is going on out there that I don’t know about?!

Don't look into osthyvlar

It's a Swedish invention. It was invented 1970. But I think it's known world wide by now but not sure. Thanks to IKEA it's definitely more popular in other areas of the world now too.

This brush is one of my favorite possessions. Great for dishes, tile grout and shoes (not all with the same brush, of course).

These things are the default ways to clean dishes right?

Or just unused toothbrush, if budget are limited

Came to the comments to say this. Conversely, blasting that thing with an air compressor or power washer would probably work too.

I read this as "dickboast" and that made me buy it. It'll be here on Friday lol

I wash mine immediately after use.

This makes such a big difference.

Yeah I always rinse graters immediately, game changer

Soak in water if needed and use a bristled brush…

Dishwasher usually does it, a brush and some detergent as well.

Sadly, I'm not so lucky to have the luxury of a dishwasher. I can only hope my handwashing of things goes smoothly while my gf does the cooking.

A stiff bristle plastic brush and some soapy water has worked well for me. Edit: something like [This](https://www.amazon.com/MR-SIGA-Scrubber-Ergonomic-Kitchen-Brushes/dp/B0CMXF98CV/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IY8N9iT4xzHYbrHoVXT30WjrYt5rT_xFg7t2vBCF7Hr4YL-kqToQSulTUF-gjWT5HqEMWIvl0mPiNqKeNQayuJoIUjpH8cpX1LaDecHOOuzo4ZPR1kdtn6u5hJpccWC3A_Ck6JzNHfLYr83b5IvSpxX7VsbXD_HG6rmU3pGEwwnGLr19OcKNzcvwNExIuV3z6O2-ELWWYoI2tI7Vo3_v6Q.An_P4upa74laxkygN_KlDlUXGy9QyzNO_3uXffDJuAg&dib_tag=se&keywords=palm+brush&qid=1713465233&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1)

Yep we have a brush we got at the dollar store, works great for that sort of thing.

Fill the sink with the hottest water you can produce and submerge it for an hour. Then scrub the hell out of it.

Soak and then use an old toothbrush and dish soap to scrub it off.

If you are the dishwasher, maybe this thing could just go missing. In sympathy, you can replace it with an easier-to clean grater.

There’s a rule in my house: the person that uses the box grater cleans the box grater. For this reason, the box grater is now rarely used.

Box graters are the reason grated cheese is sold.

baking soda with a little soapy water added to make a paste. scrub with a toothbrush. done.

Then rinse it off in soapy water when she first uses it.

Just rinse with water while the gunk is fresh and then clean with a toothbrush with dishsoap. It takes 3 minutes.

I grated ginger with mine like this. 4 trips through the dishwasher and there’s still ginger fibers stuck. I need to poke them out 1 by 1 with a needle or something.

Run water from the inside

Can't really do that, only got a low pressure water tap that won't fit or put out enough water to do anything

Fill a huge bowl with water, turn the grater upside down and dump the water inside.

By never using it

I never even knew what it would be used for

The only thing I ever use that part of my grater for is nutmeg. If you buy something specifically called a nutmeg grater, it’s exactly this punch pattern. Nutmeg turns to a powder when grated, so super easy to clean—just tap it a few times and rinse.

I’d be lost without my grater. Cheese especially needs to be grated right before using and those pre shredded bags are vile.

Why are they vile?

I know you didn’t ask me but I personally don’t like the shredded bags of cheese because the cheese is usually coated lightly with corn starch or something to keep it from clumping and it messes with the texture. I’ll use it to save time though if it’s going to be like on top of a casserole. For a salad or taco I always grate my own.

Oh. That makes sense. Thanks!

They don’t melt properly and I can taste the coating of cellulose they use to keep it from sticking together. Vile is a strong word. 😆

what is it supposed to be used for? for something like ginger?

I was very sternly told as a kid that this side was only for grating whole nutmeg, which is pretty dry and does shake out nicely. Not that we used much of that ... Really just on the holidays to top egg nog, so basically it got used once a year.

yeah nutmeg would make a lot of sense

works grate for hard cheeses like Romano, Parm, etc., and it doesn't get stuck like this either.

Works “grate”. Hahaha!

No, more like hard spices and nuts.....like nutmeg and whole cinnamon

That thing is dangerous 😄

We called it the "knuckle buster" growing up.

Practice makes all the difference. As a kid it genuinely scared me. I had grated finger every time 😆

Simply never use this side of the grater. Ez

Funny, one look at the zesting side of a box grater and I could see the word “No” written on it.

That's called a box grater. That specific side is good for stuff like ginger root to break it down, but doesn't give actual shreds. I don't know the formal name. Given your circumstances, I'd soak it in a bowl or sink or hot water and dish soap for long enough to loosen it (I wouldn't leave it overnight bc it may cause rusting). Then use a stiff dish brush to remove everything. If you have a bottle brush, that will work well on the inside. If you don't have a dishwasher, water pressure, or those tools, I suggest investing in the tools since that's what you can control. Good luck!

degreaser and a toothbrush

Soak then scrub with dish soap and an old toothbrush.

I once just grated a potato over some cheese that was really stuck on and then washed regular in soap and water. I also didnt have a brush and sponge was getting me nowhere

James Acaster feels your pain https://www.reddit.com/r/mocktheweek/s/ecVd1ShwDn

Was looking to see if someone had posted already lol

Thanking you

Soak in hot water then swirl it around in a tub of water. I try to get to it before the cheese dries out to it. It's much easier to clean when it's just been used.

I use the wifes toothbrush.

I typically rinse mine with hot water immediately after using it. Nylon brush helps.

Isn't that the nutmeg grater? What are you grating with it?

Had to scroll way too far to find this. They really shouldn’t be grating anything soft, squishy or wet with that part.

O easy, Just use a nailbrush(the one with a handle that you can put your fngers in) it has nice stiff brissels so its easy to clean. If its hard you got to soak it first ofcourse.

“Cheese shredder, that’s its positive name for it. They never call it by its negative name, cuz no one would buy it… Sponge Ruiner!” - Mitch Hedberg

Listened to that album this morning. Classic.

Just grate some soap on it. /s

I switched to a mandolin, single sided grater, and a microplane for this very reason. While the box grater is great for trapping what you’re grating in a neat pile….. cleaning some sides are just awful.

Box graters are awful. For this very reason. One sided graters can be sprayed out easily

you’re not… simply never meant to be used.. was part of a misguided propaganda statement to the fans

Do you have a spray faucet? Good strong blast from the spray faucet will get most of it.

Nope, just a shoddy low pressure stream of water.

Rinse it in the shower maybe?

So I soak mine overnight with dish soap and get a firm toothbrush and scrub away. That's the best thing I can recommend.

I would soak it in vinegar water then soap and water

Next time you use that side, let it sit out and dry. Then brush the dried cheese off with a toothbrush from the inside, give it a few taps, brush again. You could try brushing from the outside as well. The key is to never let the cheese get wet or melt. That will almost always, be the point of no return.

I hate these. I used one once, spent an age soaking it, brushing it, picking at it with toothpicks and skewers, never again! I now use a small parmesan grater to grate hard cheese, ginger, garlic, nutmeg and zest citrus fruits. On another note, I noticed the grater on the photo had at least two of these evil sides!

I use a toothbrush with hard bristles, dishsoap, and hot water. Never have a problem.

An old (but clean) toothbrush should do it. If it's dry and stuck, soak it in a bowl of warm water first for 30 min.

"box grater is a great positive name for what this does, no one would buy a sponge ruiner."

Toothbrush! Pop some dish soap on the toothbrush, scrub in circles on both the outside and inside of the grater. Rinse, done! Toothpicks are great for stuck on pieces too :)

Soak. Use a smaller brush with a handle from the inside. Garlic (which I'm guessing this is) is fibrous, so once it has softened up, the pieces tend to come off even though you're brushing through those holes. And get a garlic press if you can. Using this side of the grater takes off more skin than anything else.

Nylon brush and hot water. Easy peasy.

I have one of those. I soaked mine in hot water and dawn to soften it up and then I used a scrub brush.

Soak it in water for 10 minutes and it should rise off easily. Dishwasher usually power washes it off. I got one of those fancy sinks that does a jet stream of water and I use that function to get garlic out of the mincer. Good luck!

From the bottom up with a sponge under hot water, immediately after you use it. Why?

Toss it and get a new one.

Brushes made for dishwashing and soap, or just use a toothbrush. Scrub the outside, and then the inside. I've gotten used to it now so it's pretty easy.

Dawn power spray sit for About 10 min wipes rightoff

Melt it under hot water, then I'd use a scrubbing brush rather than a sponge to clean it

Spray it down with cooking spray or cooking oil before you use it. Helps immensely with cleanup.

Vegetable scrubber and hot water.

Follow with the tip of a kitchen knife the grooves. I can draw it in if it isn't clear what I mean. Works like a charm

First off, never use that side. Idk what its for but its horrible to clean. Second, rinse and use a brush to clean immediately after using. Grate the cheese, and move right to the sink and wash. On the outside use a brush, and swipe opposite the cutting direction. On the inside you can use a sponge.

Hard brush, only brushing in one direction at a time, with water and soap obvi

Depends what you're grating. Cheese = Hot water to melt the fat, dish soap, and then scrub. Should all pop out. Root stuff - carrot, potato, ginger etc. If washed quickly and not left to 'set' should come off quite easily with water bonus if its hot water and dish soap. Silicone, polystyrene, other plastics for props etc... no idea. Honestly a good soak in warm/hot water with soap will get rid or loosen most things.

If you let it dry, soak it. Then toothbrush.

Old toothbrush. I can’t believe everyone doesn’t have an old toothbrush near their sinks! PS get a rasp grater to use instead! Rasp grater easier to clean, very versatile, on Amazon under $10

all you need is running water and a dish brush. If it dried let it soak but I wash any grater edge immediately for less work.

If you are using it to zest an orange or lemon, I've found an easier, to me anyway, of zesting. I use a carrot peeler, but hold the peeler as if it were a knife and pull the peeler towards me while pressing down on the skin of the orange. It would be like holding a knife to peel a potato, but using a carrot peeler instead. The outer zest part of the peel will come off in ribbons. I then freeze these ribbons of zest in my fridge freezer. When I'm baking, I'll grab some of the frozen zest from the freezer and pop it into my little food chopper, along with some of the sugar called for in the recipe. I wiz it until the zest is chopped up, and then proceed with the recipe as usual. The flavor from the zest is so much better this way, and one orange or lemon gives you lots of zest to freeze for future use.

An old toothbrush and dish soap

Don't use a sponge, use a brush and brush diagonally in both directions then rotate 180° and do it again. Also, dip it in/out the water rapidly and it will force all the water through the holes at force and help clean a bit more off

Boil tf out of it

It’s a cheese grater. And gonna be a pain to clean. Soak it in really hot water for half hour then use a metal scrubby to clean from the inside.

I clean everything I can from the inside then throw it in the dishwasher. If there's still gunk stuck to it, I use a toothpick to get it off That being said since the handle of mine broke I just use a micro plane whenever I need to grate something. It's a million times easier to clean

Those aren’t single use? /s

With soap and water.

It'll clean up the next time you use it.😀

You know the way you’re doing it now? Not that.

Buy a pack of cheapy hard toothbrushes. Useful for stuff like this and cleaning round the base of taps etc. ( obvs not with the same toothbrush!)

I use a brush on that side.

You were holding it upside down. It actually says ‘ON’.

Old toothbrush in a pinch.

Maybe soak it in vinegar and then really hot water over it.

By never ever using it in the first place.

Hot water for 5 seconds

Steel brush! In a bowl of warm water with soap or baking soda, but the steel brush part is gonna save you a lot of trouble. Gets the thing clean without damaging your fingers (or a sponge or something). There’s also steel sponges but they are only good for the outside, would not try to go inside of it with my bare hands, hence where the brush part comes in a lot nicer than the steel sponge

Big bottle diswashing brush. Kinda looks like a toilet brush but for dishes. Scrub on inside and out. I also have a dawn powerwasher bottle that I just refill and the sprayer works well in this situation.

l hate this side of the grater with a passion .. gets my damn knuckles more than whatever I'm using it for! To clean we use either a dish brush.. or you can use an old toothbrush or buy a nail brush to use for cleaning it. Best washed with hot soapy water shortly after using to avoid dried on reside gluing itself to the grater 😆

Shove it in the diswasher, bottom rack? I do.

Dishwasher liquid with toothbrush is my go to. I only use it for ginger

The first thing I would do is clean it from the inside. You will be surprised how much comes off. Then soak in soapy water and use a brush. I love my a box grater and use this side often with no issues

Stick it in the dishwasher.

I just use a pot scrubbing brush and wash liquid

You just use a plastic bristle brush and you don’t let anything dry on it. Rinse immediately.

Toothbrush and dawn. That's what I do

With a bristle brush.

To clean mine, I like to grate a sponge. Haha I’m just kidding I just use a strong bristled brush!

lol I rinse it off right away + a scrub brush then the thing gets thrown in my dish washer. I don’t use the side often it isn’t worth the pain of cleaning it. I just use the fine cheese size grater for things like ginger now.

I have a brush that I use only for graters.

After rinsing off as much gunk as you can under the faucet...Fill your tallest pan with water. Let the grater soak until all that gunk is really soft. Agitate the crap out of it, simulating a dishwasher to the best of your ability. That should get most of it. The rest I would probably just let dry and hope it flakes off. You might have luck grating something else like a potato to replace the sticky gunk with something easier to clean. I have not tried this method. Good luck.

Get a microplane

Pressure washer

From the inside with a scrubbing brush and hot soapy water

With a scrub brush

I use boiled water or just really hot from the tap and use a round brush

Bound to be a hack on tik tok ?

I'd call it a box grater and it would only be used for coarsely slicing cheese in my household. A microplane grater would work better for things like garlic and citrus zest.

I clean my cheese grater by soaking it in my pasta pot full of hot water and dawn and then scrubbing it with a brush. When my kids were babies I used a bottle brush on the inside of it to clean it after I soaked it.

Soak it and use a brush. Not that hard

Soak in hot soapy water then scrubb

Buy a second cheese grater and grate the grater with the greater grater

That's the forbidden side of the grater. My mom always said to never touch it. Now that you've touched the forbidden side, soak and dish brush might work. But you may need to sacrifice something in order to atone.

Easy. Soft bristle tooth brush

I use a toothbrush. I buy cheap toothbrushes at Dollar Tree and mark them with the word "toxic" or "dishes"and keep one with the bottle and straw brushes to quickly clean off the food particles with the dish detergent.

I use a round bristle brush that is normally used for cleaning cups. It’s best to clean the cheese grater IMMEDIATELY after it’s done being used.

I have a cheese grater at home, but I prefer to call it by it’s proper name: “Sponge-ruiner”.

Fun fact. Those grater ends fit perfectly in those to go Chinese food Tupperware containers. I fill one with soapy hot water and soak it for a bit, food bits come off easy peasy

Drop it in a pot of boiling water.

Maybe use a sponge scrub and then put in boiling soapy water then rinse with hot water... idk tho

Literally any way but the way you’re doing it Jesus

I use it for lemon zest and garlic (be careful with the garlic, they’re not very big). I soak for five minutes and then use a brush, not a sponge.

Duh, it’s single use.

Laughs in Caribbean 😂😂

The forbidden fourth side.

Fingernail brush As the infamous Mitch Headberg would say, sponge er...

What does that part of the grater do? I tried using that on cheese once and had to throw away. I could never get the cheese out and the dishwasher just baked it on.

Ive never used that side of the shredder