Home & Outdoors

How to Clean a Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 Fire Pit

A Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 collects fine ash below the base plate while smoke, rain, fingerprints, and high heat leave soot or discoloration on its stainless-steel body. The removable base plate and ash pan make routine cleanup different from the original one-piece Bonfire. This guide covers the Bonfire 2.0 and its removable parts; use the manual for another size or generation when its construction differs.

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Primary reference: Solo Stove official fire-pit care and maintenance guidance. Always check the manual for your exact model.

Quick reference

Cool first
Do not remove ash, wash steel, or cover the unit until the fire pit and all embers are completely cold.
Routine clean
Lift out the base plate and ash pan, dispose of cold ash safely, and brush airflow holes clear.
Wet clean
Use mild dish soap, warm water, and a nonabrasive cloth only when needed, then dry immediately.
Avoid
Water on hot steel, wet ash, bleach, oven cleaner, steel wool, metal picks, and storing the pit damp.
Ready when
Parts are cool, ash-free, completely dry, seated flat, and all intake and secondary-burn holes are open.

What you will need

  • Heat-resistant gloves for handling only after the fire pit is fully cold
  • A metal ash container with a tight-fitting lid
  • A soft brush or shop vacuum approved for cold ash
  • Warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap
  • Soft microfiber cloths or a nonabrasive sponge
  • Stainless-steel cleaner for stubborn exterior discoloration, if desired
  • A dry, sheltered area or fitted cover for storage

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Wait until every part is completely cold

Let the fire go out naturally and leave the Bonfire untouched until the body, base plate, ash, and partially burned wood are cold. Do not pour water into a hot fire pit to speed cooling: rapid temperature change can affect the stainless steel, and wet ash forms a corrosive paste that is harder to remove. If any ember glows or the ash feels warm through a tool, wait longer.

Step 2: Remove fuel and empty the 2.0 ash pan

Lift out cold, reusable wood pieces first. On the Bonfire 2.0, remove the base plate and then lift the ash pan using its center handle. Transfer ash into a lidded, noncombustible container and follow local rules for disposal. Never place apparently cold ash directly in household trash near combustible material; buried embers can retain heat. Do not strike the base plate against concrete because that can bend it.

Step 3: Clear the burn chamber and air holes

Brush loose soot and ash toward the center, or use a shop vacuum specifically designed and prepared for fully cold ash. Check the lower intake holes and upper secondary-burn holes for dry debris. A soft brush is safer than a screwdriver or metal pick, which can scratch the steel or deform an opening. Cleaning airflow paths is more important than trying to erase every heat tint inside the chamber.

Step 4: Wash removable parts only when necessary

For stuck ash, wash the cold base plate and ash pan with warm water, mild dish soap, and a nonabrasive sponge. Rinse away all soap and dry both sides immediately. Do not leave stainless parts soaking, use chlorine bleach, or scrub with steel wool. Reinstall nothing while moisture remains around seams or folds, because trapped water and ash can encourage surface rust.

Step 5: Clean the stainless-steel exterior

Start with a dry microfiber cloth for dust and fingerprints. If needed, wipe with mild soapy water, then wipe again with clean water and dry in the direction of the steel's grain. Solo Stove also permits a stainless-steel cleaner for the exterior. Apply any product to the cloth rather than flooding the fire pit, test a small area, and keep cleaner out of air holes and the burn chamber.

Step 6: Treat normal patina differently from damage

Gold, bronze, blue, or darker heat tint is a normal result of high-temperature use and is not the same as food residue or corrosion. Clean off soot, sap, grease, and salts, but do not aggressively grind away normal patina. For small orange surface spots, first wash and dry the area; use only a stainless-compatible cleaner if needed. Deep pitting, split seams, or a distorted base needs manufacturer review rather than harder scrubbing.

Step 7: Dry, reassemble, and store

Dry the body, base plate, and ash pan completely. Seat the ash pan flat, replace the base plate in the correct orientation, and confirm nothing blocks the airflow openings. Store the Bonfire in a dry location or use a fitted weather-resistant cover only after the unit is cold and dry. A cover reduces rain exposure, but it cannot correct moisture already trapped under ash.

Specific cleaning questions

Open a question for a concise answer about stains, odors, safety, frequency, and troubleshooting.

Can I hose out a Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0?
Use water only on a completely cold unit and only when a dry brush or cold-ash vacuum is not enough. Mild soap and water are suitable for a deeper clean, but rinse sparingly and dry every surface immediately. Never add water to hot steel or leave wet ash inside.
Can I put the Bonfire 2.0 ash pan in a dishwasher?
Hand-wash it instead. Dishwasher detergent, prolonged moisture, and contact with other metals are unnecessary risks for a part that normally needs only emptying, brushing, and an occasional mild-soap wash.
How often should I empty the ash pan?
Check it before each fire and empty it when ash begins to accumulate. Heavy or long burns may require cleaning after every use. An overfilled pan can restrict the lower airflow that supports the smokeless burn pattern.
Why did my Solo Stove turn gold or blue?
High heat naturally changes the appearance of stainless steel. This heat patina is cosmetic and can become more pronounced with use. Remove loose soot and contaminants, but do not treat ordinary color change as damage.
Can I use oven cleaner on a Solo Stove?
No. Strong caustic oven cleaner is not part of Solo Stove's care method and may stain the steel or leave residue in the burn chamber. Use mild dish soap for washing and a stainless-steel cleaner only on the exterior when needed.
How do I remove rust-colored spots?
Wash away ash, salt, or other contamination and dry the area first. For persistent surface staining, use a stainless-compatible cleaner according to its label. Contact Solo Stove if the metal is pitted, cracked, or structurally changed.
Can I vacuum the ash?
Yes, but only after every ember and all ash are completely cold, and only with equipment intended for cold ash. A household vacuum can be damaged by fine ash and can create a fire risk if heat remains.
Should I cover a Solo Stove outdoors?
A fitted cover helps keep rain and debris out, but the fire pit must be fully cold, clean, and dry first. For long storage or harsh weather, a dry sheltered location provides better protection than a cover alone.