First welcome. As far as cleaning: I have always used Armour All General pupose auto cleaner. Warning all of their other products are petroleum based and will deslove the chip. I used warm water soak for 5 minutes then spray the Armour All and used a tooth brush to get into H&C depressions. I have never hurt the Hot stamp even with some vigorous scrubbing. Does little to help CIC chips and would probably scrath the surface.