Sasame clay mesh cleaning tips?

[TMike]

Hi guys, I recently got my first kyusu with a sasame mesh filter and on its first use got many small leaves stuck in the little holes (as expected).

Any good cleaning tips as to remove them immediately after use? so far I rinse the pot with water, let it dry, and once the tiny leaf particles dry up, I flush them out under running water.

Anyone have a better way so they can be easily removed right after use (instead of waiting for it to dry and all that...)?

[Stentor]

I first rinse from both sides (end of spout and inside of pot).
Then I use a wet flat sponge to wipe the screen. Wring it so the water coming out of the sponge sort of floods the screen.
If something is really stuck, I'll use a toothbrush (dedicated to this purpose of course ) to push the leaf particles through the holes.
Easy and usually gets it clean in a couple of seconds.

[minor_glitch]

If you've rinsed it repeatedly and still have a few particles stuck in the mesh, there are two perfect dental tools you can use!
http://hereandthere.us/wp-content/uploa ... ackage.jpg
or
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4 ... SS500_.jpg

My dentist gave me the second one and I've used it a couple times to poke out some pesky leaves.

[Chip]

Humbly I say, the best way to avoid this problem is an ounce ... er gram of prevention. The problem is usually caused by the tiny leaf particles of teas like sencha before they have had the chance to open up a bit. When these get in the holes, they then hydrate and puff up, getting stuck.

I pour the leaves in a preheated kyusu towards the opposite side of the pot from the screen. I pour the water against or towards the screen, essentially keeping the tiny particles away from the screen til they have had this chance to open up a bit.

For each steep, I also pour water against the screen, flushing all leaves off the screen.

I do not obsess about this, it takes no extra time, but it works. I never have leaves left in the screen after flushing with water to clean. I do this for many types of screens and for more teas than just Japanese.

However, before I did this I used to allow the stuck leaves to dry fully and simply give them a finger rub ... they just crumbled away ... then make sure to get the remnants out of the spout as well. I recall using a toothbrush as well.

[Alex]

Personally I just let them be and they come out in their own time. Usually after they've dried and I'm pre-warming the pot and cup

[TMike]

Thanks all for your replies, super helpful!