I just got a new pan and am trying to ward off any burned-on stains. In my experience. using a damp sponge to apply a cleanser like my friends doesn’t work well. l’ve found that making a paste with the cleanser and scrubbing it on the pan with my finger is a
more effective method. I think sponges absorb not too much of the cleanser and don’t create enough friction.
A source of frustration for me is finding spots of rust in my baking pans ,even after carefully washing and drying them. I have found a good way to prevent this. Right after I remove baked goods from the pans. I wash the pans and dry them with a dishtowel. Then I put them in the oven, which has been turned off. The residual heat is just enough to thoroughly dry the pans and remove any moisture left behind in hard-to-reach spots. This is especially effective for muffin Tins, air-insulated pans, and any baking sheets or pans with rolled edges or rims. A few minutes in the still- warm oven does the trick.