I have tried to figure this out on my own but throughout all the reading I have done, it seems like I keep finding conflicting answers or the instructions they give are unclear… Am I supposed to just wipe out the pan after cooking with a paper towel, am I supposed to use water, or am I supposed to lightly wipe it out with soap & water and rinse? Thank you in advance!
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These answers are all missing the main point, which is [you need to season your pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-season-cast-iron-pans-skillets-cookware)
Why is this main point? All of the myth surrounding cast iron comes from people not understanding how they are intended to be used. Seasoning is the act of using oil heated really high that forces the oil to bind into a layer over the pan. This makes it quasi non-stick and prevents it from rusting.
Soap used to contain lye and would eat that layer away which is where “don’t use soap came from.” Your Dawn or Joy or noname dish detergent does not have lie and is safe to use. This we have the old advice sticking around but the reason for it is gone.
When you clean, you want to avoid removing that layer. Nothing bad happens if you do, it just means you need to season it again. Try to avoid scrubbing with heavy metal tools, use sponges and such.
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