Clean and maintain your pressure cooker like any other good piece of quality cookware. If you keep your pressure cooker clean, you can get years of use out of it. Before putting your pressure cooker away between uses, clean it:
Remove the gasket from the cover and wash the gasket separately.
Wash the gasket in warm water with a small amount of mild soap and a cloth or sponge.
Wash the pressure cooker cover, pot, and gasket with a mild liquid dishwashing soap and a nonabrasive sponge.
Rinse the pressure cooker well under clean water.
Towel dry all parts.
Make sure you get everything thoroughly dried.
Properly reposition the rubber gasket under the cover.
Some gaskets have to be lined up a specific way. Make sure that you replace it correctly.
Some manufacturers suggest that the pressure regulator valve be disassembled and cleaned after each use. Check the manufacturer’s instructional materials for further information.
Never immerse your pressure cooker’s cover in water because it may affect and damage the safety valves. Never wash the pressure cooker in the dishwasher. Food particles or even dishwasher detergent can collect and clog the pressure regulator and/or safety valves.
Never lock your pressure cooker’s cover in place before you store it because you can damage the rubber gasket seal or ring or, worse yet, not be able to reopen the pressure cooker because moisture can create an almost permanent seal.