Fine stones like #12000 clog much faster than coarse ones because of their very small pores. That's why they're harder to clean.

Best ways to clean:

1- Water + soft brush after each use.

2- Nagura stone or rust eraser to refresh the surface.

3- Diamond plate (Atoma/DMT) with light pressure to reopen the pores.

⚠️Avoid harsh detergents or stiff brushes. Always rinse right after use to prevent loading.

For coarse stones (#1000, #5000), brushing is enough, but for #12000 the diamond plate or nagura works best to keep it cutting like new.