A friend who traveled in China fairly recently concurred about washing the pots. She said it looked like sometimes you could pour in just hot water and take back enough of what was on the sides to make a pot of tea. :)

I usually can't stand it after a while and run the Dobie pad around inside. I haven't given it the truly authentic treatment dictated by those from the oldest tea-drinking culture. But neither do I feel compelled to wash it after every use. Once a month is often enough.

SRS