A wok may feel sticky after cooking because grease, food particles, or thick-sauce residue remain on the surface. Cleaning it while it is still warm, before the residue hardens, is generally easier; mild dish soap can help remove grease and thick sauces.
How to Check the Wok
After cooking, check for visible food bits, greasy patches, or a thin sauce-like film. If these are present, wash the wok with mild dish soap while it remains warm enough for cleaning but safe to handle.
Stickiness that remains after visible residue is removed does not, by itself, prove that the seasoning or surface is damaged.
What Still Needs Confirmation
The care instructions for the specific wok should confirm whether dish soap is suitable and how the seasoning or surface is expected to look after cleaning. Persistent stickiness cannot be assigned to residue, seasoning, or a surface condition without those checks. If product-specific instructions differ from general cleaning advice, the product instructions should take priority.