I have a cast iron bean pot that is in very bad shape (a lot of rust) is there any way to clean it up?

Try cleaning it with a lemon. slice it in half and rub it on the surface like a brillo pad. Then, put it on the stove to heat until dry. Coat it with oil inside only and put in the oven for an hour at 250 degrees. tHIS IS CALLED SEASONING A PAN. try not to use soap, which is almost impossible. I do use soap, but I re-season as needed. the rust is an indication you have not seasoned----put oil on it and baked it into the iron frying pan. it will not crack in a fire.

A cast iron bean pot is designed to go over fire so it won't warp or crack. Throwing it in the fire will not remove rust.

Find someone who will sand blast it for you, that is the best way. As soon as you get it back rub it all over with a thin layer of sunflower oil and bake in oven at 350°F or 175°c until it starts to really smoke. Open a window and turn off the oven. When it's cool, it's ready to use.

You can also buy a bottle of rust remover and follow the directions. Wash well and dry. Then "prime" as above. If rust is very textured, you might want to take sandpaper or a grinder to it.

clean it with ketchup put on and let sit for fifteen minutes use a bit of elbow grease and remove rust works wonders

to season pot bake some cornbread in it

put it in a hot oven well wiped with veg oil until just smoking. after rub dry. do not use soap to clean unless vital, in which case you will need to do the seasoning process again.