Spring is here and it’s been perfect grilling weather. But wait – have you cleaned your BBQ lately?
If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned the old BBQ, it’s likely time. Food particles can add up making the grates dirty and debris in the bottom of the grill can affect grill performance. Get that grill cleaned up and ready for all of those summer parties!
What You’ll Need
- Newspaper or cardboard (to lay the grates on while cleaning)
- Easy Off or similar Grill cleaner (depending on your grill, you may need more than one can)
- Rags and sponges (sponges with scrubbing pad on one side work well)
- Dish Scrub Brush (plan on throwing this out when finished)
- Wire brush (toothbrush size)
- Rubber gloves
- Eye protection
- Face mask (some cleaners have strong fumes)
- Hose
- Garbage bags
Let’s Get Started!
IMPORTANT — Unhook the gas from the bbq.
Make sure to use the rubber gloves, eye protection and a mask to avoid direct contact with the cleaners. Even non-scented ones can be strong and irritate skin or lungs.
You’ll want to be in an outside, well-ventilated area. Lay out the newspaper or cardboard on the ground. Carefully remove the cooking grates and place on the paper / cardboard.
Some grills have a metal “shield” over the element where the flame comes out. These often easily slide out for gentle dusting off / brushing with the wire brush.
Most grills have a bottom tray that slides out so you can empty ash / debris from the bottom of the bbq. Locate this and dispose of any debris in a garbage bag. It may take a few rounds of replacing the tray and gently brushing the bottom areas of the grill to sweep debris throughout the bottom of the grill into the tray. The wire toothbrush can come in handy for this job. You can likely hose off this tray and set aside to dry once you’ve removed all debris.
Gently brush off the heating elements with the wire brush as well to remove any buildup.
Cleaning
Once you’ve removed the grates and laid out on the cardboard or paper, spray generously with Easy Off / Grill Cleaner. These will likely need to sit for a few minutes before scrubbing with the scrub sponge, or brushing with a dish scrub brush. Lean against a cement wall or on gravel to hose off. You may need to do a few rounds of cleaner, scrubbing and hosing off on both sides of the grates to get them clean.
When the debris, ash and removable components of the grill are cleared out, use the Easy Off on the inside of the lid in the BBQ. Be careful to avoid the heat element areas as well as any wiring for light buttons, side burners, etc. Let the cleaner sit for a few minutes before wiping with wet rags or sponge. Again, this may take a few rounds of cleaner and wiping to remove all the residue.
Wrap Up
At this point, your grill should be looking pretty good! Allow all cleaned items to dry completely before gently replacing and re-attaching the gas. Do a test light to make sure all is working properly and if so – you’re all set!
If you run into issues like light buttons not working, there are BBQ repair companies who will come to your home and repair your grill. They also clean grills, so if you’re not up to the task, you can hire someone to do it for you. However, with a bit of elbow grease and time, you’ll save yourself some cash if you are able to do it yourself.
Happy Grilling! And remember.. if you need help getting the inside of your home clean, just request an estimate.