Most of us retire our grills come fall — but before you cover it up, you’ll want to give it a good clean. An action-packed summer could mean your grill is not in great shape, and you don’t want to let the debris of your barbecues sit until next year. Here are a few easy tips on how to clean and restore your grill before the end of the season.
Cleaning The Exterior
How you clean the exterior of your grill depends on what material it is made out of. You don’t want to use the wrong cleaning solution or tool because that could cause more damage than good. Follow this easy guide on how to clean different grill exteriors.
Powder-Coated: Make a mild solution using dishwashing soap and water to clean the surface and dry gently using a microfiber cloth or paper towel. Never use a polish on powder-coated lids because it could ruin the finish.
Porcelain-Coated: Clean porcelain-coated lids like glass, using a mild dishwashing soap diluted with water. You can dry with a microfiber cloth or paper towel, and if you want to give it a little more shine you can use a window cleaner after.
Stainless Steel: With stainless steel grills you can be a bit more aggressive. Use dishwashing soap and hot water, scrubbing with the grain using a sponge. When all grime has been removed, rinse off soap residue with warm water and dry off with a cloth. You can use a stainless-steel polish to give your grill a nice gleaming finish.
Cleaning The Interior
The interior of your grill can be a bit more complicated, as different parts need to be cleaned differently. Follow this guide on how to restore the interior of your grill the right way.
Soak Grates and Plates: The easiest way to clean the grates and plates on your grill is to take them off and let them soak in a bucket filled with dishwashing soap and hot water. Do this first so that you can let them soak while you tend to the other parts. Whatever residue remains after they’ve soaked can be scrubbed off with a grill brush and blasted with your hose.
Scrub the Hood and Walls: Before you start scrubbing, set down a sheet of tinfoil so all that caked on buildup doesn’t drop down on your burner. Use a proper grill brush to scrub underneath the hood and along the walls. Once the majority has been scrubbed away, you can wet a paper towel and wipe along the surface.
Empty the Drip Pan: First shake out your drip pan to get rid of any loose debris. If it’s pretty dirty, you’ll want to let it soak before you attempt to scrub it. Dishwashing soap and hot water is fine, so it’s okay to let it soak along with your grates and plates. Once the grease buildup has softened, you can go ahead and scrub it with your brush and rinse with clean water.
We also suggest using a grill cover to protect your grill from the elements when not in use. We still have a few weeks of grilling season left, but now that you know how to clean your grill properly, you can rest assured your grill will be in top form again for next summer!
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