From Grime to Shine: A Complete Grill Cleaning Guide

We've all gone to fire up the grill for a BBQ and been shocked by the grime on the grill. A clean grill has some definite benefits. It means a tasty meal free from bacteria and leftovers from the last grilling session–no one wants a burger covered in old grease. A clean grill is safer for you, too, as extra grease can cause a flare. Keeping your grill rust-free also extends the life of your grill. Here's a complete guide on how to clean a grill to keep you cooking like a pro.

Seasonal Deep Cleaning: As a rule, it's a safe bet to give your grill a deep cleaning at least twice a year. If you're an at-home pit master who grills more often, you should clean it after each grilling season.

Quick Clean After Each Use: It's a good habit to give your grill a quick cleaning after each use. You can easily scrub or scrape the grates, empty the pellets, ashes, or the drip tray, and wipe down the exterior of your grill. For a quick, low-effort clean, you can turn your grill on high, close the lid, and let it cook off the debris and grease for 10 minutes. This will keep it in tip-top shape year-round.

You will need some basic supplies to keep your grill shining:

• Grill brush - Make sure you have a brush in good condition. No one wants bristles in their BBQ.
• Scraper - This helps remove bigger messes and stubborn, stuck-on debris.
• Bucket or bin - You can soak the grill grates in warm, soapy water. You also need a supply of soapy water readily available as you work.
• Dish soap - It takes large amounts of de-greasing soap to clean greasy grills.
• Gloves - You want to protect your skin and nails from grime as you clean.
• Sponges - Have a few on hand, as you can easily go through a few. Use a sponge with a rough and smooth surface to tackle a mess and to shine the smooth surface of your grill.
• Dry cloths - It's a good idea to dry your clean grill inside and out to prevent rust.
• Foil - A ball of foil can help clean in a pinch, if your scrapers and sponges don’t work.
• Shop vac - You can use this to vacuum up the used pellets or residual ashes.

There are many types of grills out there, but the steps to clean a grill are similar for each kind of grill. We will go over just a few of the most common: gas, charcoal and pellet.

1. Clean the grates. Warm the grill before you get started cleaning, and then turn off the heat. Remove the warm grates and pre-soak them for heavier build up. Use unscented dish soap and warm water to clean residue off the grates. Scrub the grates with a good quality grill brush or scraper for bigger jobs. Be sure to scrub both sides of the grates. Rinse the soapy water and grease off the grates completely.
2. Clean the internal parts. Remove all the internal parts on your grill and clean them with a brush and soapy water depending on what type it is. On a gas grill, this includes the heat tents or plates, burner tubes and venturi tube. (This is the component on a gas grill that creates a steady flame.) For a pellet grill, remove the heat deflector plates and change the liners.
3. Clean the interior surfaces. Spray the inside of your grill with a degreaser if it needs it and let that soak for 30 minutes before wiping it down. Next, use a soapy sponge to wipe down the lid and interior surfaces. Get in the corners where grease can hide. Rinse and wipe down the surfaces with a dry cloth.
4. Clean out the grease and debris. Depending on the type of grill you use–gas, charcoal, or pellet–you’ll need to get rid of waste. Remove and clean out the drip pan, dispose of pellets, excess ashes, and drippings. You can use a shop vac to remove pellets or ashes. You can also burn remaining pellets in the auger. Keeping your drip tray clean on a gas grill helps prevent grease fires. Wash the grease bucket on a pellet grill.
5. Clean the exterior surfaces. Use soapy water and a sponge to wipe down the surfaces and clean off debris. Rinse and dry the exterior with a clean cloth.
6. Dry, season and reassemble the grill. Make sure the grates, and all parts of your grill, dry completely to avoid rust. Spray the grates with a cooking oil, to "season" the grates for the next grilling session. This prevents food from sticking. Reassemble all the parts of your freshly cleaned grill.

• Don't use oven cleaner, as this is not intended for grill cleaning.
• Remember to clean the lid of your grill too.
• Check your wire brushes. Make sure they are in good shape. No one wants to chomp down on wire.
• Cover your grill when it’s not being used. This will protect it from dirt and dust along with inclement weather.
• Check your gas supply if you have a gas grill. Make sure your supply is stocked and the lines and fittings are secure.
• Season your grates regularly with oil to keep them rust-free and to prevent food from sticking.

We have what you need for a great BBQ–from grills to grill cleaning supplies. Keep your grill shining so you can get straight to grilling during half-time of the big game instead of having to clean your greasy grill first. Regular upkeep saves you time, reduces flare-ups, and extends grill life!  A clean grill is safe, longer-lasting, and cooks better-tasting food.