How to Wash an Outdoor Grill

After you remove food from a barbecue, cover the grill and allow it to stay heated for 15 to 20 minutes longer. This process will burn away a lot of the residual grease and grime between uses. A couple of times a year, though, you'll want to give the grill a thorough cleaning before you fire it up.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Dishwashing Liquid
• Oven Cleaner
• Brass Wire Brush
• Charcoal Grill:
• Garden Hose
• Gas Grill:
• Stiff Wire Brush
• Tape
• Vegetable Oil
• Baking Soda Or Abrasive Cleaner
• Large Plastic Bag
• Large Spoon Or Cup
• Metal Scouring Pad Or Plastic Scrubber
• Newspaper
• Paper Clip Or Toothpick
• Linseed Oil
• Rag, sponge or plastic scrubber

Charcoal grill

1. Use a stiff wire brush to scrape away any loose debris from the grill and grates, then remove the grill and grates.

2. Scoop out any ash at the bottom of the barbecue with a large spoon or cup.

3. Clean the inside and outside of the barbecue with baking soda (or another abrasive cleaner) and a little water using a metal scouring pad. If your barbecue has a painted, a nonstick or an aluminum surface, use dishwashing liquid, water and a plastic scrubber (not abrasive cleaners and metal scrubbers).

4. Place the grill and grates in a large plastic bag and cover them thoroughly with oven cleaner. Allow them to sit for several hours or overnight. If the grill and grates are aluminum, soak them in dishwashing liquid and water instead.

5. Remove the grill and grates from the plastic bag and place them atop several layers of newspaper.

6. Use a metal scouring pad or stiff brush to scrub them clean. If the grill or grates are aluminum or nonstick, use a plastic scrubber, not a metal one.

7. Hose off the grill and grates to remove any remnants of the oven cleaner. Use the hose to clean out the barbecue itself as well.

8. Allow everything to dry thoroughly, then replace the grill and grates.

9. Coat the grill with vegetable oil to prevent rusting and future buildup.

Gas grill

1. Examine the flexible hose. If it is cracked or damaged, replace it with a new one.

2. Consult your owner's manual for basic maintenance tips (see also How to Troubleshoot a Gas Grill). This will include checking the metal tubes under each burner. Spiders and other creepy crawlies like to nests in these tubes, which causes blockage and possibly even a fire. Use a paper clip or toothpick to clear these holes if necessary.

3. Remember that many gas grills are made of aluminum products, so you'll want to avoid abrasive cleaners, including oven cleaner, and metal brushes or scouring pads.

4. Soak the grill and any removable parts in dishwashing liquid and hot water. Scrub away buildup with a rag, sponge or plastic scrubber.

5. Remove the porcelain grills and flavorizer bars and run them through the dishwasher. Or scrub them with a brass wire brush.

6. Replace the lava rocks every year with new ones or boil them in soapy water to remove built-up grime.

7. Tape over any gas openings and then clean the inside of the barbecue with hot, soapy water and a rag, sponge or plastic scrubber.

8. Clean the outside of the barbecue with hot, soapy water and a rag or sponge.

9. Hose out the barbecue. Allow it to dry thoroughly before you replace all of the parts.

10. After everything is dry, rub the grill with vegetable oil and any wooden parts with linseed oil.

11. If you have a quick disconnect, make sure it is securely fastened before you use the grill.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you fire up the grill, spray it with nonstick cooking spray or wipe it with vegetable oil to make cleanup easier.

• If a grill is still warm, not hot, rub a balled-up piece of aluminum foil against it to remove any debris, just like you would a stiff brush.

• Some barbecue aficionados prefer to leave carbon buildup on the grill because they believe it adds flavor to barbecued meats and vegetables.