Home Products To Clean Grills
Look throughout your kitchen, and you will find items to clean your grill. Theres no need for cleaners that only work on your grill when you can clean with home products. Use these multi-taskers to get a spotless clean.
Distilled white vinegar: You may have used vinegar to clean your home before. Bring that bottle outside to get your grill spotless. Use an even mix of water to white vinegar to avoid that harsh smell and shake it up in a spray bottle. Be sure your grates are cool before you spray them with the solution. Saturate the racks of your grill, letting it sit for 10 minutes. Resting the solution allows the vinegar to break down grease and grime, since it is a de-greaser. Take a folded square of aluminum foil and spray it with more vinegar to rub the grates down. You dont even have to rinse the racks, since vinegar isnt dangerous to ingest.
Lemons or onions: Yes, the delicious additions you use to flavor your grilled food make a great DIY grill cleaner. If youve got half a lemon or onion, use it to clean your grill. Dip the lemon in some salt to give this homemade grill cleaner a scrubby boost. Only use salt if your grates have a lot of buildup, since it is an abrasive substance you dont want directly on your grills surface. Use tongs or a grill fork to hold the half of lemon or onion and carefully scrub away at warm grates. The acidity in either piece of produce will break down residue.
Why We Dont Like Brushes For Cleaning Grates
Everybody thinks that wire brushes work best, but in reality, they can be dangerous if not used properly. You need to use a scraper to knock down the dried-up stuff that a wire brush cant do easily. Like brushing your teeth huh? Not really, since little wire hairs can snap off and stick to the greasy spots you cant get to. You wont see it there until it gets in your food. Sending your BBQ guests to the hospital is never part of the plan.
Only use a wire brush after youve scraped off all the grease and given the grill a good inspection. Dip your wire brush into water before doing any scrubbing after the grill is free from oil and junk. If the grill is still hot, the water will vaporize and causes steam to remove anything left-over. This will also prevent little wires from sticking to the grill surface too as theyll drop down into the grill bed.
How To Clean An Outdoor Gas Grill
Last Updated: November 5, 2020ReferencesTested
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Outdoor grilling is a great way to get together with family and friends and enjoy tasty food. However, the outdoor fun is only possible with a grill that is cleaned and maintained throughout the year. There are a few simple cleaning steps that you can do after every time you grill, along with deeper, semi-annual cleaning steps to keep your grill working its best for years to come. An outdoor grill that is kept clean and maintained will stay in good working order and will ensure that the food you cook on it always tastes great.
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Does Vinegar Clean Grill Grates
Vinegar by itself can get the job done surprisingly well.
However, by adding baking soda, the mixture becomes much more effective.
Baking Soda adds an abrasive to the liquid and that makes scrubbing off charred bits and pieces a lot easier to accomplish.
Together, Vinegar and Baking Soda make an environmentally safe combination.
Vinegar plus Baking Soda is one of the best formulas for cleaning grill grates.
Clean The Bbq Grill With Newspaper And Steam
Lynsey Queen of clean has a neat trick with newspaper to clean a caked-on BBQ grill. Allow your barbecue to cool slightly, but while its still warm, lay a sheet of old newspaper across the top and generously spritz with water. Close the lid for half an hour to steam clean it.
Lynsey explains, Grab one sheet of newspaper and pop it o the BBQ youve been using and just get a spray bottle of water and spray the newspaper. Pop the lid back on and what will happen is this will give your BBQ a steam clean. It will start to release all that grease, all that fat and all those bits from the food. When you take the newspaper off it will be all greasy and dirty, put that away . And youll find the newspaper has done most of the work for you.
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Clean The Cooking Grates
- Use the putty knife and wire brush to remove all debris from the cooking grates, brushing it straight into the garbage can the grates are balanced on. Scrape the biggest pieces of gunk first, then use a wire brush on the top and bottom of the grates to get what’s left.
- Once all debris is removed, spray the grates thoroughly with grill cleaner, then wipe them clean with a heavy-duty disposable shop towel.
Best Scraper: Chargon Ultimate
Its the perfect alternative to using a wire brush. Its also handy to hang up with your other BBQ cooking tools. This design comes with a leather strap for hanging on your grill when you need to use it. It has an angled blade design that wraps around of the grate for better coverage on your grates.
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How To Clean A Cast Iron Grill
- Working Time: 1 hr, 30 mins – 2 hrs
- Total Time: 2 hrs – 1 day
- Skill Level: Intermediate
Every good home and professional cook knows that cast iron cookware is essential for creating wonderful food. Its properties of conducting and retaining heat for long periods also make cast iron perfect for outdoor grilling. Unfortunately, cast iron will rust and deteriorate if exposed to too much water, unlike the more maintenance-free stainless steel grills. Learn how to clean even the most crusty cast iron grill to maintain your investment and the grill’s unique qualities.
Vacuum And Wipe Burner Tubes And Lower Cookbox
- Use your shop vacuum to remove any remaining debris from the burner tubes and lower cookbox.
- Spray both the tubes and box with grill cleaner, then use a shop towel to wipe them down thoroughly. This is the time to make them as clean and shiny as possible, so don’t be afraid to use lots of spray and towels.
- Once everything’s sparkling, go ahead and replace the cooking grates.
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Inspect And Clean Igniters
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Clean All Parts Once A Year
Clean everything elseincluding the burners themselves, the side walls, the bottom of the cooking compartment, and the drip panat least once a year, using warm, soapy water. This seasonal or annual cleaning requires some simple disassembly so you can clean each part separately let and dry it thoroughly before reassembling the grill. Make sure to disconnect the gas hookups before removing the burners.
The burners require special attention. Makes sure the jets are free of debris. A thin wire or small nail can help to open up any holes that are plugged.
Conclude by wiping down the outside of the grill, using warm water. Wipe dry to prevent rust.
How To Clean Bbq Grill Grates With Vinegar
Every time you use the grill it gets messy.
Bits of food and grease get stuck to the grates and some even fall down below into the grill.
If youre using a charcoal grill, then its even dirtier because of the ash.
Ash is not that big of a deal. You just scoop it up or if youre clever suck it up with a vacuum cleaner.
The real problem is the burnt food residue on the grates.
If you dont clean them after every cooking session, it will get layers of dirt and grime, and fat.
Thats not only unsanitary but also detrimental to your health.
The most simple solution would be to just scrub the grates with a wire brush. Hold on. This stuff is burnt on pretty badly, kind of like glue.
Instead of spending hours scrubbing your ass off, why dont you try a different approach?
In this guide, Ill show you one of the most simple and effective ways to clean grill grates by using vinegar.
Its natural, cheap, every household and store has it, and its super effective.
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How To Clean A Barbecue Grill
- Total Time: 1 hr
Luckily, the time spent maintaining a grill is minimal, and the payback for the effort is enormous. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with a top-of-line model or a cheap knockoff: A major seasonal cleaning combined with an every day scrub-down will improve your grill’s cooking performance. A clean grill will cook food better, and it will be free of residue that could possibly contaminate it.
Start With The Grates
Remove the cooking grates and place them on the tarp. Use a nylon stiff-bristled brush or nylon scrubber to brush away stuck-on food. If something is burned-on, use a plastic scraper to loosen the food.
Dip the brush or scrubber into the water and detergent solution and clean the grates. Finish by rinsing with plain hot water and use an old cloth to dry the grates completely. Set them aside.
The Spruce / Jenelle Botts
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How To Clean A Charcoal Grill With A Pressure Washer
Got a pressure washer? You can use it to effortlessly clean a charcoal grate. First empty the barbecue of ash, replace the charcoal grate, and then stand it away from anything you don’t want to splash (the middle of the lawn is perfect near a compost heap better. Then simply turn your pressure washer on a medium setting, and wash downwards, not up, to avoid making a mess.
We have a buyer’s guide to the best pressure washers if you’re in the market for one.
Gear You Need For Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Grates
Heres what you need to clean your stainless steel grate:
- Stiff nylon brush or metal scraper
Cleaning stainless steel grill grates is a simple 4-step process:
Allow me to walk you through this simple process of how to keep your stainless-steel grill grates clean. Ready? Lets dive in.
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How To Clean Your Barbecue Inside Out
wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 111,553 times.
A quick guide on how to clean your barbecue quick and effectively using these proven methods.
Best Cleaning Device: Wagner Spraytech
The caked-on residue that seems would never come off is no match for this Wagner steamer model. The plus side is you can use this steamer for all sorts of cleaning on your grill aside from the grates. The upper lids or the inside parts that are hard to reach wont be a hassle anymore to clean. This portable steam cleaner makes cleaning your grill a lot more fun!
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Use Cleaning Solutions Recommended By Your Grill Manufacturer
Most grill manuals will come with some cleaning recommendations. Usually, the cleaners listed are going to be fairly gentle, like ordinary dish soap combined with water. However, you can make your own DIY grill cleaners, too.
For instance, try mixing an even amount of white vinegar and water. Spray the solution on your grates or racks. Wait 10 minutes for your degreaser to work. Then, spray a folded square of aluminum foil with more vinegar mix and rub down the grates. Wipe them off and discard the foil. You dont need to rinse everything off because vinegars naturally nontoxic.
Along with those grill cleaning tips, some preventive measures can save you from dealing with a gunked-up grill. Be sure to:
- Cover surfaces with aluminum foil.
- Use a grill pan or basket.
- Use cooking oil, either on the grates or the food itself.
- Clean out ashes from pellets or charcoal.
- Use a grill cover when you arent cooking.
With proper care, your grill will last longer and your food will taste better. The steps above will also save you from having to scrub extra hard the next time you clean. With an easier cleaning job, you wont need any harsh chemicals to clean your grill.
Certain tools or chemicals may be a bit too harsh for your grills surfaces. Whether or not these cleaners are harmful depends on how you use them and the type of grill you have. Here are some general tips for proper cleaning.
How Often Should You Clean A Grill
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With the onset of summer, you can see a number of people having frequent barbecue cookouts in their backyards. Although, a weekend barbeque sounds quite appealing, however, you need to be assured that the grill is both clean and safe to use. If you have a grill and plan to cook food, then this article is a definite read for you.
How often should you clean a grill? Typically the grill must be cleaned after every use, irrespective of whether youre dealing with a top-of-the-line model or a cheap one. It is recommended that cleaning after every-use will improve your grills cooking performance.
However, it is not that simple. Every part of the grill like the grates, flavorized bars, burner tubes , and even the firebox, are prone to get a buildup of grease and fat residue. This calls for a thorough cleaning and maintenance to ensure proper functioning. Moreover, both gas and charcoal grills require a different cleaning process.
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Degrease The Upper Cookbox
- Disconnect the gas supply from your grill, then put on a pair of gloves to protect your hands from grill grease and cleaning products.
- Mix a solution of 20 percent dish soap and 80 percent water in a spray bottle, then open the lid of your grill and spray down the inside of the upper cookbox. Leave the solution to dissolve the grease for a few minutes, then brush it thoroughly with a stainless steel brush.
- Next, carefully remove the cooking grates and balance them on top of an open garbage can lined with a garbage bag, to prep them for cleaning.
Clean Your Grill Directly After Each Use
We know its a pain, and youd rather listen to the siren call of beer and hot dogs, but cleaning your grill of grease and burnt-on food directly after use is both hygienic and an excellent way to stop rust forming.
If you have a stainless steel grill, avoid using a wire brush to clean it as this will strip the coating off the steel and leave it vulnerable to corrosion.
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Clean With Aluminum Foil And Baking Soda
- Make a paste of 1 ½ cup ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda and ½ cup water in a small bowl. It should be a thick liquid consistency that sticks to the grill grates.
- Using a brush or sponge, cover the grill grates with the baking soda paste and let sit for a few minutes.
- Tear off a sizable piece of aluminum foil and crumple into a ball.
- Scrub the baking-soda covered grate wires with the aluminum foil ball, working up and down each wire and across the grate.
- Rinse the grate with water and return to the grill.
How To Clean A Gas Grill
Grills take a lot of wear and tear over time.Extreme temperatures, buildups of grease, carbon and food debris, rust andenvironmental factors can all wreak havoc on your grill over time.
Frequently cleaning your grill will improvethe safety of your grill, taste of your food, cut down on extra smoke, and ensure your burners areburning clean and heat is being distributed evenly. It will also give you achance to inspect your grill from top to bottom, and make sure its in goodshape.
An important part to inspect is the grill manifold. The manifold is the pipe that holds the valves. On some grills you may need to remove the control panel to see the manifold. Spray some soapy water around the valves and along the manifold. If you see bubbles you may have a leak. If the steal pipe feels soft or has any holes, you do NOT want to proceed further. This must be replaced. Contact the manufacturer for availability.
Heres how to clean a gas grill in a few easysteps.
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