Barbecue Grill Cleaning 101

It's Friday night, an old friend and his family is suddenly visiting from out of town. You're the first person he or she wants to see. He's probably the closest to a best friend you'll ever have. So, you want to impress them with your barbecuing skills that you've learned. Problem is, the grill is in the garage and you haven't used it for a while. Setting it up is easy but cleaning might take forever. "Shall I buy takeout instead?" you think. If you've ever been to this rare situation or you simply just want to know the proper grill cleaning method, then you've come to the right place. And oh, no, don't ever buy take out for these moments.

Vinegar Is A Quick Fix

It only takes a few simple steps to clean your barbecue grill with vinegar. All you need is a spray bottle, lukewarm water, white table vinegar, and a sheet of aluminum foil. Here is the step by step process:

1. Pour two cups of vinegar into the spray bottle and add two cups of water on top of it.
2. Put the lid on the bottle and shake it well
3. Fold the aluminum foil until you have a small square of approximately two inches across in each direction.
4. Spray the solution on the racks of the grill and the area above and underneath them to saturation.
5. Let the solution dry for 10 minutes.
6. While the grill dries, pour out any extra water/vinegar solution and refill the bottle with vinegar only.
7. Spray the vinegar on the foil and use it to scrub the grill's interior.  No rinsing is required.

Things Not To Do

While it is tempting to just empty use oven cleaner inside your grill, it can cause all sorts of hazards and should best be avoided. Why so? Harsh chemicals leave a residue which can affect the taste and smell of the food for the next few uses. The chemicals can also harm stainless steel and painted finishes. High pressure washers can cause more problems too. Grease may fly everywhere in your backyard, and in addition, grease may also enter the burners, where it can cause more problems. This then can affect the gas flow and the proper function of your barbecue. Garden hoses should also be avoided.

Yearly Cleaning

Unfortunately, other than what we have already suggested here, there is no actual easy way of grill cleaning. However, to make things more easier in the long run, you should have your grill undergo a thorough cleaning at least once a year. Always refer to the Care & Maintenance section of your owner’s manual before doing this though.