Summer is a few months away but now’s the time to get your grill primed and ready for another season of backyard cookouts, burgers, and barbecue. And the very first step is to clean the entire grill of all remnants from last summer’s cooking adventures. Even if you wiped down the grill before putting it away for the winter, it’s important to start each new grilling season with a thorough cleaning.

The same grilling practices that makes those Image-perfect, flavourful char marks on your burgers and steaks also produce carbon deposits on virtually every surface of your grill, including the grates, hood, interior of the firebox etc.

Those carbon deposits aren’t just ugly; grease and sugary sauces can stick to them and harbor bacteria. And excessive carbon buildup can cause the grill to heat unevenly, not reach full operating temperature, and gas-burner tubes to prematurely fail.

To make the grill easier to clean at the start of each new grilling season, follow these simple steps throughout the summer: Use a wire brush to scrub the grill grates clean after every cooking session, and be sure to remove any loose wire-brush bristles before firing up the grill. If you barbecue frequently, say at least once per week, thoroughly clean the grates every two months. And twice a grilling season, you should give your grill a thorough cleaning, which will help it cook better and last longer.

The basic cleaning procedures presented here are essentially the same for gas or charcoal grills, charcoal grills just have fewer parts. Let take a look at the best cleaning tips for cleaning your BBQ.

BBQ Cleaning Equipment

You will need a long handled wire brush, wire bottle brush, a bucket, and some elbow grease. Avoid using toxic chemicals to clean your grill since they can impart an off taste to foods. Instead all you need is some warm water, grease-cutting washing up liquid, and a solution of equal parts white vinegar and baking soda.

If your grill has stainless steel exterior surfaces, a good stainless steel cleaner adds a little extra shine. You’ll also need a pair of long-cuffed rubber gloves and a few disposable scouring sponges and several cotton rags. When cleaning stainless steel, wait for an overcast day; the hot sun can make it hard to remove streaks from stainless steel surfaces.

Burn it

To clean a gas grill, start by firing up the BBQ, closing the hood, and letting it come to full temperature. Wait at least 30 minutes for the extreme temperature to singe any stuck-on food or grease. Next, dip the wire brush into a bucket of warm, soapy water and scrub off all the carbon from the grates. Then turn off the gas and let the BBQ cool completely.

For charcoal grills, simply dump the old charcoal briquettes into a metal container. Then, scrape away any caked-on charcoal dust and debris with a scrapping tool.

Soak the grills

Once the grill is cool, remove all the grills and totally submerge them into a tub or bucket of warm, soapy water. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes. Remove anything else from the grill that you can easily take off, such as burner-control knobs, warming racks, and grease trays. The burner tubes on most gas grills are removable, too. Stripping down the BBQ in this way will make it much easier to clean.

After the grates and panels have soaked, take them out and scrub them with the wire brush. For really stubborn gunk, mix a paste of white vinegar and baking soda and apply it directly to the worst caked-on food bits. Rinse all surfaces clean, making sure to thoroughly dry cast-iron grates to avoid rusting.

Time to scrub

After the grates and panels have been soaked, take them out and scrub them with the wire brush. For really stubborn gunk, mix a paste of white vinegar and baking soda and apply it directly to the worst caked-on food bits. Rinse all surfaces clean, making sure to thoroughly dry cast-iron grates to avoid rusting.

Wash & Wipe Down

Empty the bucket of dirty water, then refill it with clean water and a few squirts of washing up liquid. Now scrub down the entire outside of the BBQ using a large kitchen sponge. Be aware the steel wool, metal sponges, and coarse scouring pads can cause scratches, so avoid using them on finished surfaces. After washing the outside of the grill, use a micro-fibre towel to wipe down and dry all surfaces.

Cleaning your BBQ can be a very labour intensive job and for some it can take an entire day or weekend to clean. Your BBQ has been sitting in the outside elements all year round so it is imperative that the BBQ is completely clean properly before cooking on it.

Call the professionals

If this doesn’t sound like the job for you please call RH Oven Cleaning, our specialists are able to tackle all ranges of makes and models to ensure you have a clean barbecue that is ready, hygienic and safe for the summer ahead. Our services are economical and efficient – leaving you with a BBQ that is ready to use the second we have finished cleaning.

Call RH Power Washing if you are not fully confident in cleaning your gutters or downpipe,  as mentioned above – it is an extremely dangerous task. At RH Power Washing, our team are fully trained and fully equip to clean any gutter safely and efficiently.

Whether you are looking Driveway Cleaning, Patio Cleaning, Wood Decking Cleaning – at RH Power Washing, we are here to meet your needs.

We have built a loyal customer base by treating them and their homes respectfully, and we’ve worked hard to make sure we get the job done better than anyone else can. If you are looking for professional power washing washing , call us today on 087 6089310 or 01 5639624

Did you know?

We also offer Power WashingGutter CleaningWindow CleaningOven Cleaning and more. Call us today to book your appointment!

Scroll to Top