Tools and Materials
Materials
Steps for Grill Cleaning and Maintenance
A few cleaning supplies, a wire brush or grill stones, rags or paper towels, and cooking oil are all you'll need to clean the grill and have it running smoothly every time you fire it up.
How to Clean Gas Grills
Always check the grill interior for damaged and worn parts and clean the inside regularly. Grease, debris and even insects can keep a grill from working properly.
1. Clean the Heat Plates
Check the flame tamers that cover the burners on a gas grill. They’re also called heat tents or flavorizer bars. Brush off debris with a wire brush. Brush off debris with a wire brush. For really dirty heat plates, remove the bars from the grill and clean them with water. Avoid using lemon or citrus-based soaps. If your heat plates develop holes or cracks in them, it may be time to replace them.
2. Scrub the Grill Burners
Gas grills can have tube, U-shape, flat or cast burners. These should be checked when flame tamers are removed. Clogged burners can lead to uneven cooking and premature burner failure. Scrub burners with a dry wire brush or abrasive nylon brush according to manufacturer’s instructions, giving attention to the burner port area (the jets where the gas comes out) to remove food residue or grease.
Infrared and rotisserie burners that use ceramic tile require a different cleaning method. Ceramic burners are delicate and need to be cleaned carefully. Turn ceramic burners on for 10 minutes to burn off excess grease and food debris. With the burner off, use tweezers to remove any large food debris.
3. Clean the Venturi Tubes
Periodically clean the venturi tubes, which mix air and gas, and feed to the burners. They need to be clear to work properly. The tubes make good homes for spiders and insects during the off-season. Even a small blockage can become a fire hazard. Remove the entire burner/tube assembly and clean with soapy water. Clean the holes with a wire brush, paper clip or small piece of wire. Replace when dry and ensure the venturi tube is properly aligned with the gas valve.
Make sure the venturi tube is in place properly before you use the grill. Not having the venturi tube placed over the gas valve can be dangerous if the grill is lit.
If you don’t have a gauge, pour warm water down the side of the tank and follow it with your hand. The place where the water temperature starts to feel cold is your fuel level.
How to Clean Charcoal Grill
The best way to keep your charcoal grill in good condition is by cleaning it before and after the barbecue season.
- Clean up the ash build up from the charcoal bricks once they’ve cooled down.
- Clean the grates when they’re still warm using a wire brush.
- Apply vegetable oil to the grill grates to prevent rusting and food from sticking to it.
- Clean the base of the charcoal grill with dish soap and a brush.
How to Clean a Pellet Grill
- Remove any pellets from the hopper. Then burn off any pellets that are left in the auger. This step is important because wet pellets can cause an auger jam.
- Heat the grill to 400 degrees to burn off the remaining pellets.
- Shut off the grill. Let it completely cool.
- Use a grill brush to scrub the grates.
- Next, remove the grates and spray them with a degreaser or cleaner.
- Let the cleaner sit for 2 minutes. Wipe the cleaner off and rinse with water.
- Use mild detergent and wash the grates to ensure the degreaser has been removed completely.
- Remove the heat deflector plates. Use a vacuum to remove loose debris or ash, including inside the burner. Some pellet grills have a removable burn pot for easy ash clean-up. We recommend dry scrubbing and vacuuming debris after each long cook or after 2-3 short cooks to prevent ash build-up on the heat diffuser.
- Next, spray the interior with degreaser or cleaner. Follow the same steps that were used for cleaning the grates.
- Now you need to clean the grill's exterior. Spray it with a degreaser and let it sit for 2 minutes. Wipe it down. Then rinse the exterior and dry with a towel.
- Change out your liners when they’re about 2/3 or 3/4 of the way full.
- Finally, wash the grease bucket with warm soapy water.
How to Clean a Flat Top Grill or Griddle
- Use a scraper to remove the bulk of food debris from the griddle.
- Use hot water or steam to loosen remaining debris.
- Gently rub a scouring pad over the surface of the griddle if needed.
- Rinse the surface with water and dry with paper towels.
- Add a layer of vegetable oil or griddle seasoning post clean-up to prevent rust.
How to Clean Grill Grates
Clean the grill grates after each use. General steps for cleaning grill grates are below, but follow your manufacturer’s instructions for specific tools and methods.
- Warm your grill before cleaning to make clearing away grease and food materials easier. Make sure to turn the burners off before cleaning.
- If you’re using a grill stone, no water is required because the stone will remove residue.
- Once the grill has cooled, remove the grates and spray them with a dish spray or soak them in a sink or bucket with warm water and dish soap. Give the soap about 5 to 10 minutes to work on any grease and food that are on the grates.
- Take a scrubbing sponge or stiff bristle brush and give the grates a quick scrub.
- Rinse thoroughly and wipe them down with a paper towel of soft cloth.
- After you’ve cleaned the cooking grates, spray them with cooking oil.
- Routinely brush the cooking grates with a dry wire brush or grill stone before and after each use to prevent food and bacteria buildup. Make sure the brush or stone is appropriate for the grill grates.
Check your grill brush to make sure that the bristles are in good condition and aren’t coming out. After using the brush, make sure your cooking surface is free of bristles.
How to Clean Different Types of Grill Lids
Grill surfaces are made from different materials and require different cleaning methods.
- Porcelain-Coated Steel Lids: They're fragile and can crack or break easily, so they should be treated like glass. Clean with a mild dishwashing soap and water. Dry with microfiber rags or paper towels. To polish, use window cleaner.
- Powder-Coated Steel Lids: Clean with a mild dishwashing soap and water. Dry with microfiber towels or paper towels. Do not use stainless-steel polish even if it looks like stainless steel as this will damage the finish.
- Stainless-Steel Lids: Clean with hot soapy water first to remove any grease and grime. For stubborn, baked-on deposits or discoloring, use a sponge and scrub with the grain of the stainless-steel. (Going against the grain will damage the appearance of the grill.) Afterward, rinse with warm water to remove all soap. Then dry with a clean cloth or rag. Once the lid is dry, polish with a stainless-steel cleaner or wipe.
- Painted Lids: They may be refinished using high-temperature paint. Use sandpaper and a scraper to remove any corrosion and wash the surface thoroughly with soap and water. Once dry, paint the surface according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Clean Your Grill Tools
- Keeping your grill tools clean and ready is another important step in the grilling process. There’s nothing worse than having the grill or coals ready to cook and then having to go back and wash dirty tongs and spatulas. Fill the kitchen sink with warm water and dishwashing soap.
- Allow the dirty equipment to soak for 5-10 minutes to let the soap work on the grease and grunge.
- Use a sponge or soft bristle brush to get rid of any remaining debris.
- Rinse off with warm water and dry with a soft cloth or allow to air dry.
Grill Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
- Avoid creating grease build up and have easy clean up by using aluminum drip pans.
- Give your old grill new life. Many grill parts like heat plates, cooking grates and warming racks can easily be replaced.
- Before you start a gas grill, inspect the fuel line for cracks. Perform a more thorough inspection each month by brushing soapy water along the connections. If bubbles form when the gas is running, tighten your connections or replace the line.
- Never place a grill in a garage, breezeway, carport or under any flammable surface. Keep your grill at least 10 feet from the house.
Follow the grill manufacturer's instructions for use, cleaning and maintenance.
Grill Cleaning FAQs
How Do You Maintain a Grill?
Grill maintenance depends on the type of grill you use. It’s a good practice to clean your grill after every use and spray oil on the grill grates post cleaning to prevent rust. If your grill sits on pavement, place a tarp or a grill mat underneath it to catch debris, grease and food. When not in use, use grill covers to protect it from the elements.
Should You Wash Your Grill After Every Use?
It’s recommended to clean the grill after every use to prevent build-up of rust, food and bacteria. Give your grill a thorough cleaning at least twice a year. If you grill frequently, a good rule of thumb is every 5 to 10 uses. Not cleaning a dirty grill can shorten its lifespan. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions before deep cleaning your grill.
Do You Clean a Grill When It's Hot or Cold?
It’s best to clean the grill after it’s preheated or before it cools down. It makes clearing away residue much easier.
When Should I Oil the Grill Grates?
Cleaning and oiling the grill grates before and after each use prevents food build up and helps maintain a rust-free grate.
How Do We Check the Ignition System of a Gas Grill?
When you check the ignition system for a spark and the grill doesn’t light, check that the pressure regulator connections are tight on the tank. You can try manual ignition using a grill lighter and maintaining a safe distance from the flame. If that works, check the batteries in your ignition switch and clean or replace the electrodes. Your owner’s manual will show you how.