How to clean a grill and keep it clean all summer

To clean a grill, heat it for 10 to 15 minutes and brush the grates while hot. For a deep clean, let it cool completely and shut off the gas. Then soak and scrub the grates, scrape the inside of the lid and firebox, brush the burners gently, empty the grease tray or ash, and wipe the outside with dish soap and water.

What do you need to clean a grill?

• A grill brush or a bristle-free scraper
• A plastic putty knife or wooden scraper for the firebox
• Dish soap, a bucket of hot water and a non-scratch scrub pad
• A soft brush, like an old toothbrush, for the burners
• Rubber gloves and an old towel you don't mind ruining
• Paper towels and a little cooking oil for the grates
• A shop vacuum, if you have one, for the loose debris in the bottom

Skip steel wool and harsh powders on the outside of a stainless or painted grill. They scratch the finish and the scratches rust.

How do you clean grill grates?

After every cook: brush the grates while they're still hot.

For a deep clean:

1. Burn it off. Close the lid, run the grill on high for 10 to 15 minutes, then brush the grates.
2. Shut it down. Turn off the burners and the gas at the tank, and let the grill cool completely.
3. Soak. Lift the grates out and soak them in hot water with dish soap for 30 minutes to an hour. A large plastic storage bin outside works well and keeps grill grease out of your kitchen sink.
4. Scrub. Use the grill brush or a non-scratch pad. For stubborn spots, a paste of baking soda and water left on for 15 minutes helps.
5. Rinse and dry fully. Wet cast iron rusts fast.
6. Oil lightly. Wipe cast iron or steel grates with a paper towel dipped in cooking oil before they go back in.

About wire brushes: loose bristles can stick to the grates and end up in food. Replace the brush when the bristles look worn, and wipe the grates with a damp cloth after brushing. A bristle-free scraper or a ball of foil held in tongs does the job too.

How do you clean a gas grill inside?

With the grates out and the gas off:

1. Flame tamers or heat shields. Lift out the metal bars or plates over the burners. Scrape them and soak them with the grates.
2. Burners. Brush the burner tubes gently side to side with the soft brush. Don't poke anything into the gas ports, and don't soak the burners unless your manual says to.
3. Lid and firebox. Scrape the flaking grease from the inside of the lid and the walls into the bottom of the firebox. Those black flakes on the lid are carbon and grease, not peeling paint.
4. Bottom. Push everything down into the grease tray opening, or vacuum it out with a shop vacuum.
5. Grease tray and catch cup. Pull them, scrape the grease into the trash, wash them with dish soap, or line the cup with a foil liner.
6. Reassemble in reverse order.

After you reconnect the tank, brush soapy water on the hose connections and turn on the gas. Bubbles mean a leak. Turn it off and tighten or replace the part before you light the grill.

How do you clean a charcoal grill?

Charcoal grills are simpler. Wait until the ashes are completely cold. Hot-looking or not, ash can hold heat for a long time.

1. Empty the ash into a metal can, never a plastic bin or a paper bag.
2. Brush the grates and the charcoal grate.
3. Scrape the bowl and lid with the plastic scraper.
4. Wash the bowl with dish soap and water, rinse and dry it.
5. Check the vents open and close freely.

Ash left sitting in the bowl soaks up moisture and rusts the bottom out, so empty it after each cook once it's cold.

How do you clean the outside of a grill?

• Stainless steel: warm water and dish soap, wiped with the grain, then dried with a microfiber cloth. Check your manual before using a stainless cleaner.
• Painted or enamel: warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Nothing abrasive.
• Knobs, handles and side shelves: Wipe them every few cookouts.

Cover the grill once it's completely cool, and pull the cover off to let it air out after a rainy week so moisture doesn't stay trapped underneath.

How often should you clean a grill?

• Every cook: brush the grates hot.
• Every few cookouts: empty the grease tray or ash, wipe the handles and shelves.
• Start and end of grilling season: the full deep clean above.

If you grill several times a week, deep clean more often. Grease left to build up in the firebox feeds flare-ups.

In the kitchen

The grill is outside. The mess usually ends up inside too: the sticky counters, the marinade drips, the floor by the back door.

On Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, the countertops and backsplash, the sink and faucet, the stovetop and the outside of the appliances are cleaned, and the floors are vacuumed and mopped.

It can be booked one time, weekly, every other week, every 4 weeks or twice a year. See what's covered at House Cleaning. For hosting tips, see kitchen cleaning during summer parties and 10 essential summer cleaning tasks.

FAQ

How often should you clean a grill? Brush the grates every time you cook, while they're hot. Empty the grease tray every few cookouts in season, and give the whole grill a deep clean at the start and end of grilling season, or more often if you grill several times a week.

How do you deep clean grill grates? Heat the grill for 10 to 15 minutes and brush the grates hot. For a deep clean, soak them cold in hot water with dish soap, scrub with a brush or non-scratch pad, rinse, dry and oil them lightly.

Are wire grill brushes safe? Loose bristles can stick to the grates and end up in food. If you use one, replace it when the bristles look worn and wipe the grates with a damp cloth afterward, or use a bristle-free scraper or a ball of foil held in tongs instead.

Can I clean my grill with oven cleaner? Only if the grill maker says so. Check your manual first, because oven cleaner can damage some finishes, and keep it off painted and stainless exterior surfaces.

Book a house cleaning

Tina's Clean Team serves South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.