How to Clean a Grill

Knowing how to clean grill grates properly will depend on what material they're made of. Below are a few specific tips on how to clean grill grates made of stainless steel, porcelain and iron:

• For stainless steel grill grates, cover the top with aluminum foil and let the grill heat up for about 15 minutes. This should burn off the remaining food bits and make it easier to scrub your grill grates once they’ve cooled down.
• For porcelain grill grates, try to burn off any remaining food that stuck to the grill. Then let them cool completely and remove them. Use a nylon brush to scrub these types of grill grates. Wire or metal bristles can cause damage.
• It's very important to know how to clean grill grates made of iron. First, burn off as much food residue as possible and let them cool. Using too much water can cause them to rust, so it's best to scrub any troublesome spots with a soft, damp nylon brush. Wipe down and apply a light coating of vegetable oil to seal out moisture.

Tip: Give your grill grates a deep clean by soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to remove food and grease.

Out of the many different types of grills, the varieties that heat using charcoal require the most cleaning. Charcoal ash gathers at the bottom of the grill every time it's used. Built-up ash can block vents in the bottom of the grill. This will make it difficult to control cooking temperature and increase fire risks.

Keep charcoal grills in peak condition by cleaning them during, before and after grill season. Here’s how.

• Burn off any food leftover on the grates. Once the charcoal has cooled, remove the bricks and brush out the ash.
• Use a rag or folded paper towels to apply vegetable oil to the clean grates. This will help prevent rust and food build-up.
• Clean the inside of the grilling bowl and lid using mild dish soap and a steel brush.
• Clean the outside of the lid and bowl with soap and water or grill cleaner.
• Towel dry to prevent rust.

Natural gas or propane-powered gas grills don’t require the level of cleaning required of charcoal grills.

• Cleaning grill grates is easier with a long-handled, stiff-wire brush.
• Use a rag or folded paper towels to apply vegetable oil to the clean grill grates. This will help prevent rust and food build-up.
• Clean the inside of the grilling lid using mild dish soap and a steel brush.
• Remove the heat deflectors located over the burners and wash with dish soap and water.
• Dry thoroughly with a rag.
• Clean the outside of the grill.

Before and after each grilling season:

• Pre-heat the grill for 15 minutes on high heat, then turn off the grill.
• Turn the gas off; either on the propane tank or the gas line.
• Clean the grill using a stiff wire brush dipped in water. Do not lean over the grill while cleaning, as this will create plenty of steam.
• For tough grease spots, add dish soap to the water or a grill cleaner.
• Once the surface has cooled, wipe the grate with a damp cloth to remove residue or brush bristles.
• Remove burners from the gas supply line and remove blockages to the burner’s gas ports using a dry wire brush. Clean the ports by brushing side-to-side instead of up-and-down, as the vertical motion may push debris into the ports.
• Clean the burner valve with soapy water and run water through the inside of the valve.
• Clean the inside of the grill using a wire brush and warm soapy water and rinse with water. Towel dry the burners and reinstall.

Flat top grills are more commonly used in commercial spaces, but they can be a great addition to your backyard setup. They don’t have regular grill grates, so use a different method to clean them.

• Scrape off any loose food.
• Start cleaning the surface while the burner is still hot. Use caution to avoid getting burnt from the steam.
• Spray a cleaning solution along the top and let it sit for about 1 minute. You can use dish soap, a degreaser or a homemade baking soda mixture.
• Use a grill brush to scrub away any stuck-on food and debris.
• Wipe it down with a dry cloth and repeat the process as needed.

Make sure the pellet smoker has completely cooled before cleaning a pellet grill.

• Remove the grill grates and place them in a bucket of warm, soapy water.
• Take a wet-dry vac and clear out the ash and debris from the grill’s interior.
• Use a scrub brush or abrasive sponge to clean the drip pan.
• Remove the chimney cap and clean the inside with a scrub brush.
• Wipe down all parts with a damp cloth.

• Cleaning grill grates is best done with a long-handled, stiff-wire brush. If you don’t have a brush, ball up some aluminum foil. Hold it with long-handled tongs.
• When cleaning grills with bristle brushes and other grill cleaning tools, always thoroughly wipe down the cleaned area afterwards. This will remove any bristles that may have come off during the cleaning process and get stuck to the grill.
• Except for flat tops, the best way to clean a grill is to start while the grilling surface is warm. Make sure to wait until the surface has cooled enough that it will not burn you.
• Keep the grill protected with a grill cover.
• Replace your grill brush annually.
• Knowing how to clean the outside of a grill is important. For a stainless-steel grill, use a specially formulated stainless-steel BBQ grill cleaner and microfiber cloth. Ceramic, porcelain and painted steel surfaces can be cleaned using soap and water. Always refer to grill instructions for specifics.
• Store your clean grill properly when not in use. If you have a propane grill, you can store it outside with the propane tank attached. If storing inside, remove the propane tank and keep it outside, away from direct sunlight.