Summer is just around the corner. Is your gas grill up for the backyard BBQ challenge? Make sure it's spotless by following a few simple steps to cleaning your gas grill. In addition to learning how to clean a gas grill, you'll get the lowdown for how often to clean it.
How to Clean a Gas Grill With Minimal Effort
Who wants to waste time cleaning when there is grilling to do. Well, you don't want to start a fire or have rotten tasting food. Thankfully, Gas grill cleaning doesn't have to be a hassle if you do a good job of scraping it off and wiping it down after every use. When things start to build up, you can quickly get rid of them with a few necessities.
- Dish soap (Blue Dawn recommended)
- Bowl
- Grill scraper
- Scrub brush
- Shop-vac
- Cloth
- Cooking oil
- Camera or smartphone
- Large plastic bin
Cleaning Your Gas Grill Quickly Directions
Now it's time to get down to gas grill cleaning business.
- Heat the grill for about 5 minutes or so to burn off as much grime as you can.
- Turn off the grill and the gas.
- Use the grill scraper to scrape the gunk off the grates.
- Allow it to cool.
- Use your camera or smartphone to take pictures of the grill assembly. (You could also use your manual.)
- Remove the metal grates and burner covers.
- Mix hot water and about three tablespoons of Dawn in the bin.
- Put the metal pieces in the water and allow them to soak for 10-30 minutes.
- While they are soaking, use the shop-vac to vacuum out as much gunk as you can.
- Wet your scrub brush with soapy water and scour the top and bottom castings of the grill.
- Wipeout with a damp cloth to rinse and wipe away grime.
- Scrub down the grates and metal pieces with a scrub brush if there is any remaining debris.
- Wipe down and dry.
- Reassemble the grates back on the grill using your pictures.
- Season the grates with a bit of oil, and you are good to go.
Deep Cleaning a Gas Grill That's Been Sitting: Supplies
When you start your grill for the season, or if you've neglected it for a bit too long, you need to give it a deeper clean than you usually would. This requires a few more cleaning tools and elbow grease.
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Dish soap (Dawn recommended)
- Degreaser
- Screwdriver
- Aluminum foil
- Scrub brush
- Plastic bag
- Burner brush or metal pick
- Large plastic container
- High temp oil
- Shop-vac
- Spray bottle
- Hose
- Rubber gloves
- Camera or smartphone
Steps for How to Deep Clean a Gas Grill
Deep cleaning is a messy business. Grab your rubber gloves old clothes, and get to work.
Step 1: Disassemble the Grill
Ensure the grill and gas source are shut off before you get to work.
- Take pictures of the grill with your camera or smartphone and start disassembling.
- Remove the grates and burner covers.
- Use a screwdriver to unhook the ignitor.
- Wrap it in aluminum foil to keep it safe.
- Pull out the burners.
Step 2: Soak the Grill Grates
Once everything is disassembled, the real work begins.
- Use soap and water and give the grates a pre-scrub with the scrub brush.
- Cover the grill grates in baking soda.
- Put them in a large plastic bag.
- Add enough vinegar to cover them to the bag.
- After they are done fizzing, close and seal the bag.
- Lay it on a flat surface overnight.
Step 3: Clean the Burners
With the grates out of the way, it's time to look at the burners.
- Fill a plastic container or bucket with warm soapy water.
- Scrub down the burners with a scrub brush.
- Use a burner brush or metal pick to remove residue from the burner holes.
- Rinse and dry them thoroughly.
Step 4: Clean Out the Interior of the Grill
The grill's interior gets covered in soot and grime, so you need to use a bit of elbow grease to get it clean.
- Vacuum out any loose debris.
- Create a runny baking soda paste and coat the grill's interior with it.
- Spray down the baking soda with vinegar. (Rather than baking soda and vinegar, you can also use a grill degreaser, if you choose.)
- Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes to get in there.
- Scrub the entire area with your bristle brush.
- Rinse out the inside of the grill with the hose.
- Dry with a towel.
Step 5: Scrub the Grates
After their overnight soak, you might still have a bit of debris on the grates. So, you need to give them a good scrub.
- Scrub the grates with a soapy scrub brush.
- Rinse and dry thoroughly.
- Add high-temperature oil to grates to coat them.
Step 6: Reassemble the Grill
Now that all the parts are squeaky clean, you can use your images or instruction manual to reassemble the grill. You are ready to get grilling!
How to Clean the Exterior of a Gas Grill
Whether you do a quick clean or deep cleaning of your grill, you want to clean off the outside too. It just completes the overall look and makes all your hard work worth the effort. All you need to clean the exterior is:
- Degreaser
- Cloth
- Dish soap
- Steel polish
- Toothbrush
Close the lid of your grill and get to work.
- If the outside of your grill is really cruddy, spray it entirely with a degreaser.
- If it's not too bad, a little soap and water will do the trick.
- Use the cloth to scrub down the entire outside of the grill.
- You can use a soft toothbrush to scrub any stubborn areas.
- Rinse it off with a bit of water or hose.
- Dry and apply the shining agent like Weiman Stainless Steel Polish.
- Buff out the stainless steel and enjoy!
How Often to Clean Your Gas Grill
Cleaning your gas grill is an important task. It can start to smell and even catch on fire. Therefore, you want to clean it about every month or so. You also want to make sure you do a deep clean of the grill before starting the season and before putting it away for the winter. The grill exterior doesn't need to be cleaned as often, but it just makes sense to clean both at the same time.
The Deets on When and How to Clean a Gas Grill
Gas grills are an effective way to get perfectly seared meat in the summer. It's also great for those backyard BBQs. Make sure your grill is ready for all those summer parties by keeping it clean and grime-free. Knowing how to clean a rusty grill should also come in handy.
