How To Clean A BBQ

Written in 2023
by Adam

    We all know that your BBQ can get pretty messy after it’s been used for a big grilling session. Ideally, you should clean your BBQ after each use, and be sure to lay down foil for an easy cleaning experience. But if you haven’t done that this time, here’s how to clean it from top to bottom.

    Soak the Grates

    When the BBQ is cool, and hasn’t been in use for a period of time, begin by removing the grates. These will probably be pretty dirty, so you’re going to need to soak them in warm and soapy water. Regular soap that you use for washing your dishes is fine; you don’t need any products fancier than that. Leave them in the water for for a good couple of hours, turning them if the whole grate doesn’t quite fit in the bucket or container that you’re using. Make sure that all of the grate is being exposed to the soapy water for a significant length of time.

    Scrub the Area Under the Hood

    You can then start to use a grill brush to scrub the area of your BBQ under the hood. Grill brushes can be bought very cheaply and easily, and they’re the very best implement to use when carrying out this kind of job. As you scrub away at the BBQ, pieces of dirt and residue will fall away and drop into the BBQ. To stop this from causing you more problems, lay something down to catch any of the stuff that falls away. This can then be disposed of later on.

    Clean the Cabinet

    All kinds of things can get caught up in your BBQ’s cabinet. That’s why you need to clean it out as part of this process. Most of the stuff that you find in here is garden debris, rather than dirt from using your BBQ. So, drag out any old leaves, twigs or whatever else has made its way inside there. You can use a broom or whatever implement you like to do this. It doesn’t matter as long as you clear everything out.

    Scrub and Then Wipe the Inside Walls

    You should then take your grill brush that you used earlier and start to use it to scrub the inside walls. Again, use something to catch anything that falls away. When you have finished scrubbing, it’s a good idea to wipe down the walls. This can be done with a damp cloth or paper towel. It’s less abrasive than the grill brush, so will remove different types of dirt.

    Wash Down the BBQ’s Exterior

    The final part of the process is washing down the BBQ’s exterior. If your bBQ is made from stainless steel, use wipes that are appropriate for this kind of material. Always make sure the cleaning method you use matches the material of your BBQ. This is particularly important when it comes to cleaning the outside of the BBQ because this is the part everyone can see, so you want it to look good.

    Written by Adam

    Adam is the creator of the SmokeGuys website, running it since 2016. Hater of coriander, lover of all things meat... Adam currently works in marketing with a dream of being able to make food his full-time 'job' in the longer term.

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