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How to Clean a Barbeque Grill and Grill Grates

Niharika Arya
Cleaning stubborn stains from a barbeque grill and the grates, especially after having a gala time with your family and friends, can be very irritating. Find out some of the best ways to clean a barbeque grill, by using a few simple methods.

Maintenance Tip

You should never put anything inorganic in the grill, like plastic or Styrofoam, as it releases toxic fumes which become very difficult to remove.
Who doesn't enjoy a lovely barbecue night, with freshly grilled hamburgers and veggies! Barbecues are a lot of fun, however, cleaning up the mess, especially the barbecue grill and grill grates, can seem quite intimidating.
The charred remains can really freak you out! However, where there's a will, there's a way! There are various methods which can clean and restore your soiled grill gates to their former glory. It may seem laborious, but, if you take one step at a time, sparkling clean grates are not far away.
The most important part which needs to be cleaned regularly are the grill grates. The rest of the grill does not require much maintenance. So, here in this HomeQuicks article, we shall first take a look at the various methods to clean grill grates, followed by the cleaning process for the rest of the grill parts.

Methods for Cleaning Grill Grates
Barbeque grill grates need regular cleaning, as the food is directly kept on these grates. Cleaning them can seem like a very difficult job, but there are a few methods which can help make your grill as good as new.

Brushing

This is a simple and quick method that you can use immediately after you are done with the BBQ. Just take a wire brush and start brushing the grates.
This will remove all the particles stuck to the grates. The debris will fall in the grill and get burnt off the next time you use the grill. Remember to brush the grates every time you use it; this makes it easy to clean.

Burning

In this method, the grease and the remaining food particles which are stuck to the grill can be easily removed. Cover the top of the grates with aluminum foil, set the grill on high temperature, and close the lid. Open the lid after 15 minutes, remove the foil, and brush off all the ash and dirt which is there.
A very simple and easy way to brush off the waste after burning off the food particles is by using onion. Make the grill super hot, as this will burn off the food particles. Then take a half-cut onion and use a fork to rub the onion over the hot grates.
This will not only remove the particles easily, but will make your grill clean and shining like before. Do this every time you use the grill.

Soaking

This method should be used when the grates are cool enough to handle. There are two ways to use soaking to clean your grill:

a) Using Dish Soap and Baking Soda

Fill a large bucket with hot water, and add half a cup of dish soap solution, and a quarter cup of baking soda. Stir this till you see a good lather.
Now, remove the grates from the grill and soak them in the solution for about an hour. Scrub the grates properly with the help of a steel scrubber. Then rinse the grates with a hose and let it dry.

b) Using Ammonia, White Vinegar, and Baking Soda

Take a big plastic garbage bag and put the grates inside it. Now put 3 cups of ammonia and 3 cups of white vinegar inside the bag. Mix the solution and then add 1 cup of baking soda. Seal the bag and shake it so that the grates get coated with the solution.
Allow it to sit for 24 hours so that it can work on the tough stains. Remove the grates and wash it properly with water.

Method for Cleaning Barbeque Grill
Cleaning the entire barbeque grill regularly is not required, but if you use the grill often, then you have to keep it clean. Here are few simple steps which will help you to keep the grill clean.

Things Required

  • Wire brush
  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Spray bottle
  • Cotton cloth

Method

  • Mix two cups of water with two cups of vinegar.
  • Mix it well and pour it into the spray bottle.
  • Cover the heating element properly so that the solution does not harm its functioning.
  • Use the wire brush to remove all the food particles or brunt particles stuck in the inner parts.
  • Now spray the solution on the racks of the grill, the area above and underneath them, and other areas where you can see dirt. You can also use the spray to clean the exterior part of the grill.
  • Allow the solution to settle for about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Now, take the cotton cloth and put 2 - 3 drops of vinegar on it. Using this cloth, scrub the parts where you have sprayed the solution.
Let the barbeque grill dry completely before usage again. You can keep it out in the sun, so that the sharp smell of vinegar vanishes. Brush a little oil on the grates before grilling again, as this will prevent the food from sticking to the grates, and the cleaning will be easier.
Before starting the cleaning process, read the manufacturer's instructions. This will help you avoid any harm caused due to chemicals used in the process. There are also many commercial products available in the market which are specially used to clean the grates and other parts of the grill.