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The season is in full swing and that means BBQ season is upon us! Nothing beats gathering with friends and family for a good old-fashioned barbecue. However, after all that fun, comes the dreaded task of cleaning up. Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
The first step in preparing a barbecue is to clean the entire grill of last summer’s culinary escapades. Even if you cleaned the grill before putting it away for the winter, it’s critical to begin each new season with a complete cleaning. In this feature post, we will discuss the best way to clean your BBQ so it’s ready for the next cookout!
Read more to find out!
Prepare Your Cleaning Equipment
A long-handled wire brush, a wire bottle brush, a five-gallon bucket, and some elbow work are all you need to clean your grill.
To maintain the attractiveness of your BBQ, avoid applying chemicals to it.
Instead, all that’s required is some warm water, grease-cutting dish soap (like Dawn), and a thick paste of cleaning vinegar and baking soda.
A dedicated stainless steel cleaner goes a long way toward polishing your stainless-steel grill’s exterior surfaces.
You’ll also want a pair of long-cuffed rubber gloves, a few disposable scouring sponges, and cotton rags, among other things.
Wait for an overcast day when cleaning stainless steel; the hot sun might be tough to remove streaks from stainless-steel surfaces.
Additionally, working at cooler temperatures is more enjoyable.
How-Tos And To-Dos
To clean a gas barbecue, turn it on, close the hood, and let it reach full temperature.
Wait at least 30 minutes for any remaining food or grease to be scorched by the high temperature. Afterwards, use the wire brush in a pail of warm, soapy water to clean away all of the carbon from the grates. Turn off the gas, remove and disconnect the propane tank, and allow the grill to cool completely before cleaning it. Empty the ashes from your gas or wood grill into a metal container for charcoal grills if you don’t intend on using it again. Finally, using a putty knife, scrape away any caked-on charcoal dust or debris.
Remove the grates and flavorizer bars from the grill once it has cooled, then completely submerge them in a tub of warm, soapy water. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes. Remove any other elements from the grill that you can easily take off, such as burner-control knobs and warming racks.
The burner tubes on most gas grills are also replaceable; look for a single screw or cotter pin on one end of each tube. Cleaning the grill in this manner will be much easier. After the grates and panels have soaked, remove them and clean them with the wire brush. Mix a paste of white vinegar and baking soda to apply directly to the most difficult caked-on bits for extremely stubborn crud. Rinse all surfaces clean, making sure to thoroughly dry cast-iron grates to avoid rusting.
And while you’re there, look for spots where the porcelain grates might be chipped or show signs of rusting. Clean any rust or chips away, then oil the grates to create a protective film before utilizing it once again.
Finishing Touches
The final step in restoring a stainless steel sink is to use stainless steel cleaner, which does an excellent job of cleaning the surface but not heavy contaminants or baked-on gunk.
Using a clean, dry cloth, apply the cleaner and wait a few minutes before wiping it away. If there are stubborn greasy stains, use straight vinegar first, then clean with plain water. If grease and oil marks continue to appear, you may need to use a more powerful grease-cutting solution.
Reassemble all of the components that you took out. Take care to get the burner tubes back into proper position with cotter pins or screws. And wipe down cast-iron grill grates with a light coating of vegetable oil.
Finally, connect the propane tank and close the hood before turning on the grill for at least 15 minutes, then turn it off. This will help eliminate any cleaning residue, season the cast-iron grates, and ensure that you’ve properly reconnected everything. All that’s left to do now is invite a few friends over for some burgers, hot dogs, and steaks.
The Wrap-Up
Now that you know the best way to clean your BBQ, it’s time to get to work! Make sure to take your time and be thorough in order to avoid any nasty surprises when you fire up the grill for your next cookout. And don’t forget to invite us over – we love a good barbecue!
A versatile writer and passionate content creator who brings her creativity to life across various social media platforms. With a passion for storytelling, she specializes in crafting compelling content that resonates with her audience. Whether writing blog articles or preparing social media posts, Guia is always up for the challenge. And when she’s not working, you’ll likely find her unleashing her artistic flair on the canvas or tending to her beautiful house plants.