Outdoor BBQ Grill

Step one is to collect all of your cleaning supplies. The last thing you want is to have to run around looking for a clean cloth when you’ re elbow deep in carbon build-up. A scraper or putty knife (not metal to avoid scratching the grill body) at least 2 clean cloths or rags—we recommend cloths you can dispose of after you clean; chances are, you won’ t want to use them again. Dish soap and water mixture (20% dish soap, 80% water). Vinegar and water mixture (equal parts vinegar and water), or specialty grill cleaner. 2 buckets or large containers of clean water—one for a first rinse of your cloth or brush, and one for a second rinse. The first bucket will get pretty dirty, but the second will provide a cleaner rinse. Disconnect the propane tank and remove any parts you can. Disconnect and remove the propane tank so you can clean the interior of the grill cabinet if you’ d like. You should remove the propane tank even if you don’ t plan to clean the interior cabinet—your grill will be easier to clean without a propane tank to worry about.Then, remove the grill grates (including the warming rack), heat plates, and burners. Set these aside for cleaning if you plan to clean them as well. Remove the grease tray and slide a piece of scrap cardboard (or whatever you prefer) into the slot where the grease tray was. Everything you scrape off the lid and grill body will collect on the cardboard, which you can simply remove and toss when you’ re done.

Start with the lid so anything you scrape off won’ t simply get stuck to a freshly-cleaned cookbox. Mix a solution of 20% dishsoap and 80% water, then spray the underside of the grill lid. Let it sit for 5 minutes so it can start to dissolve the grease, then scrub thoroughly with your grill cleaning brush. You may need to repeat this process a couple of times depending on how much build-up there is, or tackle it with your scraper or putty knife if you’ re having trouble lifting the carbon build-up.

Mix a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Spray it liberally over all of the crusted-on gunk on the inside of the cook box. Let it sit for a minimum of 5 minutes so the vinegar can start to penetrate the build-up and begin breaking down the grease. Now it’ s time to start scraping. If there’ s a lot of build-up (if you haven’ t cleaned your cookbox in over a year, for example), a brush won’t cut it. You’ ll need a putty knife or scraper to get underneath the layers of cooked-on gunk and grease. Scrape away as much as you can, then spray with another round of vinegar-water or dish soap-water mixture. Let it sit again, then scrape. Repeat this process till you’ re satisfied with how much gunk you’ ve removed. Start high and work your way down the grill body. Push all the gunk through the grease tray opening onto the cardboard sheet.

Vacuum or sweep out the bottom of your grill cabinet, then wipe with your dish soap mixture. Don’ t skip the top of the cabinet doors—these edges can easily collect grease and drippings when you’ re grilling.

You’ ve come this far! Don’ t skip one last scrub. Give everything a final once-over with your dish soap and water mixture so your grill is gleaming. A special grill cleaning solution can make your barbecue sparkle even more.