Grill Cleaning Tips that Sizzle

With winter quickly approaching, many individuals are taking advantage of the comfortable temperatures before grilling season comes to an end. In order to get the most out of this beautiful weather, you may find yourself grilling as much as every other day. While this may lead to some tasty meals, it can also lead to a huge mess. Luckily, our team at Perry Homes is here to help you with these grill cleaning tips.

How Often Should I Clean My Grill?

A general rule of thumb is to clean your grill lightly between each use. This is a very simple process that involves leaving your burner on for 15 minutes until any food residue that could lead to build-up has burned off. Regular light cleaning of your grill is an easy and crucial step in grill maintenance, as small amounts of food left behind can lead to a massive build-up that would otherwise be very difficult to remove.

What Happens If I Don’t Clean My Grill?

You may be surprised by the ill effects that take root if you do not clean your grill regularly. Some people attempt to circumvent the regular cleaning duty by simply placing foil between the food and the grill. While this may protect the food from being over-charred by build-up on the cooking grates, long-term effects of this activity include damage to the overall quality and lifespan of your grill.

While nothing is one hundred percent avoidable, you can cut down any health risks by always cleaning your grill between uses and when you notice build-up.

How Should I Treat Different Types of Grills?

It is important to know which kind of grill you are using, as they each have unique care instructions. The two main types of grills are gas grills and charcoal grills.

• Charcoal grills are typically more difficult to clean, but a classic choice for food lovers everywhere. A charcoal grill will acquire excess buildup due to the gritty nature of charcoal. As long as you keep your grill brush handy, however, this should not be a problem.
• Gas grills are more convenient to use, but still require special care. These types of grills tend to leave excess grease which can be tricky to get rid of. Most dish soaps are perfect for breaking down particularly greasy areas.

What Tools Do I Need?

Before you begin the cleaning process, you need to make sure you have all of the materials required to properly care for your grill. These tools include:

• Grill brush
• Wire brush
• Paper towel
• Vegetable oil
• Soap and water
• Garden hose

Once you have these items ready, you can finally get down to business. First, you will need to do the aforementioned light cleaning by burning food residue off the cooking grates. The next step is to turn off the gas (if it is a gas grill) and have your grill brush and wire brush handy to clean the burner and remove the rest of the residue from your cooking grates and metal plates. The wire brush will be particularly useful in reaching those difficult areas or small details that you need cleaned. Please note that if your grill has any glass pieces, you should remove the glass and clean them separately for safety reasons. Next, add vegetable oil to your grates to protect your grates from damage and residue build-up the next time you use it while also making it easier to take food off of the grill.

Finishing Touches

Once the preliminary steps are done, grab your soap and garden hose. After you have washed everything down with soap and water, you can spray down the outside of your grill for that final touch of sparkling cleanliness. If you have a stainless steel grill, you will need to dry your grill with a paper towel to avoid streaking from water stains.

We hope you learned something new with these simple grill cleaning tips. Once you have completed this last step, you are ready for your next barbecue! Remember to check out our website to find your next home.