Good Morning everyone!  I hope you are enjoying these spring days we’ve been enjoying lately.  Much better than the chilly, damp ones we had a couple of weeks ago in my opinion. Today is Memorial Day, and I’d like to start off with a thank you to all of the military personnel who have sacrificed and given their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy each and every day!  We can never truly thank you enough for all that you have given!

Cleaning Your Grill the Easy Way

Whether you have planned a barbecue with friends and family today to celebrate or if you’re just getting ready for the summer, one thing you’re starting to dread (if you’re like me) is cleaning your grill.  It sits there all winter and spring after being used and abused last summer and fall and you know it’s going to be a chore.

Mine was hard to even look at!  But cleaning your grill doesn’t have to be that bad!  I’m going to list out the steps that I’ve used for a couple of years now to clean our gas grill that make cleaning quick and easy work.  As a bonus, I’m also providing a Bonus Tip below that will help you to keep your grill from getting as filthy as it usually does each year.   I hope you find these steps helpful and that you no longer dread the beginning of grilling season each year!

Steps for Cleaning Your Grill

Supplies Needed:

• rubber gloves
• dawn dish soap
• scrubber or sponge
• clean cloths
• aluminum foil
• baking soda
• water
• olive oil
• grill brush
• paper towels

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Steps to Follow:

1. Clean the outside of the grill (the lid, side tables, front and knobs) with sponge or scrubber and soapy water. Dry with a clean cloth.
2. Clean the inside of the lid with sponge or scrubber and soapy water. Dry with a clean cloth.
3. Scrub as much of the gunk off of the top racks with a grill brush, then remove and set aside.
4. Remove the heat deflectors from over the pilot light and scrub them with the sponge or scrubber and soapy water. Dry with a clean cloth.
5. Carefully clean the burner tubes (where the flame comes out) with the sponge and soapy water. Dry with a clean cloth.
6. Clean the bottom of the inside of the grill with a sponge or scrubber and soapy water. Use the hole in the bottom to push any debris out into the small catch-all tray.  Dry with a clean cloth.
7. Remove the small catch-all tray and clean with a sponge or scrubber and soapy water. Dry with a clean cloth and replace.
8. Replace the top rack in the grill.
9. Preheat the grill to an average cooking temperature (375°), then turn it off.
10. Make a ball out of the aluminum foil and dip it in the bowl of water.
11. Sprinkle baking soda on the ball of foil.
12. Scrub the ball of foil over the grill in the same direction as the grates to descale the grill.
13. Light the BBQ again and bring it up to a high cooking temperature and leave on for about 15 minutes.
14. Once cool, if any white residue from the baking soda remains, wipe with a clean damp cloth to remove.

Bonus Tip:  Making Your Grill Non-Stick:

1. Soak (not to dripping) a paper towel with olive oil.
2. Wipe the grill racks down.
3. Wipe off any excess with a dry paper cloth or clean cloth.
4. Reheat the grill to an average cooking temperature and close the lid to allow the olive oil to bake on a bit.

That’s it! Look how much better the grill looks now!

When you clean your grill going forward, you’ll have a lot less to clean off of your grill and it should be much easier each time!  I hope you’ve enjoyed these helpful steps and that you are all ready to grill away.  I’d love to hear your tips and tricks to keeping your grill sparkling clean, so comment below to share them with us all.  And don’t forget to share this post on your social media sites so your friends and family can take advantage of these helpful hints too!