Does your barbeque grill look aged because of all the leftover food on your grates? Over time, your grill grates can accumulate rust and leftover food particles from all the grilling that you do.
It can be a real challenge to scrub the grates clean. But, you still need to take care of your bbq if you want it to last for the long haul. Learning how to clean gas grill grates is imperative to protect your investment.
There are many different approaches to cleaning your grill grates effectively. Some of them require you to purchase special cleaners while others use ingredients you probably already have around your home. No matter what your situation is, we will help you find an easy way to clean your grill grates.
Learning how to clean gas grill grates is the first step in a short process that will keep your grill sparkling clean for the rest of its life.
Table of Contents
Choosing the Right Products
Choosing the right products to clean your grill is important if you want to be satisfied with the end result. From the brush you use to the cleaner you purchase, you need to make sure you are educated on what attributes each of them needs.
Brush & Scraper
The first thing you need to thoroughly clean your grill grates is a brush. This tool helps you to scrub and scrape food from the grates of your grill. They can wear out over time, so you may want to consider purchasing a new one if yours is quite old. There are many different types of brushes on the market today, so how do you decide which one to choose?
Most gas grills will have a stainless-steel grate, so this is what is recommended for this type of barbeque. A cast iron grate would require a different set of tools. The perfect grill grate brush should have all of the following qualities:
- Stainless steel or brass bristles
- A hole or hook at the end for easy storage
- Scrub pad as an optional feature
- Scraper
If you are in the market for a new grill brush, you may want to purchase this version from GrillArt (on Amazon). It features stainless-steel bristle-free design that helps to clean better than the traditional brush. The benefit of this brush is that it has an 18” long handle to keep your hands away from the heat of the grill while cleaning. Of course, it also has a hook at the end for easy storage and a built-in scraper.
Cleaner
When it comes to actually cleaning the grill grates on your barbeque, you may want to purchase a specially-formulated cleaner. You can definitely use natural remedies (which we will cover later), but a professional-grade cleaner is typically the best option. It is the simplest way to ensure that your grill grates get clean in record time.
There are plenty of cleaners to choose from. All you need to do is spend a few minutes browsing the aisles at your local home improvement store or big-box retailer. You’ll find a plethora of choices, but you need to know what you’re looking for:
- Non-flammable
- Degreaser
- Non-toxic
- Non-corrosive
- Preferably biodegradable
One of the best options for a grill grate cleaner is the Weber Grate Grill Cleaner available on Amazon. It is a USDA-approved solution that is non-flammable, non-corrosive, and non-toxic. It is also biodegradable and does not use phosphates. This is an excellent option for anyone who wants to clean their grill grates safely and thoroughly.
How to Clean Gas Grill Grates with Cleaner
Now that you have all of the products you need to clean your grill, it’s time to learn how to clean gas grill grates with cleaner. It takes only a few simple steps, but you want to follow them closely in order to have the best results.
- Remove the grill grates. It is likely to be easiest for you if you remove the grill grates altogether to begin. Take them out and place them flat on the ground or in a shallow pan so you can easily scrub them and scrape them clean.
- Scrape the grill grates. The first step to cleaning your grill grates with cleaner is to scrape off as much of the loose food particles as you can. This ensures that your cleaner is only going to be soaking off those hard-to-remove stains. Be sure to use a little elbow grease to get them as clean as possible.
- Spritz the grates with cleaner. Take the bottle of grill cleaner that you purchase and thoroughly spritz the grates with it. Make sure you cover every angle. You may feel like you are being too generous with the cleaner, but it is better to be too thorough than not enough.
- Allow them to soak. Instead of diving right in, it is best to let your grill grates soak for a few minutes to allow the cleaner to do its work. Give it five to ten minutes before moving on. You could take this time to wipe down the rest of your grill.
- Scrub the grates. This is where the elbow grease portion of the cleaning really comes into play. You will use the stainless-steel or brass bristles of your brush to thoroughly scrub each of the grates. It may take some time and require some serious effort on your part, but it will be well worth it in the end.
- Clean the grill grates with soap and water. When you have finished with the scrubbing, you will want to wash away any remnants of the degreaser with mild dish detergent and water. Be sure to rinse them thoroughly when you’re finished.
- Replace the grill grates. When you’re all finished, it’s time to reassemble your grill and get ready to barbecue!
How to Clean Gas Grill Grates Without Cleaner
Are you in a hurry to clean your grill grates but don’t have any cleaner on hand? Fortunately, you can also clean your grill grates without any cleaner at all. It may be a little harder on your muscles and require more time, but it is definitely possible. The process is just slightly different from what you would do with the cleaner.
When you clean with a degreaser, you are able to clean the grates separately from the grill. It doesn’t require any heat in order to get the deepest clean. Scrubbing the grates clean without a cleaner does require a little bit of heat. Start by preheating your grill and using the scraper to get rid of loose food particles.
Keep a small bowl of water near your grill so that you can dip the brush in water while you work. Many cleaning experts recommend working in small sections so that you can really focus on getting a particular area clean. If you are working with the brush we recommended, you should run it perpendicular to the horizontal grates.
Continue dipping the brush in water and scrubbing until you are completely finished. It will take you quite some time to accomplish this if you have allowed a lot of build-up on your grill.
Cleaning Grill Grates with Ammonia
Some people prefer to use chemicals that they already have around their house. Cleaning grill grates with ammonia is a close second to scrubbing them clean with a professional degreaser. This is a slightly more time-consuming endeavor and requires careful handling of the chemicals.
- Put on rubber gloves. Before you do anything else, you need to ensure that you are protecting your skin. Put on a pair of thick and durable rubber gloves that can stand up to any chemical splashes that may occur.
- Place one cup of ammonia into a large trash bag. The trash bag should be large enough to hold your grill grates with ease. One cup of ammonia may not seem like a lot, but it is actually the ammonia fumes that will clean your grates. Very little of this strong chemical is needed to make a big difference in the cleanliness of your grill grates.
- Put your grill grates in the bag and seal it. All you have to do is place the grill grates inside the bag and seal it tight. You can tie it shut or wrap the end with a rubber band. All that matters is that the fumes from the ammonia can’t escape overnight.
- Open the bag in the morning. The grill grates will need to soak overnight to get clean with the ammonia fumes. When you do open the bag, remove the grill grates and dispose of the ammonia safely. You should pour it down a sink with plenty of ventilation.
- Scrub the grates clean. It should require very little effort to scrape and scrub the grates clean at this point. Compared to using a degreaser, most of the food has already been loosened at this point and should come off relatively easily.
- Wash the grates. Clean the ammonia from the grill grates using a mild detergent and warm water. Make sure to scrub them thoroughly to remove all traces of this harsh solution from the metal. When you’re finished, you can reassemble your barbeque and get ready for the party!
How to Clean Gas Grill Grates with Vinegar and Aluminum Foil
If you don’t have a brush or cleaner, you may still have some success cleaning your grill grates with vinegar and aluminum foil. These are ingredients that most people already have on hand, making it convenient for you to clean grill grates in a pinch.
The only additional item you may need to do this method is a spray bottle filled with white distilled vinegar. Any type of vinegar is likely to work, but distilled white vinegar is preferred for cleaning.
There is no need to preheat the grill in order to try this method. It can save you time and money by preventing you from purchasing extra fuel for your gas grill. This makes the vinegar method extremely easy and convenient for grill owners who just want to get the cleaning done and over with. It’s great for cleaning the grates in a hurry before a party or get-together.
Spray down the grill grates with the vinegar and allow them to soak for a few minutes. Five to ten minutes should be sufficient for the vinegar to start breaking down those stains and leftover particles.
How to Use the Aluminum Foil?
Crumple up some aluminum foil and begin to scrub the surface of the grill grates. This might be hard on your hand, so consider wearing thick gloves like you would for yard work. Aluminum foil should be able to cut through that food that has built up on the grill grates, particularly with the texture from crumpling it.
You could also use a grill brush if you have one and it may be more effective than the aluminum foil method. However, if you don’t have a grill brush, this is a great alternative that prevents you from having to purchase too many new products.
When you’re finished scrubbing, you can simply toss the aluminum foil in the trash can. It is a simple and efficient way to get the job done.
Deciding on the Right Method
The perfect way to clean your grill grates will depend on what products you have on hand or are willing to purchase. We have listed a few of the most effective ways to clean your grill using a variety of different cleaners – and even no cleaner at all! No matter what you have available to you, there is no excuse for dirty grill grates anymore.
Protect the investment that you made in your grill all those years ago. It will last you much longer and produce better quality foods if you take the time to clean the grill grates regularly. Now that you know how to clean gas grill grates, you will be better prepared for a summer full of regular barbecues and get-togethers!
Last update on 2024-04-23 at 21:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
