How to Deep Clean Your Grill for the Season (2024)

DRY STEP:Use your wire brush or scraper to remove any debris from the burner hoods (these are the usually-tent-shaped metal pieces that Weber calls Flavorizer Bars), then set those items to the side. Gently clean theburner tubes with yourwire brush or a nylon brush. Use a light touchacrossthe tubes instead of working lengthwise, so you don’t pushbuildup from one hole into another. Next, brush or scrape away anything built-up inside thefirebox and on the heat deflectors, then remove the heat deflectors and set those aside. Remove the grease tray from under the burners and empty the contents into your ash bucket or trash can (this will include everything you just dislodged). Then scrape or brush the grease tray and set it aside. Use a towel or broom to clear out anything that may have fallen under the grease tray.

WET STEP:Use a solution of warm water and dish soap (or vinegar) to wipe thefirebox and grease tray clean just like you did with the inside of the lid andcooking grates. Depending on how dirty your grill is, you may need to use ascrubby cloth or sponge for this step. Give thefirebox components a final wipe with a clean, dry microfiber cloth and replace the disposable drip pan liner.

Wipe down theoutside of the grill

Put all of the clean, dry components back where they belong, close the lid andwipe down the outside of your grill with a fresh batch of whatever wet solution you used to clean the inside. If your grill isstainless steel, you can use aspecialstainless-steel cleaner (but that’s not necessary).

Enjoy cooking on yourclean grill!

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Maintenancecleaning your gas orcharcoal grill

In addition to a regulardeep clean, you should also do a quick clean of your grill grate after every grilling session, just as you’d tidy up your kitchen’s everyday cookingmesses.

What you’ll need to maintenance-clean your grill:

• Trash can orash bucket
• Bristle-freegrill brush
• Paper towels
• Vegetable oil

Brush cooled grates

Once the grates have cooled completely or are merely warm to the touch, brush lengthwise with a nylongrill brush. Use a built-in or separatescraper to remove any really tough bits.

If you’re set oncleaning your grill while it’s hot, you should still avoid awire brush. In addition tosafety concerns, scraping sharp metalbristles across hot porcelain-enameledcast-iron grill grates (which most higher-endgas grills have) can damage the coating and cause the grates to rust prematurely. That said, you also do not want to use a nylon brush on hot grates, or the bristles will melt.

As an alternative, you canDIY a pretty effectivebristle-freegrill brush with a wad ofaluminum foil andsturdy, long-handled grilltongs. Just grab the foil with thetongs and push it up and down the grates as you would an actual grill brush, and rotate the ball as itgunks up. The foil method may still wear down enamel coating over time, though, so an even better option is to steam clean yourgrill grates withthis specialized brush that uses a durable, absorbent pad. Simply dunk it in water (it doesn’t even have to behot water) and use it on hot grates just like you would with a metalgrill brush.

When the grates are clean and dry, add a littlevegetable oil (or any neutral oil with a high smoke point) to a foldedpaper towel and wipe the grates to thinly coat them like you would when cleaning acast-ironskillet. This helps to prevent rust and can help to keep food from sticking next time you cook.

Empty ash catcher or grease pan

Remove fully cooled ashes from the bottom of acharcoal grill and dump the ash catcher if you have one. If you’re using agas grill, check the grease tray and drip pan. You don’t need to empty these every time you cook on yourgas grill, but you should absolutely peek inside of the grill to inspect both trays so they don’t overflow.

Finally, use agrill cover

Unless you move your grill into the garage or shed every time you’re done cooking (and cleaning!), you can prolong its life by covering it. Agrill cover not only keeps theoutside of the grill clean, it protects the body of your grill from the elements, which prevents rust, corrosion, and fading. Thebest grill covers are both waterproof and UV-resistant.