The last bbq of the season is a tempting one to leave “as is”: food items caked all over the gas grills; ash still in the bottom; tomato marinade covered ignition switch. We have just about all done it, but you are risking both serious irritation come your first bbq in Springtime, and most importantly you will shorten the life of the much loved grilling machine. Regardless of whether gas or charcoal, we run through a selection of ideas to clean and protect your own barbecue throughout the year.
The Barbeque Grill
Existence will be easier if the dirt is loosened prior to scrubbing. A fast way to achieve this is to scrub at the end of a cookout when the bbq is still warm, and also the muck hasn’t had time to cake on yet. If you're still entertaining and do not fancy this, or simply overlook, then there are still possibilities. For lidded bbqs, a nice method of softening up dirt is actually to place a water-soaked newspaper or equivalent within and make use of a mild heat again for half an hour approximately. This will basically steam clean the whole inside, and you'll laugh as you lightly clean away the grime afterwards. Obviously this is simple for gas models, but for those who have charcoal try using several little pieces of wood or even other easily combustible material to obtain some heat going, or just a few coals if you must. Keep close track of the newspaper though and make sure this does not burn or you will have more mess to deal with! Regardless of whether you steam or not, chemical cleaners are also a good choice. Take away the barbeque grill and place on some newspaper, and spray liberally with stove cleaner or other spray on cleansers (like you would use in your kitchen area) and leave for an hr approximately.
Now it’s time to get scrubbing. Do not make use of balled up pieces of aluminum foil on your nice new grill, instead make use of special scrubbing stones or even scrapers which you canl buy to break off difficult, brittle dirt. Much softer mess can be removed with a normal soft cloth or skillet scourers. Be careful with enamel-coated grills, you need to release dirt very well first and then make use of a gentle pressure as possible. Lastly, give the barbeque grill a good wash and leave in order to dry.
Inside
If you have were able to steam-soften the inside of the barbecue itself then things should be simpler. For straightforward grilling with charcoal barbecues, scoop or tip away any coal mess, and wipe up the last bits with some damp kitchen roll. Now clean the surfaces down with a soft cloth covered in spray cleaner, lightly scrubbing any kind of stubborn places. If there are places that have burnt on food you cannot get rid of, you might have to spray on some stove cleaner and leave for some time but read the solution directions to ensure it is suitable for the surface in question (i.e. enamel, painted, metal and so on). Don’t worry about the base where the hot coals sit because this is unlikely to be looking great because scuffs and burns develop here.
As long as it is clean and free from old waste materials you won’t get any nasty smells in the next cookout. Gas bbqs can be a little more tricky. Many places could be cleaned just as with the methods above, however gas outlets and lava rocks etc add extra work. Begin by getting rid of any lava rocks or ceramic coals and place all of them into a bucket of warm soapy water. If you can now thoroughly clean around the burners and flavouriser bars with ease - excellent. However, you may have to remove some parts to clean them properly, so consult your manual, and remember to not start removing any gas-ferrying components that you are unclear about. Place them back when you're done, and scrub the actual lava rocks/coals in the bucket if requirements be and wash all of them in fresh water. You might find these need replacing after a year or so if they are accumulating dirt. Finally, wash the interior of the charcoal or gas bbq with a hose or a bucket of water until it appears nice and sparkly, and replace the actual lava rocks and so on. Replace the actual grill and stand back to appreciate your work.
Outside
The outside of the barbecue is easy. Simply clean it down with a moist cloth, adding a suitable cleaner - normal washing up liquid should be good, but you can get stainless polishing spray or other material-specific cleaners. Gas control knobs can often be removed to clean, which is essential as you do not want grime to accumulate and trigger tightness. Be cautious with any flaky paint or even chipping enamel – you can always retouch these areas but make sure you consult either a manual or even the manufacturer first on what exactly to use. Once thoroughly clean, buff the outside with a dry cloth and add any kind of preservative films you wish. Some people recommend cleaning down stainless versions with oil (even baby oil) to keep the weather at bay, but don’t worry too much. It’s a good idea to take time to protect any kind of wooden areas though with a dedicated bbq wood oil treatment. Please, please beware of chemical preservatives or even treatments you use somewhere else in the home. Some might be combustible and also have no place on a bbq!
Now it is all clean and polished, it will be prepared for the next cookout. If you wish to reduce work later on, try squirting the actual grill with oil before you cook to really make it more non-stick. In addition, when the coal area is looking tired, add a thin layer of fine sand which will safeguard this. Don’t forget to cover your barbeque or place it in the shed if you have 1.
You’ll be thankful you did when you move it looking all gleaming for the next time.
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