How to Deep Clean Your Grill and Grates

Get ready to cook the perfect meal outdoors with this seven-step process for cleaning your grill and grates.

September 02, 2020

Maybe you can relate: You've opened the grill to fire it up, only to be greeted with a mess of built-up grease, grime and maybe even a little rust. You can't remember the last time you deep cleaned your grill. Well, the first step in preparing the perfect grilled dish is to make sure your grill and grates are ready for the job. Here's how to clean your grill and grates in just seven easy steps.

Get your grill ready for spring with this seven-step deep clean process.

How to Deep Clean a Grill

Get your grill ready for spring with this seven-step deep clean process.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Materials Needed

  • heavy-duty grill scraper
  • abrasive grill brush
  • scouring pad
  • sponge
  • microfiber cloth
  • dish soap
  • warm water
  • large, plastic bucket
  • latex gloves or work gloves
  • natural grill degreaser (optional)

Assess the Mess

Determine if you need to simply clean or replace the grates and burners. Rusty or crumbling grates require disassembly and replacement. Be sure to check the owner's manual, and take a photo before you pull the grill apart. And always turn off the gas when disassembling a grill.

Step 1- Assess the Mess
Determine if you need to simply clean or replace grates and burners. Rusty or crumbling grates require disassembly and replacement.  Be sure to take a photo before you pull the grill apart and check the owner’s manual. NOTE: Always turn off gas when disassembling a grill!

How to Deep Clean a Grill

Step 1- Assess the Mess Determine if you need to simply clean or replace grates and burners. Rusty or crumbling grates require disassembly and replacement. Be sure to take a photo before you pull the grill apart and check the owner’s manual. NOTE: Always turn off gas when disassembling a grill!

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Warm It Up

For a basic deep clean, keep the burners in place and focus your attention on the grates. First, turn on the grill to warm up the unit.

Step 2- Warm it up
For a basic deep clean you’ll keep the burners in place and focus attention on the grates. Turn on the grill to warm up the unit.

How to Deep Clean a Grill

Step 2- Warm it up For a basic deep clean you’ll keep the burners in place and focus attention on the grates. Turn on the grill to warm up the unit.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Start Scraping

Once warm, use a heavy-duty grill scraper to remove the top layer of cooked-on grit and grime.

Step 3-  Scrape 
Once warm, use a scraper to remove the top layer of cooked on grit and grime.

How to Deep Clean a Grill

Step 3- Scrape Once warm, use a scraper to remove the top layer of cooked on grit and grime.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Scrub Warm Grates

Scrub the heated grates with a wire grill brush. If you need more power, opt for a battery-powered model. When you're finished, turn off the grill.

Note: Inspect your grill brush before using it. If some areas of the grill brush have fewer bristles than others, or the brush is worn or warped, toss it. After scrubbing your grill and to avoid risk of injury, check the grill for any bristles left behind by the grill brush before cooking.

Step 4- Scrub Warm Grates
Consider using a battery-operated wire scrubber for more power.

How to Deep Clean a Grill

Step 4- Scrub Warm Grates Consider using a battery-operated wire scrubber for more power.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Soak Grates

Once the grates are cool to the touch, place them into a bucket of warm, soapy water. Soak the grates for a few hours, then scrub off any excess grime using a scouring sponge.

Step 5- Soak Grates
Turn off the grill. Once the grates are cool to the touch, remove them and place into a bucket of warm sudsy water. Soak the grates for a few hours. Scrub any excess grime off the grates using a scouring sponge.

How to Deep Clean a Grill

Step 5- Soak Grates Turn off the grill. Once the grates are cool to the touch, remove them and place into a bucket of warm sudsy water. Soak the grates for a few hours. Scrub any excess grime off the grates using a scouring sponge.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Degrease

Use a degreaser to clean up the grates as well as the grill’s exterior. Wipe clean with a damp sponge, then dry with a fresh microfiber cloth.

Step 6- Degrease 
Use a degreaser to clean up the grates as well as the grill’s exterior. Wipe clean with a damp sponge then dry with a fresh microfiber cloth.

How to Deep Clean a Grill

Step 6- Degrease Use a degreaser to clean up the grates as well as the grill’s exterior. Wipe clean with a damp sponge then dry with a fresh microfiber cloth.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

Shine It Up

Shine up the exterior with a stainless-steel cleaner; this will also help protect the exterior in the coming months.

Step 7- Shine It Up
Shine up the exterior with a stainless-steel formula cleaner which will also help protect the exterior in the coming months.

How to Deep Clean a Grill

Step 7- Shine It Up Shine up the exterior with a stainless-steel formula cleaner which will also help protect the exterior in the coming months.

Photo by: Tomas Espinoza

Tomas Espinoza

More Cleaning Advice

How to Clean Grilling Utensils

Cut the grease, grime, and germs with these grilling tool cleaning tips.

How to Refurbish a Gas Grill

Learn how to bring an old grill back to life by replacing critical parts and removing rust.

How to Clean a Gas Grill
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