How to Clean Your Grill

Breathe new life into your grill with a few tool and specialized spray paint.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Reviving your grill

Breathe new life into your grill with a few tools and specialized spray paint.

You will need: gloves / stiff wire brush / sandpaper / steel wool / painter's tape / craft knife / screwdriver / high heat spray paint and primer. Begin by cleaning the outside of the grill thoroughly.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Gather the Materials

You will need: gloves / stiff wire brush / sandpaper / steel wool / painter's tape / craft knife / screwdriver / high heat spray paint and primer. Begin by cleaning the outside of the grill thoroughly.

Remove all grates and charcoal racks (if applicable).

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Removing the Grates

Remove all grates and charcoal racks (if applicable).

Remove any debris from the charcoal basin and sand lightly to remove any rust.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Cleaning out the Basin

Remove any debris from the charcoal basin and sand lightly to remove any rust.

Using a screwdriver, remove any wooden pieces. Place all of the hardware in a container for safekeeping until you are ready to reassemble.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Removing the Pieces

Using a screwdriver, remove any wooden pieces. Place all of the hardware in a container for safekeeping until you are ready to reassemble.

Lightly sand the exterior of the grill to remove any rust spots.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Sanding the Grill

Lightly sand the exterior of the grill to remove any rust spots.

Using painter's tape, mask off any parts that cannot be easily removed, but that you do not wish to paint. Cut away excess tape with a craft knife. Prime and paint the grill with high heat spray paint (available at auto part stores and some hardware stores). Use a product with heat tolerance up to 1200˚. Allow to dry completely according to manufacturer's instructions.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Masking the Grill for Painting

Using painter's tape, mask off any parts that cannot be easily removed, but that you do not wish to paint. Cut away excess tape with a craft knife. Prime and paint the grill with high heat spray paint (available at auto part stores and some hardware stores). Use a product with heat tolerance up to 1200˚. Allow to dry completely according to manufacturer's instructions.

With a stiff wire brush and steel wool, remove any rust and build up from the grates. Wash in warm soapy water and dry completely. Coat the grates with a thin layer of cooking oil.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Cleaning the Grates

With a stiff wire brush and steel wool, remove any rust and build up from the grates. Wash in warm soapy water and dry completely. Coat the grates with a thin layer of cooking oil.

Sand all wooden pieces, dust, and wipe with a slightly damp cloth. Paint or stain/seal the wooden pieces as desired. Allow to dry completely.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Preparing the Wooden Pieces

Sand all wooden pieces, dust, and wipe with a slightly damp cloth. Paint or stain/seal the wooden pieces as desired. Allow to dry completely.

Reattach the wooden pieces with the hardware.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Putting it Back Together

Reattach the wooden pieces with the hardware.

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Adding the grates

Replace the cooking grates.

Using a craft knife, carefully remove any masking.

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Removing the masking

Using a craft knife, carefully remove any masking.

Lightly rub painted areas with steel wool and wipe with a damp cloth.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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The Finishing Touches

Lightly rub painted areas with steel wool and wipe with a damp cloth.

Your old grill can come back to life with just a few materials and a couple of hours.

Photo: Photo by Sam Henderson

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Reviving your Grill

Your old grill can come back to life with just a few materials and a couple of hours.

How to Clean Your Grill

Reviving your grill

Gather the Materials

Removing the Grates

Cleaning out the Basin

Removing the Pieces

Sanding the Grill

Masking the Grill for Painting

Cleaning the Grates

Preparing the Wooden Pieces

Putting it Back Together

Adding the grates

Removing the masking

The Finishing Touches

Reviving your Grill

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