Although it’s recommended to spot clean a gas grill after each use, most of us forget to do it or simply don’t feel like it. After all, when you’re done using your grill, it’s much more fun to enjoy a delicious meal and spend time with friends or family than to take a moment to do some cleaning.
And yet, none of us want to cook on a dirty grill with corroded grates covered in burnt grease and charred food particles.
The solution is to learn how to clean a gas grill with minimal effort. You should do this at least once a year at the end of the summer. If you use your grill every single week, you should do it more often.
Here’s a guide on how to clean a gas grill with minimal effort:
1. Gather a few tools
Start by gathering a few simple tools and supplies you will need to clean your gas grills with minimal effort. You will need latex gloves, a handheld vacuum cleaner, a few rags, a sponge, a large bin filled with hot water and dish soap, and a wire grill brush.
If you don’t own a wire grill brush, you could simply use a wire pot scrubber or even a crumpled ball of aluminum foil.
2. Turn off the gas
Before cleaning your grill, you need to turn off the gas. This way, you won’t risk accidentally igniting your grill while cleaning it, which could be dangerous.
You should also consider removing the propane tank hose.
Now, if you have just used your grill, let it cool down for a few hours before you start cleaning it. This means you have plenty of time to sit down, eat your meal, and relax before getting to work.
3. Remove and scrub the grates of your gas grill
Next, you can put on your latex gloves and remove the dirty grates from your gas grill. If baked-on food is on the grates, you can scrub them with your wire grill brush or crumpled aluminum foil.
Don’t worry if you don’t manage to remove all the grease and grime right away, as you will also let the grates soak in soapy water.
You should then remove the metal covers of the gas burners of your grill. These covers protect the gas burners, so they are covered with grease and charred debris. Gently scrub that debris away with your brush.
4. Let the grates soak in hot water and soap
Now, place the grates and the metal covers you have just scrubbed in a large plastic bin filled with hot water and dish soap. You could also let them soak in your kitchen sink if the grates are not too large to fit in there.
The hot soapy water will slowly eliminate burnt grease, and charred food particles stuck on your grates.
Let the grates and metal covers soak for at least 30 minutes. During this time, move on to the next step.
5. Vacuum the inside of your grill
Look down inside your grill. You will surely see charcoal, bits of burnt food, and loose dirt. The easiest way to get rid of all this debris is to vacuum them away with a handheld vacuum cleaner.
If you don’t have a handheld vacuum cleaner, you can use a regular one with an extension cord to get it right next to your grill.
After vacuuming all those charred bits, you could use a damp rag to wipe the inside of your grill.
6. Scrub the burners of your grill
The burners of your gas grill are fragile, so you should not remove them. Instead, use your sponge and some soapy water to give them a nice scrub.
If they are still dirty, you could gently scrub them with your wire grill brush to get rid of stubborn stains and grime.
The inside of your grill should now look clean. But your job is not done yet!
7. Scrub stubborn stains with a brush
When the grates and metal covers have soaked for at least half an hour, remove them from the water and wipe them clean with a damp rag. If they now look spotless, wipe them dry, then put them back in place.
If they are still stubborn stains, you can let them soak in soapy water again or take your wire grill brush or ball of aluminum foil to scrub them away.
8. Clean the exterior of your gas grill
The last step is to clean the exterior of your gas grill with a sponge and soapy hot water. When you are done, it should look like a brand new gas grill and be ready for your next BBQ party.