Maintaining and Cleaning Your BBQ Grill Articles | BBQ

By: J. Morgan

Maintenance is the key to prolonging the life of any item, including BBQ grills. How many times have you had to replace your grill because it just doesn’t work properly anymore or because it began to rust or started to appear old and worn out? With proper maintenance, you can eliminate these problems.

If you know what steps to take to provide proper maintenance for your BBQ grill, you can help it to keep looking new, while helping to extend its life by several years. Most maintenance techniques are simple and easy to follow. Below you will find the basic steps for proper BBQ grill maintenance.

Cleaning Your BBQ Grill

You may think that cleaning your BBQ grill is self-explanatory and needs no discussion, but cleaning your grill involves more than just dumping the ashes from your charcoal grill or wiping down the cooking grates. Obviously, empting the ashes will be the first step, but after that task is completed, you need wash down the compartment that held the ashes.

The next step is to clean the grill grates or racks. This best way to do this is by washing them down with warm, soapy water. Then, clean the outside of your grill with a soft towel and mild dish soap. Any glass can be cleaned with a water and ammonia mixture. If you have to use a scrubber, make sure it a rubber one that will not scratch and chip the paint. After a thorough cleaning, you need to make sure you dry everything off before storing.

Preventive Measures

Proper maintenance also includes preventive measures that will stop many problems before they happen. Always check the charcoal grill for heat damage caused from hot coals. Look for tiny holes or rust areas that can worsen the more the grill is used. Gas grills need to be checked regularly to make sure the gas lines are not twisted or pinched in any way. Check the propane tank after use to make sure the gas is closed and store in a cool, shady area to avoid the heat from the sun. To prevent damage to the propane tank, avoid dropping it or bumping it with anything.

When cleaning an electric grill, you need to be very careful and not allow any water to reach the electrical plugs. Check all BBQ grills to make sure the legs have not become weak or wobbly. It is also a good idea to store your BBQ grill in a building, or at least buy a cover to keep it protected. This will help to prevent dust, dirt, and rain from causing damage to your grill.

Taking care of your BBQ grill by properly cleaning it and using preventive measure will extend its life and save you money in the long run. Since it is a fairly easy process with so many benefits, BBQ grill maintenance should be a priority for all backyard chefs.