6 Hacks to Give Your BBQ a Deep Clean

6 Hacks to Give Your BBQ a Deep Clean

Barbecue season is coming to an end for those of us who do not keep the grill going over the winter. Now is the best time to give it a thorough cleaning to get it ready for next year. 

Simply scrubbing the grates with a grill brush often leaves us dissatisfied with the results. So how can we get our barbecue to look like new again? The following methods work wonderfully! Which one will become your new favourite?

1—Onions and Lemons Aren’t Just for Kebabs

One of the most effective tip for cleaning the grill is to use an onion. That’s right! Although it smells strong and makes you cry, this vegetable also has surprising properties. Cut an onion in half and rub the cut side over the grates while they are still a slightly warm to easily remove any remaining grease. Finish by rinsing with water. This tip also works with lemons. Plus, it’s environmentally friendly!

2— Scrunch Up Some Aluminum or Newspaper

Turn your grill on to its maximum temperature and let the heat melt away the grease. Once this is done, scrub the grates with a ball of a few sheets of newspaper. You can also use regular old kitchen aluminum foil. The results are impressive!

3— The Unstoppable Trio of Soap, Baking Soda and Steel Wool

For this tip, wait until the barbecue has completely cooled down. Next, fill a container with hot water and add a few drops of liquid dish soap plus a little baking soda to help loosen the caked-on dirt. Using a steel wool pad, rub the solution all over the grates and interior walls. Be aware, though, that steel wool can cause rust: wipe everything down with a dry cloth to finish.

4— White Vinegar to the Rescue

White vinegar is a versatile cleaner and can be a life saver when it comes to a dirty barbecue. Fill a large container (or the bathtub) with 1 part white vinegar for 10 parts water. Let the grates soak in the solution for at least 1 hour and then scrub them down with a cloth. Voilà!

5— Straight to the Dishwasher

Did you know that stainless steel barbecue grates can be placed in the dishwasher? Set the appliance to a long cycle with hot water and they’ll come out sparkling clean!

6— Cleaning Products Specifically Formulated for Stainless Steel

Enough about the inside! Now we have to tackle the outside of the barbecue. If made of exposed stainless steel, manufacturers recommend that you use a cleaning product which has been specifically formulated for this finish and that you rub in the same direction as the grain. You could also use Pure Brite, an all-purpose cleaner that can work miracles. 

BBQ Deep Clean: An Ounce of Prevention…

Your barbecue is now sparkling clean and ready for next year! How do you keep it this way next summer? Our first tip is to rub a potato cut in half on the grates before you start cooking to prevent the food from sticking. Another is to keep the food off the grates altogether by using cooking sheets or buying a stainless-steel grill rack; the grates stay relatively clean and you still get to enjoy great burgers. And don’t forget to protect your barbecue with a durable cover when not in use. 

Thanks to these 6 hacks for an effortlessly BBQ deep clean, you can spend less time scrubbing and more time grilling!

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.