Keeping your BBQ clean is incredibly important – it helps prevent food poisoning and stomach upsets and will also stay in perfect condition for a longer time. If you don’t adequately take care of it, the metal components may rust, and you’ll have to replace the entire BBQ.
Consider doing a basic clean-up of your BBQ and the grills after every use, and then give it a thorough clean-up every quarter. Here’s our guide on how to do it.
STEP 1: GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
You want to make sure you clean the grill without causing damage to the paint or the metal parts; the metal surfaces may rust if you use the wrong cleaning agents. So gather the tools you’ll need, such as:
- Rubber gloves to cover your hands
- A brush with stiff bristles to scrape off any baked-on particles of food and grease
- A soft cloth without lint for cleaning, wiping, and polishing
- Mild detergent soap
- A non-abrasive scourer pad for removing stains
- Non-aggressive glass cleaning agent to clean the painted parts
- Mild stainless steel surfactant for cleaning shiny metal.
Remember to read the cleaning directions on your specific BBQ to make sure you don’t use the wrong cleaning tools. If you accidentally damage it, this may void your warranty.
STEP 2: HEAT THE BBQ
Leave the charcoal BBQ on and close the lid for about 15 to 20 minutes. The heat will burn the food residue and grease into a black flaky layer which is easier to scrape off. When the time is up, switch it off and leave it to cool.
STEP 3: START CLEANING
- With the hard brush (preferably stainless steel), scrape off the flaky grease layer from the inner part of the lid and the grills.
- Detach the grills and wash them with warm soapy water using the non-abrasive scourer sponge. Also, clean the lid in the same way. Side Note: – Remember to wipe down the lid with a moist cloth after every use to prevent the grease from accumulating – it will save you a lot of cleaning time.
- Now, clean the top of the lid (painted part) with a mild soapy water solution. Then use the soft cloth to wipe it dry. Follow up with a glass cleaner to polish the surface and give it an appealing lustre.
- Use the stainless steel surfactant to clean the metal components of the lid and any shelves made of metal. Move the lint-free cloth from side to side, then buff it until it shines.
- With a flat metal object like a scraper or putty knife, scrape off any big food particles and black layers inside the BBQ. Now clean up with the mild soap and cleaning pad. Rinse with clean, warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
- Empty your drip tray and clean it with soap and water.
- Apply vegetable oil onto the grills to prevent rust. Use just enough oil to make the grill shiny but not wet. Now, reassemble all the parts and cover the BBQ or place it in your shed to prevent any damage by the elements.
And that’s it; your charcoal BBQ is clean and ready for the next use.
