Your barbecue is likely your gold-star cooking appliance summer after summer—but when’s the last time it got a proper cleaning?

Between grilling burgers and hot dogs, skewers and kebabs, veggies, and even pizza, your barbecue gets put to the test in the summer. Just like any other cooking appliance, it needs regular maintenance to keep it working its best.

“It’s just like a car, if you never clean it or get an oil change, it’s going to start falling apart,” says Charles Munro, the founder and CEO of Barbeque Pro Inc., a barbecue service and repair company in Ontario. 

Throughout your grill’s busy season and during its forgotten winter months, dirt builds up and pests move in. That said, rodents won’t be attracted to your beloved barbecue if it’s clean.

“Cleaning your barbecue seems like one of those daunting tasks that you have to do in the spring, but you can do it within a couple of hours,” says Munro.

Here are the Barbeque Pro’s top tips for keeping your grill tidy, from opening day right through to the first frost.

Photos courtesy of the Barbeque Pro

1. Scrub grill after every use

Giving your barbecue a good scrub after every use is key to removing cooking build-up, says Munro. A clean grill will also ensure proper grill marks on your meat and veggies, as well as less flare ups. 

Use 3M steel wool pads or a grill brush that wrap around the grill to properly remove stuck-on pieces of food. Stick to products from reliable barbecue companies, such as Weber and Napoleon. Not only are they long-lasting, you’ll avoid any potential threat of pins falling out of the products.

2. Deep clean the grill

Every so often, your grills will need a thorough deep clean. 

First, remove the grills. Munro suggests giving them a scrub with steel wool in a bucket of hot soapy water, ideally outside.

“Don’t wash it in the sink like a dirty frying pan,” says Munro. “You don’t want this going down your drain.”

3. Clean the grease catcher or drip pan

Most barbecues have a grease catcher or drip pan, a tray that slides out from the bottom where everything falls. 

These grease catchers can be a magnet for insects and mice. To avoid attracting unwanted critters, pull it out once in a while and scrape away build-up with a putty knife. 

“Keep in mind that this is dirty business and can stain your deck,” says Munro. 

If you’re using a spray bottle with soapy water to clean the tray, check the pan for grease before adding any additional liquids. 

4. Test gas hose for leaks

At the beginning of the barbecue season, you’ll want to check to make sure your gas line is safe and ready for use. Spiders, attracted by the smell of gas and propane, often nest around barbecues and can create pressure issues within your gas line. This can lead the gas to not come out properly, or backfire that can melt the gas hose and destroy your barbecue’s panel.

You’ll want to keep a close eye on your barbecue the first time you light it. Munro also suggests giving your gas hose the soap test to identify leaks. Simply spray or wipe down all of the connections on your barbecue with soapy water. When you turn the barbecue on, the soap will bubble in spots where the gas is emitting from.

5. Get a professional cleaning 

Once in a while, it’s time to call in the professionals. Barbecue cleaning services can give your outdoor appliance a sparkling finish, as well as clean burners, check for damage, and work on repairs. 
 

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