To clean a grill, brush the grates hot before every cook and check the grease tray each time you light it. At least every three months, or more often if you grill weekly, let it cool and deep clean the grates, burner bars, burner tubes, cookbox and grease tray with warm, soapy water.
How often should you clean a grill?#
| When |
What to do |
| Before every cook |
Preheat, then brush the grates. Check the grease tray or ash catcher. |
| At least every 3 months, more often if you grill weekly |
Full deep clean, inside and out |
| Start of each season |
New grill brush, leak test on gas connections, look for spiders in the burner tubes |
| After winter storage |
Deep clean before the first cook |
The three-month deep clean comes from Weber's grill cleaning guide, which also says to clean more often if you grill weekly. The quick brush is easiest at the start of a cook: run the grill on high for about 15 minutes so the leftover food carbonizes, then brush it off.
The grease tray matters more than the grates. A Weber built-in gas grill manual tells owners to check the catch pan for grease buildup before each use, because a full one can start a grease fire. If you only do one thing between deep cleans, slide the tray out and look.
How to deep clean a gas grill#
You'll need a grill brush, a plastic scraper, dish soap, a bucket of warm water, a sponge or scouring pad and an old toothbrush.
- Turn off the burners and the gas supply, disconnect the propane tank, and wait until everything is cool.
- Scrape the inside of the lid. Flaking grease on the lid looks a lot like peeling paint, so don't panic. Brush it off and wash the lid with warm, soapy water.
- Take out the grates and soak them in soapy water while you work on the rest. Scrub them with the brush or a scouring pad, then rinse.
- Lift out the bars or heat deflectors that sit over the burners (Weber calls them Flavorizer bars) and scrub them with a stiff brush.
- Brush the burner tubes from side to side to clear the gas ports. Don't poke anything into the ports to widen them.
- Scrape the walls and floor of the cookbox down through the opening into the grease tray.
- Pull the grease tray and catch pan. Scrape out the grease with a plastic scraper, wash the pan in warm soapy water and swap in a new disposable liner if you use them. Don't line the cookbox or catch pan with aluminum foil. Weber's manual specifically warns against it.
- Wipe the outside. On stainless steel, use a soft cloth and soapy water and wipe with the grain. A wire brush or abrasive cleaner will scratch it.
- Let everything dry, put it back together and preheat for about 15 minutes before the next cook.
Two things not to do with grates: the Weber manual says not to clean them in a self-cleaning oven, and cast iron grates rust if they go through the dishwasher.
How to clean a charcoal grill#
Wait until the ash is completely cold. Brush the grate, scrape loose debris down into the bowl, then empty the ash catcher. Weber's guide makes the point that ash buildup blocks the vents and lowers the heat, so a charcoal grill that seems to be running cool often just needs emptying. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth and mild soap. Put the ash in a metal container, never a plastic bin or a paper bag.
How to clean a pellet grill#
Pellet grills plug in, so unplug yours and let it cool completely before you start. Scrape the lid and the inside walls, clean the grates, brush the heat deflector and drip tray, and empty the ash from the fire pot area and any ash drawer. If the grill has sat unused for months, Weber's guide suggests dumping the pellets in the hopper and checking that the ones in the auger are still fresh. Reassemble only once everything is dry.
When to replace your grill brush#
Check the brush every time you use it. Weber's manual says to replace it as soon as you find any loose bristles on the brush or on the grates, and recommends buying a new stainless steel brush every spring. A wire bristle that sticks to the grate can end up in the food. Before you cook, run a damp paper towel over the grates and look for anything stuck to it.
How to check a gas grill for leaks#
Do this at the start of the season and any time you disconnect and reconnect the tank or gas line. Mix a solution of roughly 20% liquid soap and 80% water (Weber's recipe) and brush or spray it onto the hose and every connection with the gas turned on and the burners off. Bubbles that form or grow mean a leak. Turn off the gas and don't light the grill until the faulty part is replaced. Never use a flame to look for a leak. Check the hose for cracks or brittle spots at the same time.
If you smell gas around the house rather than the grill, follow PHMSA's gas leak guidance: don't light anything or touch light switches, leave the area, and call 911 from a neighbor's house or somewhere well away from the smell.
Keep the area around it clean too#
Grease that drips onto a wood or composite deck soaks in fast, so wipe spills the same day and put a grill mat underneath if it doesn't already have one. The deck maintenance guide covers washing the boards underneath, and the outdoor furniture guide covers the chairs and cushions that sit in the smoke. For a stainless steel lid that has picked up streaks, the same approach as for stainless steel appliances works. To keep the three-month deep clean from slipping, set it as a recurring ChoreLists.com task and adjust it once you know how often you actually grill.