As the temperatures start to rise and the days get longer, it’s time to start thinking about firing up your gas BBQ. However, before you can start grilling up those delicious burgers and steaks, you need to give your BBQ a good spring cleaning. Here are some tips on how to clean your gas BBQ for the spring:
Safety First: Turn off the gas supply and disconnect the propane tank or natural gas line. Safety should always be your top priority when working with gas, so make sure you turn off the gas supply and disconnect the propane tank or natural gas line before starting to clean your BBQ.
Take It Apart: Remove the grates, heat deflectors, and burners. The grates and heat deflectors are likely covered in grease and grime from last season's use, so it's good to clean those up for the season.
Cooking Grates: Start cleaning the cooking grates by brushing them down with something abrasive (but not too abrasive) like a Grill Stone. This does an amazing job at getting all of the caked on bits off your grill. Once cleaned you can wipe the grills down with a damp cloth and towel dry.
Cast Iron Cooking Grids: If you have cast iron cooking grates and there is some surface rust, you can attempt to restore them by following the steps here. If you feel they are unsalvageable you can replace them.
Heat Deflectors: Spray on an all natural degreaser and allow that to sit for 5-10 minutes before gently scrubbing clean. If they are corroded beyond the point of restoration, you may want to consider replacing them.
Burner Tubes: If your grill has been sitting unused for any stretch of time, it can be come home to spiders. They are drawn to the smell of gas and will make their homes in your venturi tubes. When they do this, it can create blockages in the burners that prevent gas from flowing properly causing a dirty burn, or no flame at all. There are venturi brushes that are designed to clean our the inside of your burners to get them flowing like they should.
Cleaning the Inside: Clean the inside of the BBQ. Use a wire brush or scraper to remove any built-up grease and debris from the inside of your firebox. You can also use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up any loose crumbs. Once you’ve removed all the debris, spray the inside of the BBQ with an all natural degreaser and allow that to sit for 5-10 minutes before gently scrubbing clean.
Clean the exterior of the BBQ. Use a soft cloth or sponge and hot, soapy water to clean the exterior of your BBQ. If there are any stubborn stains or grime that won’t come off with just soap and water, you can use a mild abrasive cleaner or stainless steel cleaner to get rid of them.
Reassemble the BBQ. Once everything is clean and dry, reassemble your BBQ. Be sure to properly replace the grates and burners, and reattach the propane tank or natural gas line. Check all connections to ensure they are tight and secure.
Test your BBQ. Before you start grilling, turn on your BBQ and let it heat up for a few minutes to ensure everything is working properly.
Cast Iron Cooking Grids: If you have cast iron cooking grates and there is some surface rust that has yet to cause the grids to corrode, you can restore them by following the steps here.
In conclusion, cleaning your gas BBQ for the spring doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By following these simple steps, you’ll have your BBQ looking and working like new in no time, so you can get back to grilling up your favourite foods all season long.