Top tips for cleaning your BBQ

^{Spring is just around the corner so why not include cleaning your BBQ as part of your Spring clean. Preparing your grill in advance of the good weather means you are ready to start cooking as soon as the sun arrives. Here at the BBQ Barn we want to share with you some useful tips to make sure your grill is ready to fire up without delay.}

Tools for the job:
Start by being prepared to do the job right. A bucket of soap and warm water, a sponge, paper towels and a good grill brush combined with a bit of elbow grease will make the job easier.

First, wipe down the exterior of the grill. Move to the inside to remove any grease splatters under the lid and around the edges of the grill. Once you remove the splatters if you have a stainless steel grill, use a stainless steel cleaner to add that shine.

For the grates you will need a stronger tool. A wire bristled grill brush is strong enough to remove cooked on food and rust and then wipe up other debris with a sponge.

Clean and Scrub:
Start with the grates. Take them off the grill and clean them well with soap and water. While we don’t recommend doing this all year long, a good clean to start your season is important. If it’s been a year or more since the last clean you may need to soak them. A proper clean will keep food from sticking when you fire up the grill.

If you’re looking to do less work, and who isn’t, you can reduce your elbow grease by spraying the grates with equal parts of vinegar and water.

Wait about an hour and all that gunk should easily scrub away.

After a thorough cleaning, replace and light up the burners to the maximum temperature for 15 minutes as this will ensure they are fully sterilised and ready for reuse.

Don’t forget to check around the air vents on your grill and remove any grease etc., to ensure free air flow and limit any fire hazards.

Maintenance:
Take apart as much of your grill as possible and clean both the inside and outside with soap and warm water using a strong bristled brush. If there are areas with a lot of grease we recommend using a hand held steamer to remove a concentration of build up.

If necessary use a citrus based degreaser for the tough greasy spots. And don’t forget the grease tray!

Check your burners for any holes. If you see any, replace those burners, Examine any tubes for spiders that like to find a home during cooler weather inside the tubes because the grill hasn’t been being used.

Safety:
Look for cracks and leaks in your hoses. Check the resilience of your control knobs. Does your temperature gauge work, are the grills handles loose? Tighten them. Regular maintenance will keep your grill in tip top shape.

Check that your hoses and tubing are not damaged and that ignition parts of the grill aren’t covered in any grease. You can do leak test by putting soapy water on the hoses, regulator, and valves. Turn on the propane tank and look for any bubbles. If you see bubbles it means the gas is leaking and its time to replace the hoses or your tank.

Regardless of type of grill you have, always refer to your owner’s manual before cleaning.

With a few simple steps and using the right tools you will be ready for spring grilling and add years to the life of your BBQ.