Is It A Good Idea To Put Ashes From A Barbecue Grill In The Garden ?

July 13th, 2018 Fantastic Cleaners Team Cleaning Guides

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How to Clean Your BBQ - The Ultimate Guide

Cleaning the BBQ is a tricky job and, let's be honest – not a very pleasant one. Luckily, for the gentle sex, this is usually a man's job. However, even men with all their rational thinking can meet some difficulties especially, if they don't know where to start. We at Fantastic Cleaners gathered our professional knowledge and expertise and created this BBQ cleaning guide. Here you will find all the information you'll need to get your barbecue clean and ready for grilling.

Basics of BBQ Cleaning
- How to clean a gas BBQ
- How to clean a charcoal BBQ
- How to clean a BBQ before first use
- How to season a BBQ
How to Clean Different BBQ Parts
- Hot plates
  - Greasy plates
  - Rusty plates
- BBQ grill
  - Stainless steel grates
  - Cast iron grill
  - Porcelain grill grates
- BBQ from the outside
  - Stainless steel exterior surface
- BBQ burners
- BBQ drip tray

Advice from Professional BBQ Brands
- WEBER BBQ
  - Weber Charcoal BBQ
  - Weber Gas BBQ
  - Weber's Additional Cleaning Advice
- Beefeater BBQ
  - Beefeater General Cleaning Guide
  - Beefeater Porcelain and Stainless Steel BBQs
  - Beefeater Tips on Cleaning the Hood
- Ziegler & Brown BBQ
- Matador BBQ
DOs and DON'Ts of BBQ Cleaning
- DOs of BBQ Cleaning
- DON'Ts of BBQ Cleaning
BBQ Cleaning Tools
Benefits of Cleaning a BBQ

Basics of BBQ Cleaning

A clean BBQ is a functioning and healthy BBQ. You don't want residue and food debris to built up in your food. Follow our simple BBQ cleaning tips and enjoy your BBQ party.

How to clean a gas BBQ

To clean your gas BBQ, you need to disconnect the gas first to ensure your safety. Detach all removable parts and clean them individually. Wash the body of the BBQ, leave it to dry and reassemble the grill back.

Here is the detailed process of how to clean a gas BBQ:

Disconnect the gas (propane tank)
The first and most important thing to do before you start the actual cleaning process is to disconnect the gas.
Prepare a bucket of soapy water
Just a bucket of warm water with added dish soap will do the job. There is no need to use any dangerous chemicals.
Dethatch the parts of the BBQ
Using work gloves, remove the grates, the metal plates and basically all plates from the inside of the BBQ while they are still warm.
Remove the excess fat
Scrub the excess fat from the parts, again while they are still warm. When you're cleaning the grill scrub both of its sides to make sure any fat that is underneath is cleaned off as well.
Clean the parts
Place all hot plates, char grill plates, flame diffusers and warmer racks in the bucket of warm soapy water and use a sponge to clean them.

Bonus tip: Stainless-steel food warmers can be soaked in warm water and laundry powder for an hour. After that scrub them with a scarer, rinse and dry.
Use hot soapy water to clean
Give the barbecue itself a good clean again with hot soapy water and a soft scouring pad.

Bonus tip: BBQ wipes are great for keeping the BBQ look good between big clean-ups.
Let the parts dry
Make sure all parts of the BBQ are completely dry.
Protect the parts
Spray both sides of the grill with oil to protect them. Always ensure you keep your cooking surface coated in cooking oil to prevent rusting of the hot plate.
Remember to line your drip tray with foil and cover with a fat absorber. Fat absorbers are used to prevent fat fires. Place the tray back under the grills.
Reassemble the BBQ
Connect the gas, season the plates and then turn on the BBQ.
Leave the BBQ working
For about 15 minutes don't turn off the BBQ in order to burn off anything that might be still on it.

Bonus tip: After each use, disconnect the gas and check the hose. If it is cracked or worn out, you'll have to replace it. You should do safety checks of your gas barbecue periodically. Check the gas seal and gas bottle hose as they are the ones that might cause a problem. The rubber seal of the gas hose wears off with time and might cause a leakage and ignite while cooking.

How to clean a charcoal BBQ?

If you have a charcoal BBQ, you need to deep-clean it at least once a year. Even more often, if you're using it regularly. Carbon and ash can accumulate from the barbecue's frequent usage, which can be extremely dangerous for your health.

Clean the grill grate and the charcoal grate. Remove the ash and clean the bottom of the BBQ and the tray. Reassemble the BBQ back and leave it to air dry before putting it away.

Follow the step-by-step process of how to clean a charcoal BBQ:

Find a nice place outside your home.
Things may get messy. Therefore, it's a good idea to do this outside of the house.
Removing the grill grate
If it possible, remove the grill grate. This will make your job a lot easier.
Clean the grill grate
The grill grate can be cleaned by using a long-handled stiff-wire brush. If you don't have a brush you can use a ball of aluminium foil held with long-handled tongs.
Protect the grill grates
Оnce the grate is clean, apply vegetable oil, using folded paper towels or a rag. This coating of oil will help prevent food from sticking to the grate the next time you cook. Also, it will prevent rust.
Remove any leftover ash from the base of the grill
Too much ash build up can obstruct the vents at the bottom of the grill, making it difficult to control the temperature during cooking. Removing the charcoal grate at the base (if possible), will make getting the last of the ash out easier.
Clean the inside of the cook box and lid
When all the ash has been removed, clean the inside of the cook box and lid using mild dish soap and a brush. You may notice little black pieces on inside your barbecue's lid. Don't worry. They're not peeling paint, it's deposits of grease and smoke. They're easily removed by brushing with a stainless steel brush.
Cleaning the charcoal grate
Make a ball of aluminium foil and use that for scrubbing. With it, you can remove any remaining gunk and debris that the brush couldn't.
Place the charcoal grate back
Place the charcoal grate back into position and you'll be ready to add fresh charcoal for your next use.
Clean the outside of the lid and cook box
You can then clean the outside of the lid and cook box using soap and water or a grill cleaning spray.
Dry
Towel dry and cover the grill until its next use to help prevent rust. If you store your grill outdoors, use a weather-resistant grill cover between uses. This will help preserve its appearance and extend the life of your grill.

Bonus tip: Following each use of the grill, clean the grates while they are still warm and before stuck-on food and grease harden. If you grill often, it's best to replace the grate brush each season as it wears down over time.

How to clean a BBQ before first use?

After you buy a new BBQ, there are some things you need to consider before it gets ready for the first grilling experience.

Remove the protective coating of the BBQ
All brand new barbecues come in a protective coating. Make sure you remove all of it.
Soap up and polish
Mostly focus on the parts exposed to high heat. You can simply use warm soapy water, or if you're dealing with a stainless steel BBQ you can use a special detergent for stainless steel BBQ you can use a special detergent for stainless steel. Polish with a cloth.
Remove the hot plates, rinse and dry
Remove the hot plates and use a sponge to clean the cooking surface with warm soapy water. Rinse the BBQ thoroughly. Make sure there is no soap left. Dry the surface with a cloth. It needs to be absolutely dry before you proceed further.
Coat the cooking surface
Use a BBQ spray to coat the cooking surface.
Fire up the BBQ, let it cool off, repeat
Keep a moderate heat for about an hour. It may seem long but don't forget that you're dealing with a brand new BBQ and you don't want your steak tasting strange. Let the BBQ cool off a little. Repeating the procedure may seem odd but it's necessary when you're preparing the BBQ for its first use.
Scrub, dry, coat, preheat
Gently scrub again the cooking surface with a brush soaked in clean warm water. Then wipe and make sure the surface is absolutely dry. Coat with a cooking spray or vegetable oil. Preheat the BBQ for a whole and you're done!

How to season a BBQ

Seasoning a BBQ is an easy process of oiling and heating the BBQ plates and grates to ensure bacteria-free, debris-free, rust-free and non-stick cooking surface.

Follow the process of how to season a BBQ:

Preheat your BBQ
Then use a grill brush to scrub the great clean from any build up gunk.
Coat with oil
While the BBQ is off, and the grates are cold, coat all the surfaces of the grates and emitters with oil. You can use an oil-soaked paper towel.

Bonus tip: Be careful not to use too much oil. It's very flammable and may cause a flare-up. Apply evenly. It's best to use high smoke point oils. For example, sunflower, canola, corn, soy or peanut oils. Avoid oils with a low smoke point such as olive oil, sesame seed oil and avocado oil, They become cancerogenic after 68°C.
Remove excess oil
Wipe off any excess oil with a paper towel — the oil must coat the grates evenly.

Warning: Never use oil on a heated grill as it's very flammable and may cause a fire.
Heat up your BBQ
Ignite and heat your grill for 15 minutes (up to an hour if you haven't used the BBQ in a while) or until the oil burns off or starts smoking.
Check up on it
During this time check it often to see how much it heats up. For fire precaution keep an eye on it. Make sure it's at a safe distance from anything that may catch on fire.
Oil it up again
Once the grill has cooled, put a light coat of oil on. This will help prevent rusting.
Pre-heat the barbecue.
Your barbecue is ready to use!

Note: If your BBQ is brand new, better check How to clean a BBQ before first use.

Get your BBQ professionally cleaned!

You can count on the experts of Fantastic Cleaners to do the job for you.

How to Clean Different BBQ Parts

As soon as you finish grilling, you want to sit at the table with your family and start eating the delicious food. We understand that. Keep in mind, however, that you need to take care of your BBQ first.

Having trouble with a specific BBQ part? This should clear things up for you!

How to clean hot plates?

Cleaning the plates while they're still hot will make your job much easier and maximise the results.

Hot plates have a flat surface and tend to get food stuck in them. To make them clean again, remove the food from the plate and leave the BBQ turned on for a while. The heat will burn off anything left on the plate. After that, take a spatula and scrape the residue left from the food. You can also use a newspaper for scrubbing. Just make a ball from it and scrub it on the plate.

Once the BBQ has cooled off, pour a bit of cooking oil on the plate and wipe it up with a brush. After that, use a microfiber cloth to dry it up.

Before the next use, repeat the procedure. Pour some cooking oil and distribute it evenly with a brush until the BBQ gets too hot.

How to clean greasy plates?

Marinade and sauces make food tasty, but they also make the plates greasy and nearly impossible for cleaning afterwards.

Hot temperatures kill the bacteria, but you can still get sick if old fats go into your food. It's not the bacteria that may cause diseases, and it's the toxins they contain.

To get rid of the grease from your plates, turn the BBQ to a high temperature and let it warm up. Scrape off the surfaces with a spatula or a scraper until the residue is removed.

Turn off the BBQ and sprinkle salt on top of the surface. Let it absorb the excess grease. When the BBQ is cool enough, use paper towels and wipe up the surface.

How to clean rusty plates?

In areas with high humidity, corrosion of steel or cast iron plates is hardly avoidable. Rust is not preventable in some cases, but there are some things you can do to remove it. It's important not to use harsh chemicals. Keep in mind that you'll be cooking on top of it and only natural products.

To clean the rust from the BBQ plates, you will need a metal scraper or spatula, baking soda, cooking oil, paper towels and a grill stone block. Then follow the steps:

Step 1: Turn on the BBQ on high heat. This will loosen up any rust and debris from the plate. Leave it like that for 15-20 minutes. Turn off the BBQ and let it chill off.

Step 2: Use a metal scraper or spatula and scrub as much corrosion off the plate as you can. Do this while the BBQ plate is completely dry. Water is the major cause of rust, so dampening the plate will be worthless. Wipe the surface with a paper towel to remove the excessing rust.

Step 3: If there's still a significant amount of rust on your plate, turn the BBQ on again at a high temperature. Sprinkle the plate with baking soda until you cover the whole surface. The baking soda will begin to bubble because of the high temperature and will remove the rest of the corrosion. Wait until the fizzy reaction goes away and turn off the BBQ.

Step 4: Pour regular cooking oil on the BBQ plate and rub the surface with the grill stone. Pay extra attention to the rustiest spots.

Step 5: Use a paper towel to wipe the surface. Apply more cooking oil and wipe until all the rust is gone. If you find missed spots, just scrub again with the grill stone and clean with a towel.

Warning: There are loads of commercial rust removers on the market. They usually work really well but may also contain toxic chemicals you need to keep away from your food. If you decide to use commercial cleaner use one specifically made for rusty BBQ plates and grates.

How to prevent plates from rusting

Seasoning the BBQ plate with oil will provide natural protection coat against corrosion. It will also create a stick-resistant surface to cook on.

Seasoning method:

Step 1: Apply a small amount of the cooking oil on the plate and spread it around with a paper towel.

Step 2: Turn on the BBQ to medium heat. The oil will start to smoke, and the surface will start to become discoloured. This means that the oil is bonding with the metal. Keep the BBQ on until the smoking stops, and the surface starts to look matte grey. The whole process can take from 30 minutes to an hour. You need to be patient.

Step 3: Once the whole BBQ plate gets matte grey, you can turn off the BBQ. When the surface cools down, you can add a final layer of oil. Vegetable oil creates a barrier against water and prevents the plate from corroding.

How to clean BBQ grill

The easiest and most efficient way to clean the BBQ grills is to do it while the grates are still hot after usage.

Step 1: Leave the BBQ on max heat for 15 minutes after you finish using it. This will carbonize grime and food debris.

Step 2: Wait for the BBQ to cool down and scrub the grates with a metal spatula. Angle the brush in every direction to make sure you reach every angle.

Step 3: Once in a couple of uses, you can deep clean the BBQ grills using hot soapy water. Remove the BBQ grates and place them in a container filled with hot water and soap. You can add oven detergent instead of soap if you prefer it. Leave the grill to soak overnight. On the next day, scrub them with a sponge and rinse and dry them afterwards.

How to clean stainless steel grates?

Stainless steel grates are protected from corrosion but can also easily become discoloured and damaged. However, they are relatively easy to clean.

The best way to clean this type of grate is to do so after every BBQ use while the grill is still hot. Use a mixture of soap and water and a soft cloth or a brass grill brush to remove the built-up debris from the grate.

Stainless steel grates can get scratched easy. So using metal or steel wool brushes for cleaning is a big no. Avoid using harsh cleaning detergents and stainless steel polishers since they can discolour the surface of the grates.

How to clean cast iron grill?

Cast iron grill grates are extremely durable. They can stand high temperatures and are hard to get damaged. However, cast iron is a porous metal and can easily rust when exposed to air and water.

To clean the grill, scrub the surface with a metal or stainless steel brush to remove any residue.

Avoid using soap on the cast iron grill. You can create a cleaning paste with baking soda, salt and a tablespoon of water. Apply the mixture using a sponge and leave it for 15 minutes. Scrub the paste off with a brush and wipe the surface with cooking oil and paper towels afterwards. The oil will form a protective layer on the surface against rusting and moisture.

If you wash the grates with water, make sure they're dry. The best way to ensure this is to reassemble the BBQ back and turn it on high heat for 5-10 minutes.

How to clean porcelain grill grates?

Porcelain grill grates are heat and rust-resistant. But you need to be careful when using them. Any scratch or crack in the surface will allow water to seep in underneath and expose it to corrosion.

When cleaning, burn off any residue and food debris. Allow the grill grates to cool off and scrub the surfaces. Never use metal scrapers and brushes to clean the surface. Use sponges or a soft nylon grill brush. Season the grates with cooking oil and paper towels to protect the surface from rusting and damaging.

How to Clean a BBQ Body from the Outside

Cleaning the outside is the easiest part of the BBQ clean. No matter the material the exterior is made of, you can use this universal method: just wipe the BBQ down with a moist cloth and then buff it with a dry one. Treat with warm water and liquid dish detergent in case of stuck particles or persistent dirt on the surface. Scrub with a sponge if needed.

Warning: Harsh chemicals are not recommended. They can damage the metal if not used properly, it's not safe to be used near food and could be flammable.

How to clean stainless steel exterior surface?

The exterior surface uses a soft, moist cloth to wipe out—dry cloth to buff for cleaning stainless steel. And oil or specialised liquid to polish.

No steel-wool pads or brushes are recommended because they can scratch or permanently damage the surface.

In addition, oil and polishers protect from weather conditions.

The quality of the stainless steel used for different parts of the BBQ exterior may vary, with that, the manufacturer's advice for regular maintenance. For best results when handling discolouration, rust or stains, follow the manufacturer's instructions strictly.

How to clean BBQ burners?

Preparation:

Turn the gas supply off and disconnect the gas tank. Remove all the BBQ parts blocking the access to the burners – grill, grates, any trays or containers. Remove the burners.

Warning: Check the manual of your BBQ for the proper way to remove the burners and make sure you can reattach everything correctly after the cleaning.

For the actual cleaning:

Brush off any dirt and food debris from the burner tube using a stainless brush or scrub. For clogged ports, you can use а drill bit, toothpick or cleaning rod. For infrared ceramic burners, turn the heat on maximum to burn away all residues.

Warning: Do not use water to clean burners. Water left in the burner tube or ports may disrupt their proper work and lead to serious problems.

How to clean BBQ drip tray?

The BBQ tray is one of the hardest parts to clean, especially if you don't do it often. You should clean the drip pan on 4-5 uses of the BBQ. Swelled grease can cause a fire hazard.

To avoid scrubbing the tray for hours to clean it, you can line it up with aluminium foil. Putt sand inside the tray just enough to cover the bottom of it. The sand will absorb most of the grease, and the foil will protect the tray. When the BBQ tray is full, remove the sand and the foil. Wash it with warm soapy water, leave it to dry and repeat the procedure – place aluminium foil and sand on the bottom of the tray.

If you don't have the time or the equipment to clean your BBQ, we have a solution for you. The professional cleaners from Fantastic cleaners will clean the BBQ inside and out. You can check prices and availability and book a service through our online form. So you can enjoy delicious food with your family and friend at the next BBQ party.

Advice from Professional BBQ Brands

We might be cleaning professionals, but nobody can give better advice about maintaining your barbecue than the companies that produced them. We've collected citations of the top few barbecue manufacturers. Read what they have to say below.

How to clean WEBER BBQ?

As Weber has a broad portfolio of both gas and charcoal grills, the cleaning and maintenance tips provided by the manufacturer vary depending on the specifics of the type and model.

You can find your owner's manual with all general operation and safety instructions as well as additional grilling and maintenance tips on the official Weber website.

Weber Charcoal BBQ

To have a better grilling experience and improve the look of your charcoal Weber BBQ, Weber advises you to follow a few basic maintenance instructions:

"Remove accumulated ashes and old charcoal from the bottom of the kettle and the ash catcher before use."
"Brush the carbonised grease from the inside of the lid with a stainless steel bristle grill brush."
"The inside of the lid can be wiped with a paper towel after cooking while the grill is still warm (not hot)."
"Do not use sharp objects or abrasive cleaners to clean the surfaces of your grill."
"Wipe down the outside of your grill with warm soapy water. Follow up with a rinse and thorough drying."

Weber Gas BBQ

What Weber points out for gas grill cleaning:

Cleaning the outside of the grill

"Use a warm, soapy water solution to clean outside surfaces; then rinse with water."

Important: Do not use cleaners that contain acid, mineral spirits, or xylene. Do not use oven cleaner, abrasive cleansers (kitchen cleansers), cleaners that contain citrus products, or abrasive cleaning pads on grill or cart surfaces. Fold-out tables (Q® 1200, Q® 2000, Q® 2200) are not to be used as cutting boards.

Cleaning the inside of the grill

"Wipe inside of lid with paper towel to prevent grease build-up. Wash inside lid with warm, soapy water; then rinse with water.
Scrape and brush the cooking grates with the scraper and brush. Remove the cooking grates and set aside."
Brush any debris off of burner tube.
Check the removable catch pan for grease build-up each time you use your grill. Remove excess grease with a plastic scraper. Wash the removable catch pan with warm, soapy water and rinse with water."

Weber's Additional BBQ Cleaning Advice

Grates

"I usually do a "burn off" as my Q is preheating. I'll have it on high for about 15 minutes until the temp gets to 500 to 600 degrees or so, and then open it up and brush the grates with a clean stainless steel brush."

Burner Tube

"…remove the grate (or grates depending on what model you have), and take a second stainless steel brush that is never used on the grate, and brush the burner tubes up and down, scraping off any leftover food particles that have fallen and potentially clogged the burner tubes."

Cookbox (Inside of grill)

"…take a plastic putty knife (they are cheap and can be found in any paint department), and chip away any debris that surrounds the inside of the grill and pushes everything into the opening down into the drip pan. "

Drip Pan (Grease removal tray)

"…remove the tray that holds the drip/grease pan, and throw it out!"

Mark Fenne – Keeping your Q in perfect shape

More recommendations from BBQ masters like Mark Fenne you can find on the dedicated Weber blog.

Additionally, the manufacturer offers specialised cleaning tools and products and cleaning kits under the Weber trademark, designed to meet the needs and specifics of Weber BBQs.

How to clean a Beefeater BBQ?

Beefeater also offers both types of BBQ – gas and charcoal.

Beefeater General Cleaning Guide

For general cleaning and maintenance, Beefeater manuals advise on following these steps:

Replace aluminium foil or absorbent material in drip tray at regular intervals to prevent grease build-up.
Use hot soapy water on the barbecue fascia and avoid abrasive cleaners or brushes as these could damage the surface and graphics on the fascia. Clean the entire barbecue thoroughly at least twice annually to keep it in good operating condition.
Keep cooking surfaces clean by removing all solid matter after use. A light coating of vegetable oil or vegetable cooking spray after each use will help to reduce surface rust and prolong plate and grill life.
Burners: Check main opening, throat and venturi to each burner and pilot flame tube regularly for insect nests.
Remove burners periodically and scrub clean with soapy water and a wire brush making sure that the ports are free of obstructions.
For barbecues used near a marine environment however more frequent cleaning and servicing should be conducted."

Beefeater Porcelain and Stainless Steel BBQs

For porcelain enamel or stainless steel BBQ, the manufacturer recommends the universal cleaning method: clearing away all residues from the cooking surface, washing the grills with hot or warm water and dish liquid using a soft sponge and afterwards dry with a paper towel or cloth. And also adds a little bit more specific Beefeater suggestions:

Use "a brass bristle brush or plastic scourer" for scraping solid materials off the grill
"Coat the grills with a layer of cooking oil. This will protect the grills between barbecuing sessions."
"Before each subsequent use, preheat your BeefEater Barbecue for 10 minutes before cooking."

Beefeater Tips on Cleaning the Hood

"Wash stainless steel and vitreous enamel with warm soapy water or detergent, using a clean cloth and, if necessary, a soft bristle brush. Only never use this method on the fascia, as harsh cleaners could damage the fascia graphics. Likewise, if your model features a glass window, this should be kept clean to maintain vision into the hood whilst cooking. Only clean the glass window when the hood is cold as water can crack the hot glass."

For more useful information about maintenance, general use and grilling, you can find it in the FAQ section on Beefeater official site.

How to clean Ziegler & Brown BBQ?

The product range of Ziegler & Brown consists only of gas BBQs. As for the cleaning of the Ziggy grills, the manufacturer advice is:

Scraping the excess food, burn off at high temperature and washing with warm water for cast iron grill and plates
Wipe with paper towel and soaking in water with dishwashing liquid for non-stick cooking service and aluminium hotplates
5-minute burn off on HIGH and unclogging the holes with a toothpick for the burners
Wiping with warm soapy water for other surfaces

Ziegler & Brown's "Burn off" method

"Light the burner, set to the HIGH position and leave running with the hood fully open for approximately 5 minutes."

Cleaning product recommended by the manufacturer: Bar-B-Chef Heavy Duty BBQ Cleaner.

More maintenance information – Detailed guides for all Ziegler & Brown BBQs.

How to clean Matador BBQ?

Matador as well sticks to the universal cleaning method as a recommendation for Matador BBQ maintenance – removing any left material after cooking by scraping it with BBQ scraper; burn off at high heat for 5 minutes to get rid of the excess grease; cleaning with soapy water – hot or warm, for the grill and plates.

Matador's tips on cleaning:

"For cast iron hot plates and grills, spray a light coating of canola oil to leave on until your next barbecue. This will prevent rusting"
"Before using your barbecue for the first time you need to 'season' it to remove any coating that may have been applied for shipping." – see the steps of the recommended seasoning method here.

Do you need a helping hand?

Hire a professional cleaning team!

DOs and DON'Ts of BBQ Cleaning

BBQ Cleaning - What to Do and What to Avoid

Here you can find additional advice on what you should and definitely shouldn't do when cleaning your BBQ.

DOs of BBQ Cleaning

DO clean public grills
Before lighting the barbecue line, the grill grates with foil and poke holes in it with a fork, this is both a sanitary precaution, and you're saving time from cleaning the grill afterwards.
DO choose the right BBQ
If you live near the ocean, rust might be a problem. You might want to skip the cast iron hotplates and opt-in for stainless steel or enamel ones.
DO Clean the lava rocks
You don't need to throw away your lava rocks every time they get saturated with grease. You can just throw them in a bucket of hot water and a dish detergent. You might want to replace them once a year.
DO use a grill cover
This will prolong the life of your grill. If you skip on the grill cover after a couple of months of not using the BBQ, you might return to a rusty pile of metal.

DON'Ts of BBQ Cleaning

DON'T remove all the grease
While you might want to clean your BBQ, you also wouldn't want to remove all the grease and leave it like that. Oils protect the BBQ from rust and prevent dirt from sticking.
DON'T use harsh chemicals for cleaning a BBQ
Harsh chemicals will affect the taste of the food afterwards and can harm the finish of the BBQ and its components.
DON'T use abrasive scrubbers BBQs with stainless steel finish
To preserve the perfect finish of a stainless steel BBQ, avoid abrasive materials when cleaning. A detergent or a wool cloth will scratch the surface, and it will never look as new. Cleaning in circular motions is a no-no. Test on one little spot before you continue cleaning the whole BBQ.
DON'T disassemble gas components
We strongly suggest you don't try to disassemble the gas components of a BBQ because it's a safety hazard. If not assembled right, you might have a trip to the hospital instead of having a BBQ party. So it's best to leave the gas components as they are.

These are the essential tools you need to clean a barbecue all over – from inside and out.

Grill brush Probably the most popular tool for cleaning a BBQ. Use it before and after you cook. There are several types – stainless steel and brass wire, and you might want to opt-in for the brass wire as it's gentler to the surface of your grill. Grill brushes can be used on porcelain, ceramic, steel and iron surfaces. There's a technique to cleaning with a brush. Scrub the grates with a wet brush while they're still warm.
Grate scraper The scraper is one of the two most popular tools for cleaning BBQs along with the grill brush. We advise you to use a wooden scraper as the metal one can chip and scratch the surface of the grill. Especially doing damage to grills with porcelain coating. With time the wooden scraper conforms to the shape of the grill with allows you to clean hard to reach areas.
Barbecue thongs Protect your hands while cleaning by holding the cleaning cloth with thongs. A pair of stainless steel thongs will last you longer than the aluminium ones.
Metal bucket This one is for the charcoal BBQ users. Throw away ash in the bucket right after you finish grilling. This way you shorten your cleaning time. It's also a way to keep the charcoal to cool off before throwing it in the trash. Keep the bucket in a dry place near the BBQ.
Bucket + Water + Mild detergent + Sponge This might be a no-brainer but we have to mention it.

Benefits of a clean BBQ

We all know many health benefits of cooking your food on the grill, from the fact that you use and therefore eat less fat through the fact that the meat retains its nutrients and all the way to the fact that grilled vegetables are better for your health, as they have more vitamins and minerals. However, a few people consider the even bigger benefits of grilling on a clean BBQ.

It's good for your health.

The most important benefit, of course, is the healthy one. Regularly cleaning your BBQ removes build up bacteria in your grill, which can be transferred to your food. More importantly, it removes harmful carcinogens.

A clean barbecue is a safe one.

Another crucial reason is the safety one. A clean BBQ reduces the chance of fire. When you're cleaning the BBQ, you're also inspecting its parts, and thus, you can prevent dangerous gas leaks from worn out parts.

It smells better.

The same goes for the smell. Just as you wouldn't want your vegetables to taste like steak, you wouldn't want them to smell like a stake, either. Even worse than a stake smell is that smoky, rancid grease smell. Don't you think that your family and your guests deserve better than that?

It tastes better.

If the last time you've used your BBQ you've cooked a steak, probably you wouldn't want the fresh vegetables, which you're cooking now to tastе like that steak. The food is much more delicious if it's grilled on a clean BBQ, with no bad tasting residue. Тhere are no two opinions on the matter. Food cooked on a clean grill tastes better.

It prevents pest infestation.

A dirty grill attracts bugs and rodents. Considering that Australia is a country well-known for its many pests, we suppose you wouldn't want to attract even more. То prevents an infestation, always keep your grill clean.

Improves the look of the BBQ.

Imagine a gorgeous steak thrown on a dirty grill. Not so great. Now, imagine the same gorgeous stеак, but throw on a sparkling BBQ. Yum, right? А clean grill looks attractive and promises more delicious food.

Prolongs the life of the BBQ.

With the right maintenance, your BBQ can last a long time. The main reason BBQs die is not being cleaned properly and regularly. To extend the life of your grill and get the maximum value out of your purchase, make sure you clean it regularly.

Do you need a helping hand?

Hire a professional cleaning team!

BBQ Cleaning