Effective ways to clean grill grates

The summer is approaching and more people will be bringing out their grates for family weekends or picnics but many do not find it easy keeping their grill grates clean because naturally, grease builds up on the grill grates and form gunk. This gunk in your grill may be combustible when exposed to high temperatures. This means that it might cause a lot of smoke, fire or other burning fumes. 

Therefore, it may not be a good idea to wash the grates in a dishwasher or your oven’s self-clean cycle. The smoke and fire produce soot that causes permanent stains. How then can you clean the grates?

The first step in cleaning grill grates is preheating the grill for 15 minutes. Preheating may help to soften the grease that’s collected on the grates. This makes it easy for the grease to come off. It may also reduce the amount of elbow grease you have to use. After 15 minutes, brush the grates using a stainless steel grill brush.

After cleaning the grates, don’t forget to empty the drip tray. The drip tray collects excess fat. It helps to avoid making a mess and lighting up a grease fire when you are grilling. Consider using a putty knife (plastic) to scrape off the grease if there’s an excessive build-up. Do this when the grill is still warm to make it easier.

Inspect the inner top of the lid to see if there’s any flaking going on. If that’s happening, don’t confuse it with paint. It may look like flaking paint, but it’s actually a mixture of grease and soot (smoke deposits). Try scraping it off with a stainless steel brush. This may help to prevent soot from falling off onto your food when you are using the grill.

You can also try cleaning the lid when it’s warm, not hot; use a damp sponge or a ball of foil to clean the inside of your lid. A brass brush may also do the trick.

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A gas or electric power washer may also do a great job of cleaning your grill. Make sure your power washer produces at least 1.3 GPM (gallons per minute) at 2,000 PSI (pound-force per square inch) for it to clean well.

If you are using a gas or propane grill, start by disconnecting it from the gas line or propane tank. Unplug the power cord and move any lines or tanks out of the way to avoid inflicting damage with the water jet. If you use a charcoal grill, remove any remaining coals and detach the grill.

Consider doing the washing away from your house or other things that might get in the way of flying gunk. To protect furniture and plants, try using a paint drop cloth, table cloth, or a tarp to cover them.