Wintertime is often characterised by the anticipation of the warmer summer months return and as a result, outdoor furniture is usually neglected. Our BBQs amongst other outdoor items can suffer the effects of the harsh weather, but if you want to enjoy the use of your BBQ again come summertime, its upkeep is very essential.

Neglecting this upkeep can have detrimental and harmful effects on the equipment. For starters, there is the problem of rust and mold growing on uncleaned bits of the grill. Then there is the issue of vermin and pests that are attracted to neglected BBQ, festering and creating a home in the appliance. They can only be taken care of by hiring an agency of Pest Control Experts. Lastly, there is the problem of breakdown. Without regular upkeep, the parts of a grill start to malfunction and eventually stop working. This could lead to costly repairs or even need replacement.

Therefore, to prevent all of that, we take a look at some of the best ways to clean this popular outdoor cooking unit and ensure it’s ready for regular action once the weather becomes more favorable again.

Firing up the grill

Turning the grill on to help burn off the most stubborn food particles makes it easier to clean.

Cleaning the grill

Wipe the grill clean once it has cooled down and the residue is loosened and burnt off. Scrub using a wire-bristled brush in the manner you would your oven, but ensure to use a brass-bristled brush to avoid damaging your equipment. A scrunched up ball of aluminum foil will do if you don’t have one of these at hand.

Next, fill a bucket of hot soapy water and clean with a dishcloth. If the grime proves too stubborn then you may need to invest in some household cleaning products. Just ensure it’s specially designed for the job, otherwise it may be too abrasive and toxic.

Grill burners and lids

Once your grill is clean it shouldn’t take all that much to clean the rest of the equipment. You do however still need to dust down the inside of your BBQ, using soapy-water where necessary.

If you have a gas BBQ with food caught in the burners, check the manufacturer’s manual. Whatever the recommendations, make sure you’ve turned off your barbecue before you proceed.

BBQs with a cleaning setting

Many Gas BBQs come with a built-in self-cleaning setting. This is a good place to start, but it certainly shouldn’t completely replace a manual clean. It’s no substitute for regular cleaning, even though it does burn off certain particles.

As per the best-practice recommendations, try to clean every cooking compartment after use in addition to cleaning the heat deflectors after every couple of uses. Additionally, plan in an annual clean during which you disassemble each part to give it a thorough clean individually. Before putting the unit back together, allow each component enough time to thoroughly dry so that the utensil doesn’t get to suffer the effects of excessive and prolonged exposure to dampness when sitting or stored.

Covering up your BBQ

Once it’s all clean and shiny, covering up your grill will keep it in the best possible condition between uses. This will help to protect your barbecue from the elements in spite of the fact that it may seem like a fiddly job that no one really wants to do. This will also help you to avoid any unnecessary rust from forming and while every BBQ model tends to have its own cover available, their added cost works out to be worth it in the end since they can prolong the life of your BBQ for years.