How To Clean Your Barbecue Grill Without Chemicals!
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There is nothing better than firing up the barbecue on a warm day, but opening the lid to find burnt-on grease, old food and dirty grill grates can quickly spoil the mood.
The good news is that you do not need a cupboard full of strong commercial grill cleaners to get your barbecue looking good again. With a little heat, steam, scrubbing and a few simple household ingredients, you can remove most of the grease and burnt-on food naturally.
Here is a simple way to clean your barbecue grill without relying on harsh chemical cleaners.
Why You Should Clean Your Barbecue Regularly
It is very easy to finish cooking, close the lid and tell yourself you will clean the grill next time.
Unfortunately, grease and food quickly build up.
Regular cleaning helps:
- Prevent old food from sticking to your next meal
- Reduce unpleasant burnt flavours
- Remove excess grease
- Help prevent flare-ups
- Keep grill grates in better condition
- Make your barbecue easier to clean next time
- Extend the life of your grill
A quick clean after every use is usually much easier than trying to tackle months of burnt-on grease at once.
What You Will Need
You probably already have most of these things around your home:
- A grill brush or stiff scrubbing brush
- A scraper
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Hot water
- Dish soap, if needed
- An old cloth or sponge
- A bucket or washing-up bowl
- Aluminium foil
- Half an onion – optional
- Cooking oil
- Paper towels
You do not necessarily need everything on the list. Choose the method that works best for the condition of your barbecue.
Step 1: Heat The Grill
One of the easiest ways to loosen burnt-on food is with heat.
Turn your barbecue on and allow the grill to become hot for around 10–15 minutes.
The heat helps soften grease and carbonised food, making it much easier to remove.
Turn the barbecue off before you begin cleaning.
If you are using a charcoal grill, wait until it is safe to work around the coals and hot surfaces.
Step 2: Scrape The Grill Grates
While the grates are still warm, carefully scrub them with a grill brush or suitable scraper.
Work along the bars of the grill rather than randomly scrubbing across them.
You should find that much of the old food comes away surprisingly easily after it has been heated.
No Grill Brush?
A loosely crumpled ball of aluminium foil held with long barbecue tongs can work surprisingly well for scrubbing sturdy grill grates.
Always inspect the grill afterwards to make sure nothing has been left behind.
Step 3: Try The Onion Trick
This old-fashioned barbecue cleaning trick is incredibly simple.
Cut an onion in half and stick it firmly onto the end of a barbecue fork or hold it with long tongs.
With the grill still warm, rub the cut side of the onion across the grates.
The moisture helps loosen remaining food while the rough surface of the onion helps with scrubbing.
It will not replace a deep clean on a heavily neglected barbecue, but it is brilliant for regular cleaning after cooking.
Step 4: Soak Really Dirty Grill Grates
If your grates can be removed, soaking them can save a lot of scrubbing.
Place the cooled grates into a large washing-up bowl, container or suitable tray.
Add plenty of hot water.
For stubborn grease, add a little dish soap or sprinkle baking soda over the grates.
Leave them to soak for around 20–30 minutes.
Scrub them with a stiff brush or non-scratch scrubber before rinsing thoroughly with clean water.
Make sure all cleaning residue is removed before putting the grates back onto the barbecue.
Step 5: Use Baking Soda For Burnt-On Grease
Baking soda makes a useful gentle abrasive for stubborn areas.
Mix:
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
- Enough water to make a thick paste
Spread the paste over greasy areas and leave it for around 10–15 minutes.
Scrub gently and wipe clean.
For particularly stubborn patches, repeat the process rather than immediately reaching for a strong commercial cleaner.
Step 6: Clean The Inside Of The Barbecue
Remove the grill grates once everything is cool.
Take out any removable trays, drip pans or other parts according to your barbecue manufacturer’s instructions.
Scrape loose grease and burnt debris from the inside surfaces.
A plastic or wooden scraper can be useful for this job.
Wipe everything down with warm soapy water before wiping again with clean water.
Avoid soaking burners, ignition systems or gas components.
Don’t Forget The Grease Tray
This is one part of the barbecue that is very easy to forget.
Grease trays can collect an incredible amount of fat.
Allow everything to cool completely before removing the tray.
Scrape excess grease into the rubbish rather than washing large amounts of fat down the sink.
Then wash the tray with hot water.
Keeping the grease tray clean can also help reduce flare-ups the next time you cook.
Step 7: Clean The Outside
You do not need anything complicated here.
Warm water and a damp cloth will remove most dirt from the outside of the barbecue.
For greasy fingerprints, use a small amount of mild dish soap.
If you have a stainless-steel barbecue, wipe in the direction of the grain to help prevent streaks.
Avoid abrasive scrubbers on painted, enamelled or stainless-steel surfaces unless the manufacturer specifically says they are suitable.
Step 8: Dry Everything Properly
Do not put your barbecue back together while everything is soaking wet.
Dry the grill grates and removable parts thoroughly.
Leaving steel or cast-iron components wet can encourage rust.
If possible, allow everything to air dry completely before reassembling the barbecue.
Step 9: Lightly Oil The Grates
Once clean and dry, some grill grates benefit from a very light coating of cooking oil.
Put a small amount of high-temperature cooking oil onto a folded paper towel and carefully wipe it over the grates.
You only need a very thin layer.
This can help protect suitable metal grates and make food less likely to stick.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, particularly with porcelain-coated or specially finished grill grates.
How To Clean A Barbecue With Steam
Steam is another wonderfully simple way to loosen grease.
After cooking, while the barbecue is still warm but no longer at full heat, place a heat-safe container of hot water inside and close the lid for several minutes.
The steam helps soften baked-on residue.
Once the barbecue is cool enough to handle safely, open the lid and scrub the grill.
Never pour water directly onto a hot barbecue, hot charcoal, burners or hot grill components.
The Easiest Way To Keep A Grill Clean
The secret is not really a miracle cleaning product.
It is cleaning the barbecue little and often.
After each barbecue:
- Let the grill heat for a few minutes.
- Scrape away food residue.
- Allow everything to cool safely.
- Empty the grease tray when needed.
- Wipe down dirty surfaces.
- Cover the barbecue once it is completely cool and dry.
This five-minute habit can save you a huge cleaning job later in the year.
Don’t Use Oven Cleaner On Your Grill Grates
It can be tempting to spray a dirty barbecue with oven cleaner or another powerful degreaser.
However, grill surfaces come into direct contact with your food, and some barbecue finishes can also be damaged by unsuitable cleaning products.
If you do use any commercial cleaner, make sure it is specifically recommended for your barbecue and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
For everyday cleaning, heat, water and some good old-fashioned scrubbing will usually do most of the work.
How Often Should You Clean Your Barbecue?
Give the grill grates a quick clean after every use.
During barbecue season, periodically give the entire barbecue a deeper clean, including the grease tray and interior.
It is also worth thoroughly cleaning your barbecue before storing it for winter and checking it again before using it at the start of the next barbecue season.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your barbecue does not have to involve covering it in strong chemical cleaners.
Heat, steam, baking soda, hot water and a little elbow grease can tackle most everyday barbecue mess.
The biggest trick is simply not leaving it too long.
Spend a few minutes cleaning your grill after each cookout and it will be much easier to maintain, your food will taste better, and your barbecue should stay in good condition for many summers to come.
