How to clean a barbecue

Bringing out the barbecue is a summer tradition that marks the beginning of garden parties, alfresco date nights, and family feasts. And with the right care you can keep yours going for years to come. The last thing you want to do when you’re gearing yourself up for a barbecued banquet is hours of scrubbing, trying to get rid of last year's debris. Our expert advice will give you all the help you need to keep your barbecue clean and in tip top condition.

How to clean your BBQ grill

The grill plates of the barbecue and inevitably going to get the brunt of the mess, so knowing how to keep these clean goes a long way to maintaining your barbecue. And a build-up of carbon, from those chargrilled burgers, can cause it to heat unevenly too.

First, allow your barbecue grill to cool down completely. Once it’s cool, remove the grates and any other removable parts. Use a wire brush to scrub away any built-up residue, rust, and food particles. For tougher stains, you can use a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap.

Or you could use one of our specialist barbecue cleaners, they’ll make light work of those grills. Many of the cleaners also have antibacterial properties. We recommend using rubber gloves to protect your hands, especially when using abrasive cleaning solutions.

Wipe down the exterior of your barbecue with a damp cloth. Finally, reassemble the grill and make sure it's completely dry before using it again.

How to clean your barbecue accessories

Getting grime off your cooking utensils is another important part of barbecue care. If they’ve started to rust, you can use a natural remover of baking powder and water. Just make a thin paste with baking soda and water and apply the paste to the rusted areas and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then gently wipe the paste away with a sponge or soft cloth.

To clean off grease and grime from your utensils choose a washing up liquid designed to cut through grease and squeeze a few drops into a bucket of hot water. Leave them in the bucket for 30 minutes to an hour, and then use a sponge or soft-bristled brush, like a toothbrush, to clean them off.

Cleaning your BBQ from last summer

We’re all getting excited for entertaining outdoors again, seeing friends and family has never been better. Digging out the barbecue might be something you dread, especially if you know you’ll be cleaning off grease from seasons past. But don’t fret, we’ll help you get that barbecue looking as good as new.

If there’s still caked-on food left over from your last meal, light coals in your barbecue and leave them to reach a very high heat. This will burn off a lot of the most stubborn remnants.

If it’s a gas grill just heat it up with the lid shut, and let it reach full temperature, and leave it for about 30 minutes. Then use a wire brush to scrub off any dirt.