Photography: Sue Ferris
If your barbecue has been in hibernation over the winter months, now’s a good time to get it ready for spring and summer. We get it, though, barbecue cleaning is a task no one really wants to do – but it’s a job best tackled head-on, as soaking grill plates and scrubbing away at built-up grease is not the kind of thing you want to rush when dinner guests are knocking at the door.
Maintaining a clean barbecue is important not just for food hygiene purposes, but for safety purposes as well. Grease is highly flammable, and a build-up of fat, oil and debris from old food could, in extreme cases, cause a fire. Here, we run through the steps to ensuring your barbecue is squeaky clean, and suggest some of the best barbecue cleaners and accessories to take some manual effort out of the task.
1. Clean the grill
Remove the grill and hotplate and place on a layer of newspaper or cardboard (this will protect your patio or deck becoming saturated with grease). Spray with barbecue degreaser such as Weber’s All Purpose Barbecue Cleaner or Selley’s BBQ Tough Clean. Allow the product to sit on the grill and hotplate for the recommended period of time before wiping off. Baked-on food residue can be scrubbed off with a scourer. Next, wash the hotplate and grill in warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
Alternatively, soak the grill and hotplate in a bucket of warm soapy water. For areas with tough baked-on grime, apply concentrated dishwashing liquid directly to a scourer or steel wool pad and buff away grease and grime. A sprinkle of bicarb soda can also work wonders to remove stubborn stains. Rinse and dry the racks thoroughly.
2. Clean the drip tray
To prevent grease fires and spoiling the taste of your food, you’ll need to clean the grease drip tray. Pull it out from under your barbecue, throw out any absorbent material on it and give the tray a quick wash with soapy water. Spread aluminium foil over the tray and spread a fresh layer of grease absorber over it.
3. Wash the body
To clean the main body, just use warm soapy water and a bit of elbow grease. Avoid using harsh scourers, especially on stainless steel as it can damage the surface and make it rough. Once the surface is clean and rinsed, wipe with a dry tea-towel or microfibre cloth to polish the surface.
Is it OK to clean a barbecue with a pressure washer?
Don’t be tempted to use a pressure washer to make short work of it. Pressure washers are often touted as a barbecue cleaning ‘hack’, but this could cause more damage than it’s worth. If water gets into the gas jets, it could impede their performance. Using a pressure washer will also send fat and grease all over your yard, which may attract ants and other unwanted bugs.
Can you use oven cleaner on a barbecue?
It’s not a good idea to use heavy-duty oven cleaner on a barbecue. The caustic chemicals used in these products can leave residue on the cooking surface.
How to clean a barbecue with lemons
Did you know you can use a lemon to clean your barbecue? Warm up the grill plates. Cut a lemon in half and, using a pair of barbecue tongs, rub the cut-side of the lemon along the grill. The citric acid in the lemon will help dissolve grease and burnt spots. For extra scrubbing action, apply salt to the lemon before cleaning the grill. Note: This method is most effective between barbecue uses. It won’t be effective on grill plates that have a substantial amount of baked on grease and grime.
Best barbecue cleaners to shop
01
Scrub Daddy barbecue grill scrubber
$49.95, Kitchen Warehouse
Scrub Daddy sponges are all the rage when it comes to cleaning your kitchen and bathroom, but now you can harness the brand’s viral scrubbing power to clean your barbecue! The scrubber – which contains no dangerous bristles – is designed to be used when the barbecue is hot.
Simply dip the scrubber in cold water (this hardens the sponge to effectively wipe away grease) and scrub away. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to scrub away grime using the power of steam and the Scrub Daddy sponge.
Key features:
- Contains zero dangerous bristles
- Ergonomic design with retractable hook (for lifting grill grates) and an integrated bottle opener
- Refill sponges available to buy separately
02
Weber all-purpose BBQ cleaner
$16.95, Amazon
Weber is one of the most trusted barbecue brands, so it makes sense they’d know how to make just the right cleaning product to make yours sparkle like new.
All you need to do is spray it on all surfaces, leave it for an hour to work its magic, then scrub and rinse clean. It will remove everything from baked on grease to fat and even smoke stains. Brilliant.
Key features:
- Convenient spray bottle
- Powerful formulation is designed to do most of the work for you
- Regular use will ensure your barbecue looks just like new – everyday!
03
Mr Siga stainless steel scourers (pack of 6)
$13.99, Amazon
Sometimes you just can’t beat old-school cleaning methods, and it’s hard to deny the scrubbing power of steel wool. This bulk pack from Mr Siga will help you power through grease and remove even the most stubborn baked-on grime.
Unlike other barbecue-specific cleaning tools on the market, steel wool is extremely versatile and can be used in other areas of the home, including polishing your sink, keeping cast-iron pans clean and removing calcium stains from your shower screen.
Key features:
- Affordable, powerful scrubbing action
- Steel wool is versatile for cleaning around the home
- Widely available online, at supermarkets and hardware stores
04
For All Australia all-purpose cleaner in fragrance free
$29.90, For All Australia
If you haven’t heard of cult-favourite cleaning product For All Australia, you must be living under a rock! The Australian-owned company produces a non-toxic, PH neutral, highly concentrated, coconut-based degreaser that will dissolve tough baked-on grease.
Apply the product directly onto a stainless-steel scour and scrub grill plates before rinsing and drying thoroughly. Alternatively, soak grill plates in warm water and For All (diluted to the ratio of 5mLs per 1L) for about half an hour before scrubbing, rinsing and drying thoroughly.
Key features:
- Multipurpose product that can be used to clean all hard surfaces in the home, including kitchen benches, floors, dishes and even your car!
- Arrives concentrated to be diluted in water to suit your cleaning purposes
- Australian-owned, female-founded business
- Environmentally friendly, biodegradable formula with zero synthetic fragrances
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