Grill Cleaning Tips for Fall

Cleaning is an essential part of grill maintenance, and now that fall is here, it's probably a good time to clean your grill from all of your summer fun. Whether you used your grill every day or only once during the summer, cleaning your grill every season is a good habit to start.

Why is it so important to clean your grill for fall?

Often, summer is the busiest season for grilling, and because of that, your grill has built up a lot of grime that needs to be cleaned. Cleaning your grill will remove rust, oils, and food that has accumulated over the summer. Deep cleaning your grill at least once a year will help it operate smoothly and last longer. Lastly, cleaning your grill will allow you to notice if parts need tuning or replacement.

Necessary Cleaning Tools:

1. Grill Brush - a grill brush is a great tool to use when cleaning your grill. Depending on how often you grill, you may need to replace your brush every season. 
2. Drip Pans - drip pans help keep your grill free of debris and make it easier to throw it out. It's a great idea to have some of these on hand whenever you grill.
3. Grate Scrape - like a grill brush, a grate scrape will keep your grates in great condition. .

Fall Cleaning Tips:

1. When your grill is cool, brush and/or scrape off the excess carbon and soot on the underside of the lid.
2. Brush the grates to remove any debris from your summer grilling.
3. Use a scraper to chip away any stubborn debris from inside the bowl.
4. If you use water, you MUST let it dry all the way and re-season the whole grill>
5. Make sure to collect and throw away any debris; you don't want it to sit in your grill.
6. Clean the outside of the grill and cover.
7. To clean the cover, simply hose with water, apply cleanser, let it sit, rinse, and air dry.

Re-seasoning After Cleaning:

Cleaning your grill can strip off the protective layer of seasoning on your grill and the grill grates. This is normal and expected, but it means that you do need to season your grill after cleaning. Without seasoning, your equipment will be more vulnerable to rust, and your food will stick to the surface. Re-seasoning after the summer will ensure your next season of grilling is rust-free and delicious!

To re-season, coat the entire inside of the grill and both sides of the grill grates with a high smoke point oil like vegetable oil or grapeseed oil. Leftover bacon grease works too!

Next, start a small pile of coals in the main chamber of the grill or the Side Fire Box, about half a chimney full of charcoal should do. Let the coals full ignite and then open the dampers on the grill halfway and let the coals fully burn down. Repeat this process two more times for the best results.

We’re sure you had many great times grilling over the summer, which likely produced lots of soot on your grill. If you followed the steps above, your grill should be in near-perfect condition for football season, Thanksgiving, and whatever fall fun you have planned. Remember to repeat this process in a few months or as needed.