Ah, the sweet smell of grilling in the springtime. The cold is hopefully a thing of the past and spring is on its way, which means it’s time to grill every single meal. OK, maybe that’s a tad dramatic, even though we do have the best recipes to satisfy at any time of the day.
If you haven’t tuned up your grill for the days of spring and summer, now is the perfect time. So, check out these seven spring cleaning steps to help you prepare your grill for the warmer days ahead, and to gear up for grilling fun for the coming year.
1. Checking for Potential Leaks
It’s important to check for potential leaks. If the hoses are brittle or damaged, you’ll want to replace them. Then, reconnect the propane gas tank and perform a leak check with a solution of water and soap. To read more about leak checking, visit our Propane FAQ page.
As a reminder, double-check your grill’s owner’s manual for complete instructions on cleaning and maintenance. Once your spring cleaning for your grill is complete, enjoy the moments ahead of grilling and making memories with family and friends!
2. About Those Grates...
First thing’s first, those grates need your attention. Crank the burners to high and close the lid for approximately 15 minutes. After shutting off and the grill is cool, brush the grates with your grill brush. If there’s not much improvement, place the grill grates (and side burner if you have one) in a large bucket of hot and soapy water, and let them soak as you clean the rest of your grill.
3. It’s All About Appearance
Get that shine back on your treasured grill. Use a cloth and a mild dishwashing detergent, or baking soda mixed with water, to shine the exterior of your grill. You can also use a special formulated spray grill cleaner such as a citrus-based cleaner. Then, rinse it and dry with a soft cloth. For stainless steel, use a non-flammable Stainless Steel Grill Cleaner (exterior only). Spray on and wipe with a lint-free cloth with a side-to-side motion with the grain.
4. On to the Burners
Prior to removing the burners, turn the gas tank valve to “CLOSED” and control knobs to “OFF.” Then, disconnect the gas tank and consult the grill owner’s manual on how to remove burners. Clean the venturi of each burner in a side-to-side motion with a small bottlebrush to avoid pushing debris further into the tube. Clean any clogged ports with a stiff wire or paper clip, making sure to not increase the size of the holes. If there is damage to the burners (cracks, holes, etc.), be sure to replace parts accordingly.
5. Don’t Forget the Interior
Next you’ll want to clean the interior bottom of the grill. Push all the burnt food and grease to the receptacle at the bottom of the grill, and then empty and clean the tray. Brush any carbonized grease off the lid interior with a grill brush, then wash with warm soapy water and rinse.
6. Re-assemble
Now it’s time to re-install the burners and heat plates (see owner’s manual). Make sure that the gas valve orifice is correctly positioned inside each burner venturi. With a soft cloth, wipe parts off with warm soapy water, rinse and reassemble the pieces back inside the grill. If you have stubborn debris, use a citrus based degreaser and a nylon scouring pad, an all-in-one stainless-steel brush, scraper and pad. It’s also good to consider applying a light coating of cooking oil to the cooking grates only to seal them after each use. Lastly, re-install the cooking grids.
7. Fueling Up
Before hosting your next cookout, be sure to check that you have enough propane! Need more? Find the closest Blue Rhino retailer to you.
Published: 2020.02.27