A gas grill or braai is a great way to do all your cooking and entertaining outdoors, but we tend to put a proper cleaning on the back burner until summer is over. As the cooler weather moves in, this is the perfect time to give your gas braai a much-needed clean. This will not only extend its life but also prevent bacteria build-up.
You’re going to need a long-handled wire brush and a bucket of hot, soapy water, some rubber gloves, rags and plenty of elbow grease. You can use regular dishwashing liquid if the grill isn’t too grimy, or buy a heavy degreaser.
Remove the grill grates and soak these in a bucket of hot, soapy water. This will make it easy to remove built-up grease with a wire brush. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes before you get stuck in.
With the grates removed, you have easy access to the inside of the grill, where you can use a vacuum cleaner to suck up any loose debris. Just remember to clean out the vacuum when you’re done. While you’re in there, clean away any grease on the inside panels.
After soaking the grates you can use a wire brush to clean off any remaining grime. Ideally, you want to remove all traces of grease build-up, especially where it’s caked in and has formed a carbon build-up on the grill.
If you find a lot of build-up, this is where owning a Dremel MultiTool comes in handy, as you can insert a steel brush to clean away stubborn build-up. Alternatively, you can get rid of the grime by using some steel wool.
Good to know
If you have porcelain grill grates, follow the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines for proper cleaning.
Use soapy water to clean the outside of your grill, especially around the fittings. For this, it’s best to use a kitchen scourer sponge so as not to damage the stainless steel surfaces. Be gentle and let the hot, soapy water do its job before you start wiping away.
For tough stains, try spritzing with white spirit vinegar to help break down grease before washing, rinsing and drying.
Make sure to dry all the washed components with micro-fibre cloths. If the grills are not stainless steel, you don’t want them to rust so make sure you wipe them off thoroughly.
If you plan on packing the gas grill away over winter, take the time to check all the gas lines so that you know your gas grill is ready for use when summer comes.
