How to clean your BBQ: A step by step guide

Warm summer evenings are often spent entertaining outdoors with a well-cooked barbecue, shared with family and friends. Get ready for the barbeque season with our step by step guide to cleaning your gas BBQ.

To clean your BBQ, you will need:

• Rubber gloves (optional)
• Grill brushes
• Scraping tool
• Sponge
• Soft cloth or paper towels
• Drip pans
• Aluminium foil
• Warm soapy water (just add a few drops dishwashing detergent
• Non-toxic degreaser

Cleaning your gas barbecue

Safety first! Check all connections, seals and pipes for any cracks or signs of wear and tear. Check the gas bottle expiry date. Switch off the gas valve and disconnect your gas bottle.

Step 1

Remove the BBQ plates, warmer racks and grills. Place in a bucket or small tub and fill with warm, soapy water. Leave to soak for a few minutes. Use a grill brush to scrub excess food and build up. Rinse with hot water and dry completely.

Step 2

Remove the drip trays. Use your scraping tool to scrub grease, grime and build up. Wash your trays with warm soapy water and a non-scratch sponge. Line your drip tray with aluminium foil and cover with a fat-absorbing material (you can purchase this from a hardware store).

Step 3

Give the exterior of your barbecue a good clean. Use warm soapy water and a sponge to remove built up grime. To effectively remove grease and oil, spray with Aktivo Easy Off Oven + BBQ Cleaner. Don’t forget to wipe down all knobs and handles too. For stainless steel finishes, spray Aktivo Stainless Steel Polish and buff with a soft cloth. This will remove smears, water spots and finger prints, whilst the protective barrier will deter marks from reappearing.

Step 4

Lightly spray both sides of the grill with oil to protect them and prevent rusting.

Step 5

Once all parts are clean and dry, it’s time to reassemble the BBQ and connect the gas.

Handy tips and BBQ cleaning hacks

• The best way to clean a barbecue grill is to do so after every use, when the barbecue grill is still warm
• When not in use, keep your barbecue under cover and away from the elements. Consider investing in a weather-resistant cover
• Never cover hotplates with alfoil
• For charcoal barbecues, remove old ash and coals before you start cooking again. Tip into a bucket and remove any remnants with a damp cloth. Using warm soapy water, give it a good wash
• Steam cleaning is an easy way to make your barbecue even easier to clean. Fill a shallow container with boiling water and place on the BBQ before closing the hood. The steam will help to loosen build up
• Baking soda is great for cleaning a dirty grill. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Apply to a warm grill before scrubbing with a grill brush
• If you don’t have a scrubbing tool, scrunched up foil works well too!
• If the grill is cast iron, you can use a wire BBQ brush (usually gold coloured bristles). For a stainless-steel grill, use a stainless-steel wire brush instead (usually silver coloured bristles)

The barbecue is an iconic part of the Australian lifestyle. Take the time to clean and care for your barbecue now, so it’s ready to go next time your have friends and family over.

For more cleaning tips, check out our handy guide. We’ve put together our top hacks to save you time.

Need bbq spare parts, cleaning products and accessories? We’ve got you covered! Find the spare part you need at Statewide Appliance Spares, with fast Australia wide delivery.