How to Clean A Gas Grill

Firing up the grill and throwing on some burgers or steaks is one of the best ways to spend time enjoying the great outdoors. Make sure your gas grill is up to the task by watching this video. We’ll teach you how to maintain and even refurbish your grill to keep those flavors sizzling all season long.

Tools

  • Cooking Grates
  • Burner Cover Bars
  • Warming Rack
  • Starter Switch
  • Cleaner Degreaser
  • Wire Brush
  • Hose
  • Pressure Washer

Steps

  1. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 1

    Turn off gas and disconnect the propane tank.

  2. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 2

    Remove cooking grates and burner cover bars.

  3. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 3

    If they look rusty or there is deep pitting, replace with new ones. If not, soak in warm water and clean with a scouring pad.

  4. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 4

    Remove warming rack. Replace with new one if needed.

  5. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 5

    Inspect the burners. Scrub and clean, or replace.

  6. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 6

    If the holes in the burner are clogged, poke through with a small sharp tool.

  7. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 7

    Scrape inside of grill and hood with a putty knife.

  8. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 8

    Spray with degreaser and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with a hose.

  9. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 9

    Scrub off remaining gunk. Rinse and repeat. Let it dry thoroughly after it’s clean.

  10. How to Refurbish Your Gas Grill - Step 10

    Replace any buttons and functions that have stopped working. Reassemble the grill.


Read Video Transcript

Firing up the grill and throwing on some burgers or steaks is one of the best ways I can think of to spend time enjoying the great outdoors with family and friends. That is, if your grill is ready for the occasion. If your gas grill has seen better days, then maybe it’s time to think about investing a little time, and a little elbow grease, into fixing it up. You’ll be glad you did when you sink your teeth into that juicy steak that’s perfectly cooked, just the way you like it.

Today, we’ll show you how to take your aging gas grill from its current state of disrepair and restore it to almost-like-new condition. First we will give it a good cleaning and then we’ll replace some worn-out parts with new ones that will restore its original flair and sizzle.
So let’s get started.

Any time you’re performing any work or maintenance on a gas grill, even just cleaning it, the first thing you need to do is disconnect the propane tank and remove it as a safety precaution. Double check to make sure the gas is turned off at the tank before doing this.

Next, open the lid and remove the old cooking grates and burner cover bars. If they just need a good cleaning, first soak them in warm soapy water before cleaning them with dishwashing detergent and a scouring pad. However, if you see extensive rust and deep pitting, like you see here, it’s time replace these components for new ones. Since our grill came with porcelain enameled cast iron grates, we’re going to replace them with the same type, along with the burner covers. However, you can also upgrade to stainless steel as an option. Also, take out the warming rack that hangs from the hood of the grill and clean it if possible. Again, if it’s too pitted with rust, don’t bother. Just replace it, as we’re going to do.

Now that the burners are exposed, inspect them closely. If they have been protected by grill cover bars, they are probably still in pretty good shape. Give them a good scouring with steel wool or a wire brush, followed by a scrubbing with an all-purpose cleaner degreaser and brush. If you notice some of the small holes in the burners are clogged, poke them through with a paper clip or a finish nail to open them up. However if they are cracked or rusted through, definitely replace them for new ones as a safety precaution following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Now, scrape the inside of the grill and the hood with a putty knife to remove as much residue away as possible. Then spray it with an all-purpose cleaner and degreaser and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with a hose.

If you have a pressure washer, now is a good time to give the entire grill a good washing inside and out. If not, a garden hose with a soft bristle brush will also work.

Make sure you do this out in the yard to avoid staining your driveway or any other concrete surface. After washing, scrub away any additional grease and grime and repeat. Let it dry thoroughly.

The push button igniter switch quit working last season, so we’re going to replace it as well according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This will make our grill safer to use and a lot more convenient as we won’t have to light it manually any longer. If it’s not working, you might also want to replace the thermometer. Ours still works fine, so we don’t have to worry about that for now.

Now, we’ll install all our new replacement parts and re-install the propane tank.

Turn it on, fire it up, and there you have it. This should give us several more years of good service. And I can already taste those steaks sizzling right now.

If you have questions about this or any other home improvement project, be sure to read our list of Frequently Asked Questions for this video. And be sure to print out our Project Instructions, which includes a Tools and Materials checklist, before visiting your local independent home improvement retailer. That’s where you’ll find all the products and helpful advice to complete your project. If you’re not sure where to find your local store, check out our Store Locator.

Good luck with your project and thanks for watching.

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16 responses to “How to Clean A Gas Grill”

  1. Machin says:

    I am having trouble finding replacement clips for the cooking grates. Mine have rusted and the grates are falling. I have a Chargiller pro 3001. Can you recommend a source so that I can purchase them or is there a DIY solution?

    Thanks–Machin

  2. Griller says:

    Do a Google search for the manufacturer in this case Chargriller and then look for the model of your grill, if they don’t have a list of local dealers available they should have a contact address where you can order the needed parts. You may also be able to get after market replacement parts from the local hardware store or Big Box store such as Walmart,, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

  3. Charlotte says:

    I must say you’ve done a fantastic job with this. Helpful information shared. I am delighted to read this article. Thanks for giving us nice info. appreciate this post.

  4. Ron Bowman says:

    Oven cleaner can also be used in the initial stages of this project if there is not a basin big enough to soak the grills. This has to be done outdoors to avoid the noxious odor the cleaner emits but works great. A thorough rinse is also needed. A coating with with Pam or a similar product extends the period between cleanings somewhat as well. Happy Grilling!

  5. Tom Downey says:

    We bought a Weber gas grill, Spirit E 310 on 8/30/14. We live 3/4 mile from the Atlantic Ocean in St. Augustine Beach, FL. The weather is mild with salt air and we grill out 2 to 3 times a week. We have stainless steel side tables and control panels that are now covered with mild rust. How can we remove the rust without damaging the grill’s appearance? Can we coat them with a protective product to prevent the rust from returning? We bought a grill cover but we seldom use it because of the frequency of using the grill.

  6. David Endres says:

    This is a very helpful video and also it gives us an idea how to keep our gas grill clean and shiny.

  7. Annette says:

    Is oven cleaner safe for removing the black on the sides in the cooking area of the Weber Genesis E330? I have used soap and water and elbow grease with not much improvement.
    (I am not the abuser of this grill)

  8. It was nice that your sharing tips on how to clean a gas grill. I think all in all this was a great information and I liked it very much. I will bookmark your website and link to your post.
    We love seeing true dedication of article writing and we thank you for writing this information.
    Please check out our page Buy Gas Grills- http://topproducts.com/reviews/best-gas-grill.htm.

  9. Never ever get the burner tubes wet, stainless steel wire brush using an up and down motion plus you forgot the cross over tubes on the side.Pressure washers cause more problems than good.You failed to tell us how to clean the outside!This video is almost a complete failure.

  10. People face a lot of issues while cleaning Gas Grills, specially those who have recently bought grills. So, you post is very informative, thanks a ton for sharing vital information.

  11. LoraA says:

    Thank you for this helpfull video!!!!

  12. James says:

    Hi.

    In my experience, many people face issue that how to clean a gas grill. I will recommend this article to my friends. Because you have provided some valuable information in simple words.

    And the video is really useful.

  13. johnson malik says:

    Thankyou for sharing this guide. visit our website to read best floor polish reviews

  14. Dawson says:

    How come I just saw this now! BBQ days are back in the weekend!

  15. Mark says:

    Health concerns are the biggest argument in favor of grill cleaning. Frying by itself is not the healthiest form of cooking. In addition, burnt food residues stuck to the grate are not only carcinogenic, but also create excellent conditions for the reproduction of bacteria. For more information on grill cleaning, visit: https://scrubmygrill.com/

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