I live on the border of suburbia and sprawling farmland. In the years since moving here I’ve noticed that spring cleaning is defined very differently by my rural neighbors versus the ones who don’t rise when the rooster crows. However, there is one chore that both sides seem to share—grill cleaning.
Yesterday’s 50 degree temps appear to have united my neighbors to the left and right. The unseasonably nice weather inspired a grill cleaning marathon. As I drove home I noticed that no less than a dozen of my neighbors were outside scrubbing their grills in anticipation of an evening cookout.
It only takes a few simple steps to clean your grill. Whether you use a commercial spray cleaner or a homemade solution, most grills can be restored to their original shine with a little elbow grease. I’ve experimented with a number of different commercial cleaners over the years, but have found the following work the best on thick, baked-on gunk that adheres to grill grates: Simple Green BBQ Grill Cleaner, Goo Gone BBQ Grill Cleaning Solution, EZ Off BBQ Grill Cleaner. They all spray on and wipe clean. In most cases, the longer you leave the product on, the easier the layers of grease and grime wipe off.
If you are strapped for cash, then consider cleaning your grill with water, white vinegar and a few sheets of aluminum foil. Simply pour two cups of vinegar into a spray bottle then add two cups of water. Shake the bottle vigorously. Next, spray the water/vinegar solution on the racks of the grill, so they are completely saturated. Let the cleaner stand for about 10 minutes then scrub the grill grates with sheets of aluminum foil or a thick cloth. If you wipe the racks thoroughly you won’t have to rinse them.