There are many reasons to clean your grill, attracting pests, dangerous grease flare ups, excessive smoking just to name a few. I have been able to keep my Weber Genesis ii gas grill clean and ready to use with a few very easy steps. My gas grill is outside exposed to the elements all year long. I am on a carnivore diet so I use my grill daily. With daily use it is very difficult to use a cover. You have to let it cool down before covering it and than uncover again the next day. It gets old fast. After a few months of hard use my gas grill needs a proper deep cleaning. I usually do a deep clean 1-2 times a year as needed. If you keep your gas grill indoors and manage to keep it fairly clean than this frequency might be overkill for you. If you are like most people and keep your gas grill outdoors than you will definitely benefit from a good thorough yearly cleaning. I have been grilling my whole life and plan to grill for many more years so I have to have a good process to clean the grill. If you have not already watched it I highly recommend watching my:
How to clean a gas grill tutorial video.
My pressure washer system A great tool for cleaning. This low pressure electric pressure washer system is perfect for delicate work.
Links to every product used in the video on Amazon
Exterior Grill Cleaning
All Purpose Cleaner Degreaser: This all purpose cleaner is easy to apply and provides great suds, lubrication and cleaning power. Get a gallon and save some money. Use a high quality sprayer to apply. I have some listed below.
32 oz spray bottle A great all purpose cleaner in ready to use spray bottle. This does not require diluting with water.
Gallon Gallon Size bottle. Should be diluted to match the level of cleaning needed. Very economical.
Sprayer Systems: My favorite way to apply the cleaner to the exterior of the gas grill is with a foam cannon. This does require a pressure washer kit. You can also use a spray bottle, garden sprayer or a bucket. All these methods will produce good results. Here is a list of high quality sprayer options.
Large garden pump spray bottle Used for mixing large batches of all purpose cleaner from a gallon size container.
Medium pump spray bottle This is a great all around sprayer. I use this for mixing medium batches of all purpose cleaner from a gallon size container.
Spray trigger bottles Good economical spray bottles for applying all purpose cleaner or misc. use.
Foam cannon high end version My favorite method. Very easy to get full coverage with the least amount of work. Used to apply all purpose cleaner, You need a pressure washer system to use this method.
Foam cannon economical version Used to apply all purpose cleaner, You need a pressure washer system to use this method.
Wash Towels:
Premium quality all purpose microfiber towels Used to wash delicate surfaces. High quality microfiber towels last longer and are less likely to scratch delicate surfaces.
Directions:
Mix a 1:1 dilution or 50% product to 50% Water. This mix is strong enough to cut through grease and grime but not strong enough to damage the surface. Apply with a sprayer over the entire exterior surface of the gas grill. This should ideally be done in the shade but can be done in direct sunlight if careful. Let it dwell for a few minutes but do not let it dry. Dwell time should vary based on temperature and sun exposure. Agitate surface with a high quality microfiber towel to remove dirt and grime. Rinse off the towel as needed to avoid dragging dirt around the surface as this can scratch delicate stainless steel or paint. When cleaning is complete rinse the entire grill to remove any cleaning product from the surface.
Interior Grill Cleaning. Inside the cook box.
You need a high quality food safe cleaner to clean the interior of the grill. The cook box gets loaded with grease and can attract pest or become a fire hazard. A good cleaner should be non toxic, powerful enough to cut through grease but not damage the grill, easy to use and affordable. Here is what I have been using and it works well.
Grill Safe BBQ Cleaner Non Toxic. Used inside the cook box to cut through heavy grease without health concerns.
Brushes
Larger Head Stiff Bristle Brush Used for larger areas while cleaning.
Small Head Stiff Bristle Brush Used to get into the tighter areas while cleaning.
Small Head Soft Bristle BRASS Brush Used to get into the tighter stubborn areas while cleaning. Only use if needed as this can scratch surfaces.
Directions:
Disassemble the interior of the grill. Remove all the components and place them on a surface where we can clean them. Rinse out the interior of the grill with a pressure washer or hose. If you are using a pressure washer be sure to keep the tip far enough away that you do not damage the paint or surface. High power gas powered pressure washers are powerful enough to do damage if you are not careful. After a good rinse spray a thick coat of the grill cleaner over the entire interior of the cook box. Let it dwell as long as possible but do not let it dry. Use your brushes to agitate the surface as needed to remove the grease and grime. Always use the least aggressive brush that easily gets the job done. This will avoid any unnecessary damage. Rinse out the cook box and leave open to dry. Repeat the process with the internal components. I do not clean the burner tubes although with care this can be done also. A dry brush to remove debris is usually enough.
Stainless steel cleaner
Now that we have the grill clean there may be some tough embedded contamination that requires a bit more teeth. This slightly abrasive stainless steel cleaner works amazing.
Stainless Steel Deep cleaner Slightly Abrasive. Great for removing embedded spots & Stains. Use with the grain and test first in a inconspicuous area.
Premium quality all purpose microfiber towels Used to apply sealant to delicate surfaces, High quality microfiber towels are less likely to scratch delicate surfaces.
Directions:
This is a spot cleaning product and should be used in small areas as needed. Test in an inconspicuous area to learn the product. Apply a small amount of product to a high quality microfiber towel. Gently work the product in the direction of the stainless steel grain. This minimizes any appearance of marring or scratching. This is an abrasive so it should only be used when other methods have failed. This stuff works amazing. Test in an inconspicuous area to learn the product.
Stainless steel polish and coating
After the cleaning it is a very wise choice to protect the surface. Adding a good layer of protection makes it difficult for contamination to adhere to the surface. This makes future clean ups way easier. Good surface protection leaves the surface ultra slick to the touch and very hydrophobic. There are different levels of protection. A ceramic coating can last quite a while when compared to spray on polish. A spray on polish needs to be reapplied more regularly.
Stainless Steel Ceramic Coating Online Store or Amazon High Heat Long Lasting Metal Coating, Great for anything Stainless Steel.
Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish My Favorite Brand, Great for in house stainless steel appliances also.
Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish My 2nd Favorite Brand, Great for stainless steel appliances also.
Premium quality all purpose microfiber towels Used to apply sealant to delicate surfaces, High quality microfiber towels are less likely to scratch delicate surfaces.
Directions:
Ceramic coating: Using a high quality microfiber towel apply a dab of coating to the towel and spread around a 12”x12” section. Allow to dwell until it starts to have a slight haze. Use a second clean dry towel to buff to a shine. Repeat around the stainless steel covering a area at a pace that you are comfortable with. Always work products in the direction of the stainless steel grain. Take your time and it is easy.
Polish: Spray product on the surface of the stainless steel and wipe to a shine with a high quality microfiber towel. Do not let it dry or haze before wiping clean. You should instantly see improved gloss and slickness. Always work products in the direction of the stainless steel grain.
Surface Protection
Protecting the painted surfaces is a must. Adding a good layer of protection makes it difficult for contamination to adhere to the surface. This makes future clean ups way easier. Good surface protection leaves the surface ultra slick to the touch and very hydrophobic. There are different levels of protection at different price points. Below are my favorites.
Ultra high quality sealant For the painted surfaces. Ultra high quality spray protection for paint, leaves the paint very slick and very hydrophobic. Highest durability.
Medium quality sealant For the painted surfaces. Medium quality and price point spray protection for paint, leaves the paint slick and hydrophobic. Medium durability.
Premium Plush Microfiber Towels Used to apply sealant to delicate surfaces, High quality microfiber towels are less likely to scratch expensive surfaces.
Microfiber Towel detergent Save those filthy towels with this special microfiber towel detergent designed to bring a used towel back to life.
Directions:
Spray product on the surface. Buff to a shine with a high quality microfiber towel. You should instantly see improved gloss and slickness. Work in small areas until you learn the product and process. Super easy.
Misc. items
Microfiber Towel detergent Save those filthy towels with this special microfiber towel detergent designed to bring a used towel back to life.
Rubber Gloves When using cleaning chemicals always protect your skin with quality gloves.
Grill Replacement Parts
Aftermarket replacement parts Great quality replacement parts for most grills.
FAQ ANSWERS: ** Thoroughly rinse and do a 15-20 minute empty burn after cleaning your grill. This will minimize any chance of moisture and or cleaning products being left in the grill. This cleaner is designed for BBQ's and is biodegradable. Use caution when using other off label cleaners.
** Rust caused from wetting the gas grill during cleaning is not a problem considering the grill is designed to be outside exposed to the elements all year long. It is more important to have a clean healthy grilling experience.
** Cleaning your gas grill does remove some of the "seasoning" but it is far more important to be cleaned if your grill has been contaminated by pests or food droppings that have been left in there for long periods of time. Having a sanitary cooking area wins in my opinion. Other threats are having a grease fire or just smoking out the area like crazy. I deep clean my gas grill 1 time a year to prevent all these concerns. Adjust cleaning intervals for you situation.
** After cleaning my gas grill there is virtually no mess on the ground to clean up. It also does not affect the grass or anything else in my yard. In Hawaii I am far more concerned about products getting into streams or into the ocean. The products I use are biodegradable.
** If the burners end up getting wet its not the end of the world. Mine have drippings and grease all over them from normal use. They also have been cleaned several times over that last few years and are still in perfect condition. I suspect they will last for many more years with proper care. They are also replaceable for a reasonable price should they fail at some point.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if any of these links are not working properly Jeremy@HawaiiDetailing.com
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