I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day than to be standing over a barbecue grill full of chicken, pork, beef, and fish just waiting to feed my friends or family.  It truly doesn’t get any better than that.

With the days getting longer and longer, and the weather becoming so much more inviting, barbecues across the country are awakening from their winter hibernation and preparing for the summer barbecue season. If you have not done so already, now is the time to do a few routine checks and preparations which will make your time spent at the barbecue more rewarding, and maybe even a little safer.

Cleaning the inside of your barbecue

I’m a guy, so as much as I hate to say it, the first step to any annual barbecue maintenance is cleaning. It just has to be done!  It’s amazing how much junk can build up in our barbecues during the course of a season, and trust me when I say that it doesn’t taste as good the second time around.  While I believe that a little “seasoning” of a grill/pit is required, there are limits.  Do yourself, and your guests, a favor and clean out the inside.

In reality, the secret to cleaning your barbecue is to do it every time you use it.  The trick is, don't go over the top – besides the fact that a grill/pit should have a little seasoning to it, a coat of natural food oils on the cast iron or steel parts protects them from rust. The  down side is that eventually those oils, fats and burnt-on food will build up excessively and need to be removed or they will impart off flavors to whatever you cook.

Here’s a very important secret to remember, “a warm barbecue is far easier to clean than a cold one.”  If you have a charcoal grill, start a very small fire and let it cool down a bit before starting to clean.  If you have a gas or electric grill, start it up for a short time first, then turn it off and disconnect the gas or electricity before dismantling the entire barbecue to wash all the parts one by one.

It is well worth the couple of buck investment to purchase a grill scraper which is specifically shaped to fit around the grill bars of your barbecue.  Then it is simply a matter of spreading out the grills on some newspaper and scraping them clean with the grill brush.

If you don’t want to invest in a grill specific scraper, just grab a grill stone. These man-made stone blocks are designed to be soft enough to grind to the shape of the grill as you use them, removing grease and burnt-on food as you go. While not quite as effective as a grill specific scraper, this is a great tool as it customizes to your grill shape.

You can use a mixture of warm water, soap, and white vinegar to make a cleaning solution for your grates.  Simple Green also makes an excellent, environment friendly solution called “BBQ, Grill, & Microwave Cleaner” which you can use as well.  After you have scrubbed and cleaned the grates, be sure that all solutions have been removed, and then put on some cooking oil with a paper towel or cloth to start the seasoning process all over again.

If you have a grill with ceramic flame-tamers or cooking grids these should be cleaned with soapy water and a brass wire barbecue brush. The best way to clean these is to soak them in soapy water for an hour before brushing them off.

The outer casing

If your barbecue has a stainless-steel outer casing, then all it will need is a little cleaning. The thing to keep in mind is that harsh cleaners and abrasives shouldn't be used on stainless-steel as they will scratch it.  The best way to clean stainless is to use a mix of soapy water and vinegar. After cleaning the outer casing, it can be buffed with either a little cleaning oil, or a little baby oil. The oil not only removes water marks, but also fingerprints, and will also make it easier to clean next time around.

If you have a non-stainless casing and hood you may have to use an oven cleaner type of product (such as the Simple Green product mentioned earlier) to remove the baked on grease. If things are really caked on, you may have to do this several times scourers and clothes. You should also wash the complete casing thoroughly after cleaning to remove all cleaning solutions.

Removing rust and re-oiling

If your grills and/or burners are cast iron, they may have corroded over winter. It’s important that you scrape off any flaked rust and then give the surface a good scour with a wire brush.  Afterwards, to protect and season, wash all the parts and then spray with cooking oil before they rust up again.

If the outer casing is developing rust spots, you should rub the area with steel wool and then treat it with rust converter before retouching with a heat-resistant paint.

Many older barbecue grills have wood trim shelves that need to be maintained.  These shelves can be kept in good order by re-oiling them once a year. Give them a light sanding and then use outdoor furniture oil to retain their glow and luster. This will not only soak through oil stains on the top of your shelves, but help protect against new ones.

If your grill uses volcanic heating rocks, then it is important that each year they be cleaned thoroughly as they tend to get clogged with grease and oil. You should also empty old sand from the drip tray, clean the tray and give it a spray of vegetable oil before lining it with aluminum foil and placing new sand on top of the foil.

Gas: Keep it working (and safe)

Gas controls and lines can become stiff from winter’s cold, causing them to break. To keep things running smoothly, remove the plastic knobs and spray them with a lubricant like WD-40.

Next, start your grill to see if your burners are functioning correctly. If one or more of your burners doesn't seem to generate a flame then it may be because a gas jet or the jet tube has become clogged (little spiders really love to nest in those tubes.) If these are clogged, turn off the grill and let it cool.  Once cool you should be able to use a small bit of wire to clear the blockage.  If you cannot clear them, you can buy new ones from a local barbecue shop or big box hardware store.

Once you have cleared any blockage you can check all the gas connections by coating them with a 50/50 mix of dishwashing liquid and water. If there is a gas leak you will see bubbles forming in the mixture. If tightening the connections or replacing the seals does not cure the problem, then take you grill in for service before using, as it will be dangerous to use at this point in time.

While this does not cover all situations, if you follow these simple hints and tips, your barbecue will provide you years of service.

Need new parts? 

So you’re in the middle of your spring cleaning and discover that something is worn or broken.  Well here are a couple of links that may help –

Weber Replacement Parts - Gas grills, charcoal grills, water smokers, water pans, charcoal grates.

Brinkman Replacement Parts - Water pans, temperature gauges, heating elements, trays, grates, racks.

Charbroil Replacement Parts - Wire brushes, grill covers, gas grill elements, cleaning liquids, some off-set smoker stuff too.