Summer Prep: Up In Your Grill
Did you know that it's May is National BBQ Month? That's right whole month of May is devoted to lazy Saturday afternoons grilling and relaxing with friends. Since May is right around the corner I thought it might be time to give your grill a little clean up. Even if you were smart a thoroughly cleaned your grill before tucking it away for the winter, you still want to prep it before use. You can't have a great BBQ with a dirty grill. More than likely your grill came with cleaning instructions, so consult those before doing anything. For those of you with second hand grills this is the checklist that I follow. You can also check out Home Depot and Mighty Flame for hints and tips on summer grill maintenance.
Shut It Down - Turn all the dials to the off position. Disconnect the Propane tank. Wait till grill is completely cooled.
Take It Off - Remove the grates, and metal plates beneath them. Place in buckets of hot water mixed with dish soap. Rubbermaid tubs work best for larger grills.
Trash - For charcoal grills dispose of any charcoal. All grills have removable drip pans, dump into trash. Place all pans into your soaking tubs.
Protect It - Clean heating elements with grill brush gently. Once cleaned cover the heating elements with foil to protect them.
Scrub - Take a grill brush and scrub the hood of the grill, and inside walls. Periodically wipe the walls and hood down with a damp paper towel.
Scrub & Rinse - Remove plates and grates from the bucket and begin to scrub them with a grill brush. Once sufficiently scrubbed rise off with hose. Dry with dish cloth.
Put It Together - Replace the plates, grates, and drip pans. Wipe down grill exterior with stainless steel wipes.
Tank Wipe - Inspect the propane tank. Wipe dirt and foreign material from the top of the tank around the gas valve and from the gas valve itself with a rag.
Fuel System Check - Always inspect the gas line, connections, and propane cylinder for damage, rust, and corrosion before restarting the grill. Reconnect your propane tank to the grill and test the connections for leaks by brushing them with a solution of mild hand soap and water. Avoid using dish soap or window cleaner containing ammonia as it will corrode brass fittings. After checking for leaks, rinse thoroughly with clean water. Turn on the gas. If bubbles appear or the distinctive “rotten egg” smell of gas is present, turn off the gas and tighten the connections. Wait three minutes, then do the test again. If the bubbles or smell continues, shut off the gas and call your local propane supplier. If the Fuel check goes ok it’s time to start grilling.