How to Clean the Outside of a Gas Grill

Do you love to grill? Is it hard to imagine a world without grilling? If so, you might want to take a little time to give it a quick clean. Especially if you’re grilling every day, you’d be surprised at how greasy and dirty the outside of a gas grill can get.

Here’s our quick and easy strategy to keep the outside of your gas grill clean and fresh.

If you want to deep clean your grill inside and out, check out the video below.

1. Make a baking soda paste with three parts baking soda and one part water.

Baking soda paste is one of the most effective ways to clean a grill. If you don’t have baking soda, the next best solution is to mix warm water and grease-cutting dish soap.

2. Coat the outside of your grill with the baking soda paste.

You won’t need to coat every inch of the gas grill. Just coat the most greasy parts that are difficult to break down.

3. Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Depending on how greasy the grill is, you may need to wait longer before wiping it clean. Wipe off a small area to see if the grill comes clean. If not, just reapply the paste and wait a little longer.

4. Use a damp cloth to wipe the area clean.

Make sure to wipe off all the baking soda residue before proceeding to Step 5.

5. Spray the grill with stainless steel polish to give it a nice shine and protect it from rust.

Now that your grill is clean, you will get the most out of spraying it with stainless steel polish. The Weiman Stainless Steel Cooktop Cleaner and Polish is a great option. Find it here on Amazon.

6. Dry it with a microfiber cloth.

How do I clean the sides of my grill?

Use a sponge to scrub the side of your grill with dish soap and water. If the stains won’t come off, mix a paste with three parts baking soda and one part water. Coat the paste on the side of your grill and wait about 15 minutes. Then, wipe the grill clean. With stubborn stains, apply vinegar to the baking soda paste before letting it sit. It will help break down the tough grease and baked-on food.

What can I use to clean the outside of my BBQ?

You have a lot of different options to clean the outside of your BBQ. Here are some of our favorites:

Dish soap and warm water
Baking soda paste (three parts baking soda, one part water)
Baking soda and vinegar
Stainless steel cleaner (available on Amazon)

What is the best grill cleaner?

The best grill cleaner is the Citrusafe BBQ Grill Cleaner. It cuts grease with ease on any part of your grill. You can use it for the outside, inside, the grates, burner plates, bottom...you name it!

It will save you so much time that you would otherwise spend scrubbing your grill.

Check out the Citrusafe BBQ Grill Cleaner on Amazon here.

Another popular grill cleaner is the Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish, which you can find on Amazon here.

To browse more effective cleaners for your kitchen, click on the links below.

Check out our recommended kitchen degreaser sprays here.

11 Best Stove Top Cleaners

How often do I clean the outside of my grill?

If you use your grill daily, clean the outside every one to two weeks. If you use the grill three to four times a week, clean it every two to four weeks. If you don’t grill often, clean it every couple of months. Maybe once when you pull it out in the spring and right before you put it away for the fall. If the outside starts to look grimy and greasy, it’s time to clean your grill.

Do you need to clean a BBQ after every use?

No, but it’s best to brush your grill thoroughly after each use. If you do heavy grilling at a cookout or use your grill for hours at a time, you should clean it after each use. If you use your grill daily, clean it every one to two weeks. Otherwise, give it a thorough cleaning about every month.

How to Maintain a Gas Grill (5 Maintenance Tips)

Before grilling, let the grill preheat for 15 minutes to burn off the baked-on food and grease.

It’s best practice before every use to burn off all the excess food on your grill. This also makes it easier to clean. Most of the baked-on food will be ash so you won’t have to worry about scrubbing the grates vigorously.

Invest in a grill cover.

For the cold winter seasons, you probably won’t be using your gas grill too often. Invest in a grill cover to protect it from the elements and keep it in good condition for the next summer.

Brush your grill grates off before grilling.

A grill brush is a must. Brush off your grill thoroughly before every use before putting meat on the grill.

Looking for a durable grill brush? Check out the Cuisinart grill brush on Amazon.

Use a stainless steel polish to protect the gas grill from rust.

When you clean your grill, you might as well apply a polish as well. It keeps your grill shiny and beautiful for years to come. Many grill cleaners double as a cleaner and polish, like this one from Weiman, available on Amazon.

Empty your drip tray every couple of weeks.

Most gas grills have a drip pan or drip tray that catches grease and oil that drips off your grill grates. If you neglect this, you’ll have to deal with a nasty grease-coated tray that will be difficult to clean.

While you’re cleaning your gas grill, remove this tray, dump the excess grease into the trash, and soak it in some warm water and dish soap.