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Click, click, click... no flames. Avoid this common barbecue catastrophe by giving your gas grill a thorough cleaning to start off the season. According to the annual Weber GrillWatch Survey, 38 percent of grill owners say they clean their grill only once to a few times a year. Says Weber spokesperson Sherry Bale, "Six percent admit they have never cleaned their grill... yikes!"
Today's gas grills have so many bells, whistles and BTUs that most people are overwhelmed with the task. Just ask David Thiele. He started his own mobile grill cleaning business this year in Colorado Springs to help people handle the dirty deed. If you aren't lucky enough to have Thiele in your neighborhood, take a look at these tips to start your grill off to a good start this season:
Check For Leaks
One of the best collection of tips we've seen on cleaning up a gas grill comes from Lowe's. According to Lowe's home improvement expert, Mike Kraft, your grill is only as good as its parts. In a Lowe's video, Kraft suggests checking for leaking gas lines by coating the fuel line and connections with soapy water, turn the gas on, coat the lines again, then watch for tiny bubbles.
Gauge Your Gas
If you don't have a gas gauge, and don't remember if you have any left in your tank, Kraft suggests pouring warm water over the side of the tank and slide your hand down its side. The spot where you can feel the surface temperature change from warm to cold indicates how much gas you have in the tank.
Clean Up Last Year's Mess
If you didn't clean your grates before putting away your grill last year, it won't be fun to clean them this year. But, there's hope in the form of a homemade remedy. Simply put the caked-on grates in a black or dark color plastic bag, pour a cup of ammonia into the bag, leave the bag in the sun for a day, then open it up and the crud will easily hose off the grills, thanks to solar action. For the inside areas of your grill, Bale suggests using a putty knife to scrape away old residue.
Make Cleaning A Habit
Going forward through the season, clean your grill after each use. Follow tips from the website Gas Grills Now, which suggests this easy cleaning method: Remove cooked food, turn flame to low, brush the grates with a grill brush for a few seconds, turn off burners, let them cool, and only then spray the surface with vegetable oil, which loosens more food from the grates.
Shine Your Stainless
According to the blog, Stainless Steel Grills, there are a lot of do's and don'ts that go along with owning a stainless steel grill. To get that initial shine, it's best to turn to ready-made cleaners you'll find in home improvement and garden stores. For the rest of the season, heed the advice of Stainless Steel Grills' blog: Rinse or clean the surface after each use, then always towel dry. Although the material is durable, it scratches, so never cut food directly on the stainless surface. For more in depth information on maintaining stainless grills, read more on the Stainless Steel Grills blog.
Give It A Paint Job
Bring painted grills back to life by refinishing yours with special high heat paint, according to Lowe's video. Remember to prep the surface first (scrape off loose flakes, then sand) like you would do with any painting project.
There's more to a grill than meets the rib-eye, so when in doubt, always check the owner's manual. If you're lucky enough to own a Weber, you can always call the toll free number (1-800-GRILLOUT) where there are people on call to help you through the mess. With a little bit of early-season elbow grease, you'll be able to keep your grill and guests well fed this summer.