How to Clean an Outdoor Grill

Ron had his old grill for some time, and although it was pretty worn out, he preferred to give rebuilding it a shot rather than replacing it.

The first step in restoring an old barbeque is to get rid of the old grills. Then remove the ceramic briquettes and either set them aside, or throw them away, depending on their condition.

Next, remove the grate that supports the ceramic briquettes. This can become quite deteriorated over time and often needs to be replaced.

The burners underneath the grate can become plugged up from debris and rust, and they can also have big holes in them, created from the fire burning through. In most cases, these burners will also have to be replaced. Even if they are in good shape and you choose to reuse them, you will still need to remove them, to get them out of the way while you clean up the interior of the fire box.

Many grills have an igniter switch that creates the spark that lights the gas and starts the burners. Check to see if this needs to be replaced.

The inside walls of a well used grill is often caked with years of baked on gunk. A flexible putty knife can be used to remove this very quickly. To cut down on the mess, use a shop vacuum to remove lose debris and to catch and dispose of the material as it is loosened with the knife.

After years of being exposed to the outside elements, oxidation often forms on the outside of the grill. A wire brush is the best tool to remove this.

Because most grills are used around a lot of cooking oils and grease, it is a good idea to wipe everything down with denatured alcohol before painting.

Apply masking tape to any areas that you don't want to paint.

Because grills get extremely hot, select a high temp paint that is designed for exposure to extreme heat. Hold the spray can about ten inches from the surface and make long, smooth, overlapping strokes.

Rather than reversing direction at the end of each stroke, move off the edge and momentarily take your finger off the button. This will help prevent drips and runs.

Once you have determined what parts of the grill need to be replaced, you will need to locate a supplier that stocks repair parts for your grill.

Generally all you have to do to install the new burners, is drop the wire through the hole in the bottom of the fire box and slip the end of the burner over the valve. The igniter wires simply push onto terminals at the igniter button.

Check the burners to make sure they are working properly before continuing. The grate sits above the flame and supports the ceramic briquettes.

The final step is to set the new grill in place and you should be ready for a few more years of grilling.

A few hours earlier, Ron's old grill looked like a lost cause but now it looks practically brand new. But what's even more important than how good it looks is how much better it cooks.