How to Clean your Char-Broil Gas Grill

No one wants to clean their grill, but taking the time for a quick scrub down regularly will make it last longer and keep it looking good. Not to mention, your food will taste better as well. Follow this step-by-step guide that takes you through how to clean your gas grill.

How to Clean Your Gas Grill

Safety

Before doing anything else, make sure the propane tank or natural gas source is turned off and disconnected.

Disassemble

Thoroughly cleaning your grill will require removing some parts. Start by cleaning the interior: spread newspapers or a tarp over your work area to help keep it clean.

Hot Tip: You will have to take your grill apart to clean it thoroughly. So, you need to know how to put it back together. You can take pictures of the order and placement of parts for reassembly. But, we recommend that you refer to your assembly manual. If you can't find your manual, visit your grill's product page to download it.

Clean Your Grates

There are two options for cleaning your grates, depending on whether you want a light clean or deep clean. Before starting, you should heat the grill for 10-15 minutes on high heat before turning it off to burn off any bits of food that might be stuck.

Option 1:

1. When your grates are cool, use the Char-Broil Cool-Clean Brush to remove any food residue gently. 
2. Spray the grates and warming rack with the Char-Broil Grate Cleaner, holding the spray approx 8-12 inches from the surface of the grates. Allow the product to sit for 3-5 minutes to penetrate the grease.
3. Scrub with the grates again and wipe them thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth.
4. Apply a light coating of high-temp cooking oil and place the clean, oiled grates and emitters back on the grill.

Option 2:

1. Scrub the grates with the Char-Broil Cool-Clean Brush to remove any food residue.
2. Remove the (porcelain-coated) grates and wash thoroughly in warm soapy water with a sponge. Try soaking them in vinegar and baking soda if your grates are still dirty after scrubbing. 
3. Rinse well and dry thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth. 
4. Apply a light coating of high-temp cooking oil and place the clean, oiled grates and emitters back on the grill.

Clean Your Emitters (TRU-Infrared Grills ONLY)

If you have a Tru-Infrared grill, you will also need to clean your emitter plates. Use the cleaning tool that came with your grill.

1. Insert the pronged end into the recessed wells of the emitter plate. Scrape the plate in a back and forth motion to remove stuck-on debris from one end to the other.
2. Scrub the emitters with the Char-Broil Cool-Clean Brush to remove any food residue. Then scrape off any debris that's left using the TRU-Infrared™ cleaning tool.
3. Remove emitters from the grill and clean in warm soapy water using a sponge.
4. Wipe with a dry cloth and place the clean emitters and grates back on the grill.

Remove Grease Stains

If you have stubborn grease stains, resist the urge to use abrasive cleaners that could scratch the finish. Instead, follow these steps:

1. Pour baking soda on grease stains.
2. Use a spray bottle filled with water to wet the baking soda.
3. Wait 20 minutes. Then wipe clean with a sponge and dry thoroughly.

Season Your Grates & Emitters

Washing your grill grates with soap and water removes oil from the surface, so you need to re-season them each time to prevent rusting and food build-up:

1. Using tongs and a folded paper towel, apply a light coating of cooking oil to the grill grates and emitters (TRU-Infrared grills ONLY).
2. Turn the gas back on and fire up every burner to medium heat.
3. Close the lid and wait 30 minutes for the seasoning process to be complete.

Your grill is ready to use

Now that your grill is nice and clean, protect it with a grill cover! 

Maintain its state by giving the interior a deep clean once a month and scrubbing or brushing the grates after each use. Exteriors shouldn't need cleaning as often, but sometimes it's easier to clean the exterior while you're at it.

Source: Char-Broil