The Gas Grill
Clean Checklist

The full routine from our built-in grill guide on one page. Free. No email. Print it or keep it on your phone.

The routine, in order

Check each step as you go. Works on freestanding grills too; the tray step matters double on a built-in.

1. 01

   Burn off, then cool to warm

   Run the grill 10 minutes with the lid closed to carbonize stuck-on food. Shut it off and let it drop to warm. Cleaning at warm, not screaming-hot, protects your hands and the grates.

2. 02

   Brush the grates bristle-free

   Bristle-free brush or a crumpled foil ball while the grates are still warm. Never a wire brush: one detached bristle in food is an ER trip, and on porcelain-coated grates a metal tool chips the finish.

3. 03

   Pull the grates and heat tents, soak them

   Hot, soapy water in a bucket. Heavy carbon: let a grill degreaser sit on the parts instead of scrubbing the coating off.

4. 04

   Scrape the burner shields, clear the ports

   Blocked ports cause uneven flame and flare-ups. Run a thin wire or a toothpick through each blocked port. No water or liquids inside the burner tube.

5. 05

   Empty and wipe the grease tray

   A full tray is the number-one cause of grease fires. On a built-in, that fire is against your outdoor kitchen structure. Empty it every two to three cooks.

6. 06

   Wipe, reassemble, burn off again

   Wipe the interior, put it back together dry, then run 10 minutes to dry everything out and confirm the burners light evenly with blue flame.

The 30-second pre-cook inspection

Four checks before every cook. Thirty seconds, then cook.

• Grates brushed and bristle-free
• Grease tray empty
• Burner ports clear
• No flare-up fuel pooled under the burners

How often

• Every cook:brush the grates while warm (steps 1 and 2).
• Every 2 to 3 cooks:empty the grease tray (step 5). On a built-in, err on the side of frequency.
• 2 to 3 times a season:the full soak and port clearing (steps 3 and 4), or whenever you notice uneven flames or flare-ups.

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The tools for the job (optional)

The checklist needs nothing but a foil ball. If you want dedicated tools: one grate tool and one degreaser cover the whole routine. Pick the brush or the stones, not both.

• 
  For the grates

  Bristle-free grill brush + scraper

  The Step 2 tool. The coiled head scrubs warm grates with no loose wire bristles to end up in food, and the scraper edge lifts baked-on carbon. You need this or the grate stones below, not both.

  Check it on Amazon →
• 
  For the tray and burners

  Citrusafe grill cleaner

  Steps 3 and 5: the heat tent soak and the grease tray wipe. A food-safe citrus spray that cuts the grease pooling under the burners and fueling flare-ups next to your outdoor kitchen. Apply to a cool grill, let it sit, then rinse.

  Check it on Amazon →
• 
  Swap for the brush

  Maryton Grill Stone Cleaning Brick (3-Pack)

  Prefer scrubbing to brushing? Run one pumice block along each warm (not screaming-hot) bar and it strips carbon with nothing that can shed a bristle. This replaces the brush above on grates; it is not an extra you also need. One block lasts many cleans.

  Check it on Amazon →