Give your BBQ a good scrub and a once-over with these tips from our Vernon appliance store so you can keep your grill running in top shape all summer.
By Natalie Appleton
Spring cleaning doesn’t stop at the back door. Your barbecue, even if it was used throughout the winter, needs maintenance so you can extend its life and enjoy its peak performance throughout the summer. Our Kelowna appliance pros have prepared a handy guide to barbecue cleaning and upkeep.
Step 1: Brush up
Before you tackle cleaning up that beloved but winter-neglected BBQ of yours, make sure you have a stiff bristle wire brush made of brass for deep scraping and a thin, flexible venturi brush for getting into the little nooks and crannies of your BBQ. If you don’t already have both of these brushes, stop in at your local hardware or Kelowna appliance store so you can avoid scratching your BBQ.
Step 2: Suds up
Turn off the barbecue and disconnect it from the fuel source, whether it’s the gas line, a propane tank or an electric plug-in. Have handy a bucket of suds (liquid dish soap and water or a vinegar-water solution) and some newspapers to lay out all the parts (grates, burners, etc.)
First, tackle the inside of the lid and all those layers of grease and ash. You might find it easier to scoop all the soot out with a spatula before washing and rinsing the inside of your BBQ. A bit of vegetable oil will shine the inside right up.
Then, get out that slim venturi brush to clean your fuel lines and any insect friends that might have made a home inside them. It’s worth doing this every few months.
Now, tackle all your components: metal plates, grates burners, flame tamers, etc. Give them a good clean at the start of the season and in regular intervals afterwards, so you can avoid a grease fire.
Step 3: Fire up
It’s almost time for your first grill of the spring. Replace your briquettes or lava rocks, if your BBQ uses them, as well as your grease pan. Spray the grill with cooking oil to keep rust at bay and keep foods from sticking.
Make sure there aren’t any leaks in your gas or propane line by turning off your burner, open the lines and then brush a dish soap water solution on the propane tank joints, valve and hose connections. If the soap bubbles, you probably have a leak. Turn off the gas or propane and replaces valves and hoses as well as re-test for leaks until you’re sure you’ve fixed it.
Now, ignite your BBQ and get out those steaks.
Whether you need appliance repairs, advice you can trust or the best selection of appliances in the Interior, visit Genier’s Appliances in Vernon.