Are you planning a cookout or a family reunion? Cleaning your BBQ grills is a huge part of cooking tasty food and making your guests happy. We have you covered with this magic way to clean them. You will thank us later for it.
It is not going to take a lot of your time. Learn the benefits of grilling, how to keep your BBQ sparkling clean and ready for your backyard party. Put safety first and keep your cooking space spotless.
Why do I prefer using a BBQ grill?
Especially in the summer, cooking with BBQ gives me a holiday and festive feeling. In fact, I love to BBQ for so many reasons. Instead of being in a hot kitchen, I can enjoy grilling in my backyard.
Always enjoy being outdoors and spend more time in the sun. The grill adds a specific smoky flavor to the meals and makes them special.
Besides, outside of marinating the meat, BBQing takes little planning and time. It is a healthy way to diversify your meal plan and add some grilled veggies to the plate.
Benefits of grilling
- it takes less time to prepare
- food tastes great
- provides quality time with the family
- great for a party outdoors
- helps spend time outdoors
- adds diversity into your menu
- improves your cooking skills
- helps cook healthier meals
It is also healthy. You can grill veggies, bread, meat, and fish. Eating at home saves money and tastes better. The main thing with grilling is that fat melts off. It is a lot healthier than frying. Moreover, when you cook the meat at a BBQ, it is a lot juicier and satisfying. Also, it comes with this specific smoked flavor.
Why should you clean your BBQ grills?
If you don’t have the habit to clean your grill, this can lead to accumulating excess grease. It is possible to cause a fire later on. You should clean your BBQ grills to help them last longer and cook better. Moreover, it reduces the chance of fire.
Are you hosting a party this weekend? You want to make a good impression, right? Well, a tidy, shiny, and sparkling clean BBQ grill is the one that you should use for your backyard family gathering or a weekend party. It is simple when you know how to clean it properly and maintain it clean for a longer time.
Benefits of a clean BBQ grill
- the grill will last longer
- the grill will cook better
- removes harmful carcinogens
- reduces the chance of fire
A clean barbecue is an attractive view! It shows care and gives your guests the feeling that the food they eat is safe. Also, it shows that you maintain your kitchen tools and utensils. It can tell a lot about your character and cleaning habits.
Dirty grills tend to accumulate bacteria that can cause disease. It is not healthy, and the food may get contaminated. There are food particles that stay on the grill and can get into your food.
Don’t allow you or some of your guests to get sick because of your dirty grills. Here is how I get my BBQ grills sparkling clean with minimal effort. Ammonia is the “magic” ingredient that makes cleaning easier.
Supplies
Techniques to keep your BBQ grill clean
Scrape any food left on the grill. You can rub the cooking surface with a large piece of onion. It will help to get rid of burnt-on food. You can also use a wire brush. Using a grill cover will prolong the life of your grill. It prevents the grill from getting rusty.
Grilling safety tips
When you use the BBQ grill, have in mind these several tips and make sure your use it the right way and carefully.
- Always use the grill outside.
- Beware not to burn yourself.
- Keep the little children away from the grill.
- Make sure your grill is on a flat surface.
- Never leave your grill unattended.
- Wear appropriate clothing – gloves and a cooking apron.
- Always clean your grill after use.
- Never use the same kitchen platters and utensils for raw and cooked meat.
- To prevent charring, remove the fat that can cause a flare-up.
Make sure you store your products the right way. To prevent foodborne illness, never use the same kitchen tools for raw and cooked meat. Keep everything clean and safe.
What is the magic ingredient for cleaning your BBQ grills?
Even if I heat the BBQ, brushing the hot grill can’t get all the leftover gunk off. A couple of times a year, I like to give them a good deep clean with as little effort as possible on my part. Hello, household ammonia!
Here is how I get my BBQ grills sparkling clean with minimal effort. Ammonia is the “magic” ingredient that makes cleaning easier.
How to clean your BBQ grills – the magic way?
Pour 1 cup ammonia in a thick garbage bag, place your BBQ grates inside the bag and seal tightly. I used a rubber band to seal my garbage bag. You should seal the bag tightly. It is the fumes from the ammonia that loosens all the gunk on your grates. If you do not seal your garbage bag tightly the fumes will escape, and your grill will be a lot more difficult to clean.
Because ammonia is a toxic substance to animals, grass, and plants, I made sure the bag is sealed tight enough that no ammonia would leak out and cause any harm to the surrounding environment.
Be careful to turn your face away when you open your garbage bag the next day. The fumes will be strong and can make your eyes burn. Remove your grills from the bag, scrub them lightly if needed and rinse them off until cleaning begins. Thank you Life 123 for inspiring such a great cleaning method.
Proper disposal of ammonia
For proper disposal of ammonia, the Poison Control Center recommends disposing of it down a sink where there is plenty of ventilation, such as a garage sink. If you do not have a garage sink, Poison Control recommends opening a window(s) near the sink you are using for 10 to 15 minutes.
You also have the option of taking your ammonia to the nearest hazardous waste center and having them dispose of it for you. (The girl at Poison Control Center asked me if this method works. I told her “Yes.” She was excited to go home and give it a try!)
What types of food can you grill on a BBQ?
It is time to get your grill on! Grilling is not just for the main course. You can also grill appetizers, side dishes, and desserts. The best part is I usually use fewer pots and pans, which makes cleaning up faster. That only leaves one thing – cleaning the BBQ grills.
I usually brush the grills and clean them right after cooking the meat. But every so often, I forget. And the next time I open my grill, I will find a mess.
Tips for having the perfect BBQ backyard party
First of all, clean your BBQ grills. Make sure you follow the steps explained in this article. Then plan and organize your party.
These tips will guarantee you host the best family reunion ever! Keep your menu simple. For example, you can include hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, appetizers, desserts, veggies, and cool drinks on your menu. Think of some games that your guest can enjoy while you grill the food.
Play some good music and let your guests enjoy the lovely food!
Provide:
- clean BBQ grill
- tasty and nutritious food
- cool drinks
- good music
- cozy and comfortable pillows
- table cloths
- table decorations
- pretty backyard lighting
- outdoor party games
Prepare some of the food before the guests arrive. This way, it will be less stressful for your to host the party. Make homemade lemonades of other fizzy drinks. Use table cloths, pillows, decorations, string lights to make the atmosphere cozier, relaxed, and friendly.
Think of some party games for even more family fun and quality time spent outdoors. It will keep the grandkids busy for a while and will add to the excitement.
In conclusion
Are you planning a family reunion? Make sure you clean your BBQ grills, first. Think about the health issues that may occur if you neglect your cleaning habits and do not take care of your BBQ grills. It is the same with all the kitchen equipment you use.
In short, the food needs to be prepared with clean and safe kitchen tools. Cleaning your BBQ grills will help you reduce the chance of fire. Also, it prolongs the life of your grills and makes the food taste better. Use this “magic” way to clean it with minimum effort and enjoy your BBQ time!
There is only one thing you should do once your BBQ is sparkling clean – get grilling! Here are our top BBQ recipes to help get you started.
Appetizers
Mango BBQ Brisket and Brie Quesadillas
Glazed Ham and Pineapple Kabobs
Main Course
Applesauce BBQ Chicken
Stuffed Flank Steak Kabobs
Grilled Flatbread with Chorizo & Peppers
Grilled Hawaiin Chicken
Bacon Pineapple Burgers
Spiral Hot Dogs
Grilled Potatoes and Asparagus with Basil and Parmesan
Dessert
Campfire Banana Boats
Campfire Eclairs
Did you like our article about cleaning BBQ grills? You have to read these other cleaning tips here:
- The magic way to clean your windows
- Clean your iron the magic way
- Spring clean bathroom like a pro in 2 minutes
- Magic silver cleaner
- Best cleaning tips on Pinterest
Ruth,
You are welcome! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Enjoy your clean grill! Tracy – The Middle Child
I did it almost exactly the same way except rather than us a toxic chemical I just poured a bottle of Coke in the trash bag with my grill.
Chris,
Great idea, I remember cleaning a penny with coke when I was a kid. Makes sense that this would also work on BBQ grills, it’s a great solution for those who do not want to use ammonia. Thanks for sharing! Tracy
My husband just put ours on the grass & used the pressure washer . They came nice & clean as well as a lot quicker & no toxic fumes.
Just a quick note that coke is actually very toxic. Do you know that you need a hazchem licence, truck driver and hazchem vehicle to transport the coke syrup.
Heidi,
No, I was not aware you need a hazchem license and hazchem vehicle to transport coke syrup! I think the important thing to remember with both household ammonia and/or coke is to rinse your grills thoroughly after you take them out of the bags. Thanks for the good info, so glad you are one of our readers! Tracy
I drove for Coke in the 90’s, and we weren’t required to have hazmat….maybe things have changed.
It might work – but realize that Coca cola IS a toxic chemical too.
Use it to clean the residue off your automobile batteries.
Coca Cola is not a toxic chemical. It may contain ingredients that would be considered toxic in sufficient quantities or concentration but then table salt would be too. Coke does contain phosphoric acid. Perfectly safe in small quantities but not something you’d want to drink straight up. It’s only due to the concentration that a HazMat endorsement is required for a truck driver to transport the flavorings. I’ve hauled it myself. Ammonia is not the only method that works but it is easy. By volume, ammonia is cheaper than coke so if you want to use a more expensive method, go right ahead. Another poster said they use a pressure washer. Most people don’t own a pressure washer. Everyone can go to the store and buy ammonia. Another method that will work is to put the grate in your oven and turn on the self cleaning feature if your oven has that.
Tracy…..how much amonia do I need to use?
Hi Karen!
Use one full cup of ammonia, seal the bag tightly and leave it in the sun all day. That should do the job! Thanks for following us, Tracy
So, so helpful! I’m in desperate need of this. Thanks so much for sharing. I love grilling season, don’ you? Have a wonderful day, and Happy Mother’s Day this weekend!
Brooke,
Sounds like your BBQ grill looked similar to mine before cleaning it! I do love the grilling season, it’s so great to be with friends and family. Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Thank you so much Tracy! I just told my hubby to try this! Does the garbage bag have to be white? Can he just use those regular black garbage bags?
Lillian,
You are so welcome! Any regular garbage bag will work just fine. Have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend 🙂
Thanks…he’ll be trying this one soon! =D
What an awesome tip!
If ammonia fumes are so toxic and harsh you need to shield your face and eyes, I’m not sure having them on a surface you cook food on is wise…
Kaitie,
Thanks for your comment. The fumes from the ammonia are stronger than normal because the sealed garbage bag sits in the sun all day. By turning your face away when opening the garbage bag and throughly rinsing off your BBQ grills, you will avoid any adverse effects from the ammonia. However, some people choose not to use this method because they do not care for the strong smell of ammonia. Have a great weekend! Tracy – The Middle Child
What a fantastic tip!! I found you over at Thursday’s Treasures. I can’t believe cleaning your grill grate can be so easy. I’m pinning this and will definitely be giving it a try soon! Thanks!
Debbie
Debbie,
Thanks for stopping by and pinning this to your boards! Have a great summer grilling season! Tracy – The Middle Child
I’m not sure if using ammonia is a good idea as it seems to be quite toxic, both to the environment and yourself. See here: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/ammonia_general.htm
It may not be a good idea to use this to clean something you plan to cook your food on!
MMB,
Thanks for your comment. I read through the information and did some further research. Household ammonia cleaning solutions are manufactured by adding ammonia gas to water and can be between 5 and 10% ammonia. If you store and use the proper safety precautions with household ammonia (5 and 10%) it can be used without any toxic effects. By rinsing your BBQ grills thoroughly all of the ammonia can and will be removed. As an added safety precaution you could turn your BBQ on high for 5 minutes before cooking on the grill surface.
Have a great week! Tracy – The Middle Child
Ammonia is very strong and will take your breath away. Full strength is quite harsh, I wouldn’t use it.
Tammy,
You are not the only person who prefers not to use ammonia. I am currently researching a non-ammonia cleaning method. I’ll have it up next week. Thanks for stopping in. Tracy – The Middle Child
Does the ammonia hurt the grass when you rinse everything off?
Hi Lisa!
Yes, the ammonia will damage your grass. I rinsed mine off over the drainage pipe on my driveway. I rinsed with a large amount of water to avoid any discoloration to the driveway. Enjoy your clean BBQ grills! Tracy – The Middle Child
This is the best way! Only the fish and waterways will get damaged, not your lawn.
Hi BillTheCat,
Great to hear this method works so well for you! If you dilute the ammonia with water from your hose while disposing of it, the damage is very minimal if any. Hope you have a great summer, Tracy
This method also works wonderful for oven racks and you don’t need to put it in the sun so it can be done anytime of year. I also like to use a glass jar to hold the ammonia. Just put the rack or grate in the bag and place jar on top of the rack.. It makes removal & disposal of the ammonia much easier. Just be careful undoing the bag, like the post said, those fumes are nasty. I also wear rubber globes while doing this.
Judi,
The glass jar is a great idea! Thanks for sharing with us. Tracy – The Middle Child
I just fill a plastic bin with hot water, dawn dish soap and 2 dryer sheets. i leave it over night and it wipes clean. 😉
Jody,
Thanks for sharing this method to clean BBQ grills. This is a good option for anyone who doesn’t want to use ammonia!
Have a great day! Tracy – The Middle Child
I really like the hot water and dawn dish soap with the dryer sheets. I will be trying this method.
Tammy,
We would love to hear how this worked for you! Please come back and comment with your results. This looks like a great option for anyone who does not like using mmonia. Good Luck! Tracy – The Middle Child
IT REALLY WORKS! THANKS
Molly,
Glad to hear that you had great results. Thanks for stopping by! Tracy – The Middle Child
Does this work on all types of BBQ grills? Example. Cast iron?
Kayleemae,
I did some research, and yes you can use this method on cast iron. Just be sure to re-season after each cleaning. Tracy – The Middle Child
You can.also use oven cleaner. After wiping.it.off, wash wish soap & water and then a 30 min soak in a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. The vinegar soak neutralizes any lye that may have been missed while washing. This is one method of restoring cast iron.
Jess,
Thanks for sharing this great option for cleaning a cast iron BBQ grill. Always season cast iron after a deep clean! Tracy – The Middle Child
Thanks for adding another chore to my husband’s honey do list for tomorrow!!
Beth,
You are so welcome, glad to help anyway we can! Tracy – The Middle Child
I would make two recommendations for this tutorial:
1) At the very least, people dealing with chemicals like ammonia in quantities large enough to splash you should be wearing splash goggles to protect your eyes. If it was me using this tutorial, I would also wear a dual-cartridge mask rated for vapour protection, both goggles and masks can be bought at most hardware stores. Protecting your eyes and lungs is really important and a few mins of extra protection really makes a difference.
2) Please try to limit the chemicals you dump on your lawn, as all those chemicals go straight to stormdrains and other water pipe systems that are NOT processed or cleaned before they go into natural bodies of water like rivers, lakes and streams that animals and plants depend on. Dispose of chemicals properly, the best place is the sink but you should definitely consult with your local waste management authority to have them advise you what is the most environmentally-friendly and responsible way to dispose of your chemicals.
Christine,
Thanks for your comments. I contacted the Poison Control Center for their recommendations on safety precautions and disposal of household ammonia. PPC recommends wearing safety glasses and gloves when using ammonia. They do not recommend a dual-cartridge mask rated for vapor protection, but did comment that it would provide another layer of protection.
Disposing of ammonia should be in a well ventilated sink, ie. garage sink. If you do not have a garage sink it is recommended opening several windows closest to the sink that you are using for 10 to 15 minutes. I took the picture of my trash bag with the ammonia and BBQ grills on the grass to get a nice picture for the post. However, I used proper disposal methods for the ammonia to avoid any harm to the environment or water supply. I’ve updated my post with this information to clear up any confusion regarding use and disposal of household ammonia.
Have a great weekend! Tracy – The Middle Child
Hey Tracey! Thanks for the follow-up and for amending your tutorial 🙂 I sometimes use my gas mask in situations where it’s not strictly necessary as it keeps me in the habit of using a mask during chemical-related activities and thus it’s less likely I’ll forget in the future but you may have a better memory than I do 🙂 Best of luck in your future DIY tutorials.
Christine,
You are welcome, we always appreciate comments and input from our followers! We had several followers comment with concerns about the use of ammonia. So I did some research and found a chemical free option for cleaning your BBQ grills that will post tomorrow. Have a great week and thanks again for your input. Tracy – The Middle Child
an easier way to clean your grill is to also throw the grills out into the yard at night and let the dew work on it through the night…the next morning, wash them. I have done this and it works great without any fumes or chemicals.
So it is the fumes that clean the grates or the elbow grease or do you saturate the grates?
Hi Jennifer,
Yes, the fumes from the ammonia do the work for you! You only need 1 cup of ammonia in your trash bag to do the job. Enjoy your clean BBQ! Tracy – The Middle Child
My mom (now 83) has been using ammonia for as long as I remember
to clean stove & oven parts in garbage bags & now so do I – I confess I never thought about doing it with the grill plates – thanks for making the light bulb go on!
Joan,
You are so welcome! Glad we could “shed come light” on using ammonia to clean your BBQ grill plates. How wonderful you still have your mom here at 83 🙂 Have a great week! Tracy – The Middle Child
Such nice idea… Thank you so much, your idea is really great, the only thing is the pics are distorted :((
Andrea,
Thanks, and we are working on getting the pictures corrected! We should have it fixed in the next few days. Have a great weekend Tracy – The Middle Child
We will be trying this.better than easy off oven cleaner which I have been doing for years.thanks again
Dawn,
You are welcome, so glad you stopped in! Happy grilling! Tracy – The Middle Child
Does this work if there is a hint of rust on the cast iron grates?
I had some rust on my BBQ grills and it worked just fine! Happy BBQing – Tracy – The Middle Child
Jamie,
Just got my jar of your soft scrub and can’t wait to try it out! Thank you so much! Tracy – The Middle Child
Hi, Tracy! Just checking in to see how you liked the Soft Cleaning Scrub? Did you ever receive the e-mails I sent? It sounded like I was being spammed. 🙂 -Jamie, Mrs. Jones’ Soapbox. jamie at mrsjonessoapbox dot com
Jaime,
I loved the soft cleaning scrub! I emailed you yesterday with a few questions and look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day! Tracy
Ammonia is common component of fertilizer. It’s the strength you have to be mindful of. If you add water to the bag to dilute it you can dump it right out. Your plants will thank you.
I have rinsed it out on the grass with no problem to my plants. This is great input. Thanks for sharing your insights!
Sunday bbq is ready!
Enjoy your dinner! Tracy – The Middle Child
If you’re in a hurry, Crumple up a piece of aluminum, squirt with a degreaser and scrub the grill
Flora,
That’s a cleaning method I haven’t heard of before. Our grill is getting a lot of use this summer and could use a quick clean right now. Thanks for the great idea. Tracy
Why do people on Pinterest always comment BEFORE they try an idea. It would be MUCH more helpful if they would comment AFTER they try a suggestion!!!! It seems that all of Pinterest followers do this and it defeats the helpfulness of this site!
Carol,
Thanks so much for commenting. We love followers like you who appreciate our work! Hope you are having an awesome summer!
because they should be cleaning the house instead of pecking around pinterest and face book and and and……..and why is it so many get the husband to clean the grill.
I have been using this method to clean my oven rack for years..
got the tip from Heloise in the sunday paper..
Mary,
So glad you stopped by and commented. Funny how some of the older cleaning methods are still the best! Have a great week! Tracy – The Middle Sister
You should not use any cleaning liquids on your grill. Cleaning liquids remove the coating of your grill and it makes grilling harder. Real grillers either use water and elbow grease or pre clean i during the prheat stage. The heat of the grill helps tremendously.
Thanks for the tip! It looks great.
Gerard,
Glad I could be of help! Tracy – (the middle sister)
I have used the soap method many times. I had
a cleaning service and one of my customers told me. Really works.
Awesome, Cathy! Enjoy your clean grill!
I just put my bbq grills in the self cleaning oven and 4 hours later Presto they look new again, no chemicals needed. Worked great.
So glad to hear it!
A much easier was is to take the grills and put them in the oven and turn on the self cleaning and then just rinse them off when done. They will looks like new.
Hi Gary,
For those people who do not have a self cleaning oven or prefer not to use the self cleaning feature this cleaning method is a great option for them. I’m glad you have found another option that works for you, thanks for sharing it with us! Have a great day, Tracy (the middle sister)
I wish that my oven had self cleaning! I’ll go purchase some Ammonia and give this a shot!
We’d love to hear how it turns out for ya!
can ammonia be used with septic systems? Not sure how I’d dispose of it if it’s not. Don’t know if/where we have hazardous waste disposal around here.
Here is a link to an article that lists and explains what chemicals and cleaning agents can be safely disposed of through your septic system and into the environment (https://goo.gl/mo7h24). Household ammonia is listed as an agent that can safely disposed of with a septic system. Household strength ammonia released into the environment through a septic system becomes diluted and is not a hazardous threat to the environment. Enjoy your clean BBQ grills! Tracy
Just soaking the grates in a pan of ammonia is not how it works? I assume its the fumes that are cleaning? How much ammonia gets put into the trash bag? Thanks.
Hey Eric!
You are correct, it is the fumes from the household ammonia that does all the dirty cleaning work for you. One cup of household ammonia will do the job! Thanks for commenting and enjoy your clean BBQ grills! Tracy
So I am going camping this weekend and I am new to grilling. I was trying to get to the bottom of why people don’t like to clean their grills and cast iron pans/pots etc. I am very weary of old food and possibly eating it. Sort of a personal paranoia. Anyways, this is not why I am commenting, I am going to speak about peoples concerns with ammonia and the environment and their health.
Ammonia is a natural bi product of decomposition. So having it on your grill surface or dumping it on your grass or anything is not going to do any PERMANENT damage. It is toxic in its current state, that is true. However, it is almost everywhere constantly at some level or another. It is part of the circle of life.
I will use a fish tank as an example.
* You feed your fish
* Fish release food after digestion
* Food decomposes and releases AMMONIA
* Bacteria in the water consume the ammonia and release nitrites.
* Another form of bacteria consumes the nitrites and releases nitrates.
* This is called the nitrogen cycle and one of the key fundamentals of plant growth.
* Fish eat the plants and the cycle repeats.
This is also why you change your water frequently with fish tanks as ammonia is toxic and you usually have more fish then your ecosystem can process the waste of.
So from BBQ grills to fish poo, I hope you feel better about eating off a surface that once had nitrogen on it. Nature will clear it off over time even without rinsing it. Although you will be left with other substances. So rinse….
Dear Jonathan,
This is now my all time favorite comment about cleaning with ammonia! Thanks for helping all of us put cleaning with ammonia into perspective by using a little factual humor. Thanks so much for following our blog and leaving your wonderfully funny comment! Best, Tracy
So do I understand, from all the tips in these comments, that I can put a cup of ammonia in a jar in the bag with the grill grates and the fumes will do the work? I don’t have to pour it all over the grates, but leave it in the glass jar and then carefully remove & dispose of the ammonia down the appropriate drain source, and then rinse and wipe down the grates, and then season them again after they are dry, right? This sounds do-able even if it does rain all weekend. Thanks for doing all the research first and then sharing this great tip. I will keep my mask and safety glasses on when I open that bag outside, and make sure the dog is safely inside!
Susan,
I poured the ammonia in the bag, then placed my grills in the bag and sealed it tight. One our of our readers used the ammonia in a glass jar and shared with us that it worked great. I think either way will work just fine. Enjoy your clean BBQ grills 🙂 Tracy
This is a great tute – we’ve had several people locally end up in a hospital from someone using a wire brush to clean the grill: some of the bristles come off during the scrubbing/scraping and end up in the food eaten and they puncture the intestine! This is a lot better than an accident waiting to happen!
CJ,
I wasn’t aware using a wire brush to clean your BBQ grills could be so dangerous! Cleaning with ammonia is a MUCH safer method. Thanks for following us and leaving a comment, it makes our day! Tracy
Using a toxic substance like ammonia is great for those people too lazy to put some elbow grease into cleaning their grills.
Using dish soap and some steel wool cleans the grill without using a toxic substance.
I want to try this! When it is time to open the bag, stick a hose in and pre rinse! Then use watered down ammonia to kill weeds in the driveway! Cant wait!b
Hi Holly,
You are brilliant! What a great idea to use the hose to pre rinse and then use the watered down ammonia to kill weeds.
Thanks for the great idea, Tracy
Can I use this on grill grates that have a non stick coating? Or rather, they’re supposed to;)
Mandi,
Yes, you can use this cleaning method on grill grates with a non stick coating. Happy BBQing! Tracy
Watered down ammonia will be a food for your weeds 🙂
Another great way to clean your grill grates is to put them in your oven and run the self-clean cycle.
This really works. I have been cleaning the racks from my oven as well as my grill for years with this method. I open the bag outside, make sure the breeze/wind is at your back when opening the bag.
The glass jar method: couldn’t you use something like a mason jar with a screw on cap and keep reusing it? Would have to rinse after each use because the jar has ammonia residue.
Hi Bruce,
Yes, I think a mason jar would work just fine. I agree, you would need to be careful about cleaning the jar out after each use.
Have a great day! Tracy
hi,,just to let all of you know,,this trick works great for the parts from the inside of your oven the grates come out clean
And to think of all the MAPP Gas* I have been wasting because I did not know about this… 🙁
(MAPP Gas burns a lot hotter than propane, and burns off all the residue from past use)
This is an EXCELLENT idea!! TY for sharing!!
*DO NOT use MAPP Gas in a Propane grill…
why?
#1) the gas molecules are different & may start an unwanted fire/or could explode.
The MAPP Gas I used was in its own container made specifically for MAPP Gas.
#2) MAP Gas is NOT approved for cooking food
#3) MAPP Gas is highly flammable & dangerous unless you have experience with it & know EXACTLY what it is you are doing.
Have a fun & safe summer everyone!!! 🙂
Hello Capernius!
Great to hear you like this method for cleaning your BBQ grills. No more MAPP gas for you! Enjoy your clean grills 🙂 Tracy
Does this also work on black grates in a gas grill?
Hi Jody,
Yes, this method should work just fine on your black grates from your gas grill. No scrub cleaning is the BEST! Enjoy, Tracy
This is a wonderful idea. After so many years of constant scrubbing and more scrubbing and still not perfect. I hated using my grill. Unfortunately I no longer have a grill but I will pass this on to all my friends and keep it for when I finally get a new grill!! Thanks so much. Betty Radcliffe
Hi Betty!
I believe in a life that has as little scrubbing as possible! I love letting the ammonia fumes do all the work for me. So glad you are following us and thanks for commenting! Tracy
Any suggestions for cleaning the rest of a stainless steel bbq grill?
NOW I KNOW HOW TO CLEAN THE GRILL PARTS OF MY BAR B QUE GRILL BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RUST INSIDE THE BODY OF THE STEEL GRILL. ALSO HOW DO YOU SEASON THE METAL PARTS AND CANT YOU SEASON THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE GRILL.
Hi Bill,
Yes, you can season the whole inside of your grill. Clean it as best as you can and then spray it with an oil based cooking spray. Bring the temp. up to about 350 degrees without food for about an hour and let it cool. Hope this helps! Tracy
I’ve used this method to clean the nasty hood vent filter. It works like a charm!
I have some concerns with the grill. even though it looks great and clean. But ammonia is toxic. Still thinking it’s not a good idea use it after it’s washed with ammonia even with the clean off from water…
Hi Bing!
I understand your concerns about cleaning food surfaces with ammonia. I did a second post, the “Magic No Ammonia Way to Clean Your BBQ Grill”. We would love to hear your results if you chose to give it a try. Best, Tracy
Really? Using dangerous chemicals rather than do a bit of scrubbing is a ” life hack”? I’ve got a good one too.
Do you hate it when you get a stain on your rug? Tired of all that scrubbing with mild soapy water to remove it?
Simply pour trichloroethane on your rug and the stain will vanish. Be carefull though as it’s quite a toxic chemical that can give you cancer and mess your brain up. Better than scrubbing though eh?
Gareth,
Because some people prefer not to clean food surfaces with ammonia I did a second post “Magic No Ammonia Way to Clean Your BBQ Grill”. If you decide to give it a try we would love to hear your results. Have a great day, Tracy
But then youre eating on ammonia grates. And when it gets hot the poison will seep into your food. I will try this with coke. Still poison but at least it’s edible
Jan,
Because not everyone is a fan of cleaning with ammonia, I did a second post the “Magic No Ammonia Way to Clean Your BBQ Grill”. I’d love to hear your results. Thanks for following us! Tracy
Hi tracy, I want to Thank You for the great idea. I also want to Thank you for having to repeat things over and over again for those who chose not to read or understand your instructions. I thought you showed great patience. Anyone else would have posted and ignored all the comments. Thanks again for sharing and hope after reading all the comments you had to answer over and over again asking the same question doesn’t keep you from sharing future ideas and helpful projects. Have a great weekend. You are Awesome !!
Hey Debbie!
You are welcome, I’m so glad you like this cleaning method! This post has generated a large number of comments, we love hearing from our readers. Don’t worry we will keep the good ideas coming! So glad you are one of our followers. Tracy
I put my in my oven when I clean it and they come out great. Then no fumes, and toxic things to worry about.
The only thing I know for sure is that my sinuses are clear and my grill is still dirty.
Hey Duffer,
Sorry to hear that this cleaning method was only effective on your sinuses. If you read through all the comments on this post you will find several other ideas for cleaning your BBQ grills. Maybe one of the other methods will give you better results. Did you make sure the bag was sealed tight, did you leave it out in the sun all day and use 1 full cup of household ammonia? You could repeat the process again, a lot of the gunk should have been loosened in the first try and will come off on the second round. Thanks for giving it a try and leaving your comment. Tracy
Awesome article.
Thanks Doug!
Or… Just use Norwex’s enzyme oven and grill cleaner. No smell, no chemicals and works amazingly to cut grease and bring back to new! I’ve cleaned my oven with a 3 year old helping me. Now that’s what
I call easy!!
Thank you so much! I am usually skeptical about things like this, but I had the supplies and gave it a try. First let me say that I think its been at least 2 years since I cleaned my grill. It was BAD! Anyways because it was so bad I left the grills in the bag for 2 days. Imagine my surprise when I pulled the grills out and rinsed them off. IT WORKED!! Thank you thank you, now I can clean my grills regularly and not avoid a job that needs to be done more regularly.
Hi Paula!
I’m so thrilled to hear that this grill cleaning method worked so great for you! I’ve never thought of leaving my grills in the bag for 2 days instead of one, I’ll give that a try next time I clean mine. Thanks for following us and leaving such a kind comment! Tracy
You can also, dilute the ammonia 1 to 10, and then spray it on your grass. It turns (or is from a chemical standpoint), into Nitrogen. Grass, loves nitrogen. Framers spray ammonia on fields to replenish nitrogen.
If someone hasn’t already said it – the easiest way is to leave your grates in the grass overnight. The next morning while the dew is still on them – wipe/brush them off! So easy and no chemicals required. It works. (So happy to learn the oven trick though. Thanks)
I am amazed by the before and after pictures! I had no idea that the amonia could be so effective for barbecue cleaning! I have a barbecue in my back yard. Thanks a lot for sharing this method of cleaning! Chinatown Carpet Cleaners Ltd.
Hi Nora!
I was amazed and embarrassed, embarrassed I let my BBQ grills get so dirty and amazed the ammonia got them so clean! You will love how easy it is to get your BBQ grills clean. Thanks for follow us! Tracy
Great idea and will definitely try it BUT I too have a question.
2 questions: 1)You say they work on the crate but what about the burners below the crate? Do you think that it would work for those too?
2) What if I am cleaning 2 crates? Do I use 2 bags or double dosage in 1 bag, or use same amount of ammonia using just 1 bag? Well, you get the idea…
thanks in advance
Hi Howard!
I would not try this on the burners below, only on your BBQ grates. I place both of my BBQ grates in the same garbage bag with one dose of the ammonia. If the grills are super dirty, rinse the grills and repeat the process. Hope this helps! Thanks for following us, Tracy
Great tips! May be a bit off topic, but I bought bbq grill mats from Amazon and use it every time I bbq. It is reusable, keeps your bbq clean and it is very easy to wash it. Mine said Lavasto bbq grill mat.
Hi Christine,
You just gave us a great Father’s Day gift idea! Thanks for sharing such a great tip, Tracy
Somehow the women are all cleaning the grills. Whatever your mood is for cleaning the grills are clean.
The workforce of America moves on. Great discussion.
Hi Karen,
Gah, your comment gave me a good laugh! Yes, we are a force to be reckoned with. Thanks for the great comment, Tracy
For all of you concerned about ammonia being toxic, you realize that 90% of the frozen beef in the United States is first rinsed with ammonia to kill off certain bacteria like e-coli right? Yes it is toxic but you are already consuming it unknowingly.
Hi Bryan,
Well, you taught me something new today! I researched your comment and found it to be true. Sometimes those who read this post do not realize there is a difference between commercial and household ammonia. Some folks simply do not like the idea of using ammonia in any form. Personally I feel it is safe to use household ammonia for cleaning purposes as long as you follow the recommended safety precautions in my post. Thanks for following us and leaving your comment, Tracy
Iread somewhere on Pinterest, that you could put a small amount in a container, and set it in youroven, or microwave, overnight. Supposedly it cleans overnight. Is that true?
Hi Richard,
You are correct, I did a post with this cleaning method. Magic Way to Clean Your Oven. Follow the instructions for a sparkling clean oven! Thanks, Tracy
Hey wait thats where the great flavors come from, that backed on stuff on the grates. Its just like a coffee pot coffee great till you clean it, then needs to build up again before you get good coffee. Had to thow this in. Yes Im going to do this to my grill grates.
I just tried using the ammonia to clean my grills. The plastic trash bags leaked so bad that after 4 bags I set the whole mess in the trash can in the garage Hoping they are clean tomorrow None of you mentioned leaky bags.
Hi Cheri,
Sorry to hear you did not have a great experience cleaning your BBQ grills. Ending up with a bigger mess than you started out with is frustrating! My suggestion is to purchase the thickest/strongest trash bags for the best results. Keeping my fingers crossed your grills are nice and clean now. Thanks for following us and leaving your comment, Tracy
Just wondering if those using coke are just using the Coke brand, or can it be Pepsi or an off brand? I really want to get those grills done, but hubby only lets Pepsi in the house 🙂
Hi Tracy.
Thank you for sharing that gem with the WORLD. I moved to Melbourne in Australia last year and purchased a very expensive BBQ but haven’t “fired it up” yet. I was daunted by the cleaning that follows. After reading your suggestion I will be using it this weekend…..without fear …..and enjoy the experience as I love the smell and taste of meat on the fire. Thanks again and have a very happy and safe new year.
I promise that it will work! Fire that baby up!
Aww I loved this post. Mind blowing , it’s surprising…
Stainless steel Grill Grates
Indeed, there is a lot you can grill up on the grill, but that also means there is more that will need to be cleaned. I don’t think I have just used pure ammonia to clean something before either. Thank you for providing tips on to properly do everything here, like turning your head away when opening the bag.
You must be a fun grandma. Great tips.
Hi Suzi,
Thanks, I love spending time doing fun activities with my sweet granddaughters! Great to hear you find our tips helpful. Tracy
Can I do the ammonia on the grates in the trash bag at this time of the year? (not super sunny)
Hi Stacey,
Yes, you can! I would put them in your garage if it is cold enough to snow where you live. Keeping them in the garage will keep the ammonia from freezing. Good luck and thanks for following us, Tracy
Just a quick note. While straight ammonia can be harmful to us and vegetation. It a widely used, and very effective fertilizer. If it is diluted it can be sprayed directly onto your lawn. This a great way to safely dispose of it after you clean the grill and great for your lawn. You can find lots of info on the web about its use.
Thank you for posting this. It’s a great post
Thanks for the tip Dan!
Great information. does it work for all types of grill
It will work for most metal grills.
Beware I am a great fan of internet tips for cleaning etc. im glad so many found this ammonia trick helpful. Unfortunately it is not advisable for all surfaces. I followed the directions. It removed seventy five percent of the gunk from my grills and fifty percent of the finish on the grills. This experiment will cost me a great deal to replace the grills!
Hi Liz,
I’m so sorry to hear about the damage to your BBQ grills. Can you let us know what brand of BBQ you have? I’ll update the post stating that this method does not work on this particular brand. This is the first time I have heard of it causing any damage. Thank you for letting us know and again I’m sorry it didn’t work for you. Tracy
Thanks for the ping back! Tracy – The Middle Child
Thanks for the pingback!