7 Easy DIY Grill Cleaner Recipes (2024)

Creating your own grill cleaner is a simple and cost-effective solution.

• Gather ingredients such as baking soda, white vinegar, and dish soap.
• Create a paste with baking soda and vinegar for an effective cleaning agent.
• Use aluminum foil as a scrubber for an inexpensive and easy scrubbing tool.
• Apply a DIY cleaner and scrub grates before rinsing with water.
• Season cast iron grates after cleaning to enhance flavor and prevent rust.

To create a homemade grill cleaner, start by mixing equal parts baking soda and vinegar to form a cleaning paste. If dealing with a grill pan, you can also add salt to the mix. Scrub the grates or pan with the paste using aluminum foil or a brush, depending on the toughness of the residue.

Rinse thoroughly with water to remove any leftover paste and food particles. For cast iron grates, remember to season them with a bit of cooking oil after cleaning to prevent rust and improve the taste of your food. This DIY approach is not just effective and cost-efficient but also ensures a natural cleaning process without harsh chemicals.

If you’ve ever been to or have hosted a BBQ, you know that owning a grill is essential to the process. However, having a grill means you have to keep the grill grates clean and free from grease and food buildup. “I always emphasize the importance of maintaining a clean grill to ensure the best-tasting food and a safe cooking environment,” advises Alice Gilbert, a seasoned authority in home improvement. Have you ever considered what kind of grill cleaner is best for you and your grill?

Have you thought about ditching commercial products to create a more efficient homemade grill cleaner? Would you like to use a natural DIY grill cleaner to improve the taste of your food and reduce the potential for bacteria?

Creating homemade cleaners for your barbecue grill is relatively easy, especially if you have the proper ingredients. Some of the recipes provided below require ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar, dish soap, olive oil, soapy water, and aluminum foil.

Not only will a homemade grill cleaner save you money in the long run, but it will also keep you and your grill away from store-bought products that contain unwanted chemicals.

Easy DIY Grill Cleaning Recipes I Use

You probably have at least some of these grill cleaning ingredients on hand already. If you have a cast iron grill rather than stainless or another type, be sure to season it after cleaning to protect it from rust and enhance the flavor of your food.

My Quick & Easy DIY Grill Cleaner

The grilling season is upon us, and before we start cooking our favorite barbeque meals, we should get our grill cleaning products ready. Choosing a safe, non-toxic, and affordable BBQ grill cleaner may seem impossible, but trust us, it’s not.

Fill a shallow tin with hot water and stick it inside the lit gas grill. Allow the water to steam inside the grill with the lid closed for approximately ten minutes as this will loosen any unwanted grease or food build up.

Combine the other ingredients to make your cleaning solution while the water is steaming inside of the grill. Mix the baking soda with Sal Suds and twelve ounces of warm water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and add vinegar.

Once the ten minutes of steaming is up, take the tin out and spray the solution onto the grates. Ball up sheets of aluminum foil until it resembles a baseball and scrub the grease and grime off the grates.

If you’d like to use a grill brush, that’s okay, too. Once you’ve finished scrubbing, spray avocado oil onto a paper towel and give your grill a quick wipe to stop the grates from rusting.

I Make a Quick Grill Cleaning Solution

Finding the ideal homemade grill cleaner to prepare your home for the upcoming barbecue season may be difficult, but don’t worry, as we’re here to help.

If you have grease build up or sticky substances on your cast iron grill, you’ll want to do your grill cleaning about an hour before you start cooking. Turn the grill on medium-high heat and let it sit, covered, for about 15 minutes. Use a wire brush to scrape off any loose residue. Finally, it’s time to use your DIY grill cleaner.

Combine the baking soda and white vinegar, then add the hot water. Either dip the grates into the solution or lay the grates on the ground and pour the solution over them. Use some elbow grease and give them a good scrub.

Let them cool down before rinsing them with water from the hose to get rid of the remaining old food particles. Secure the grates back into the grill, and you’re good to go.

My Everyday Natural Grill Cleaner

Creating a DIY stainless steel cleaner for the grill surface shouldn’t be a complicated process before you start barbequing your next meal. Use this quick, easy-to-make natural grill cleaner for your fast deep-cleaning problems.

Grab aluminum foil, bunch it into a ball, and fill a spray bottle with white vinegar. Spray cool grates with the vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then, scrub the grates with the aluminum foil and wipe down the remaining residue with a wet cloth. Once finished, dip a paper towel in cooking oil and rub it over the grates to make a non-stick surface.

I Mix Up a DIY Grill Cleaner for Gas Grills

It’s essential to clean your grill regularly for two reasons: to catch buildup that has stuck around and to prevent future build up from forming. If your hot grill is made from stainless steel or cast iron, use these few tricks.

If you’re using a grill that is gas operated, turn on the “clean” knob to preheat the grill to soften grease and residue and make it easier to remove. Use your wire brush to scrape off the extra gunk.

My Natural Grill Cleaner Tip for Charcoal Grills

Grills need to be treated differently since they operate differently. For charcoal grills, remove any old coals after each use and discard ashes in a garbage bag. Clean the rock bed and spread warm, soapy water over the area.

Before using the grill again, make sure the soapy water is rinsed thoroughly from the pan. The pan should be fully dry before operating the grill.

Five-Step Process for Cleaning My Grill

We know five steps may seem like a lot, but trust us when we say it’s as easy as can be. Before getting started, lay an old towel under the grate to catch drips.

Gently mix all three ingredients into a mixing bowl until a paste-like substance forms. Using a paintbrush, spread the paste onto the grill grates and allow it to sit for eight to twelve hours. Do not turn the grill on during this time.

Scrub the paste and residue off the grates with a grill brush. Wipe the grates with a sponge dampened in lukewarm water to take off any remaining gunk.

Cleaning My Grill Pan

Most grills have a grill pan underneath that catches the drips. To keep your food smelling delicious and to ensure it tastes yummy, you’ll want to keep this pan clean.

Combine equal amounts of salt and baking soda in a bowl. Then, add enough water to the mixture until it turns into a paste. Scrub the pan until thoroughly clean and rinse with hot water.

Learning how to create the perfect natural grill cleaner isn’t all that hard, especially with our tip guide at your fingertips. Pick up ingredients like baking soda and white vinegar to be prepared for your clean grill endeavors shortly.

My Recipe for Homemade Grill Cleaner

Homemade Grill Cleaner

Yield: 3 1/2 cups

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Easily remove food debris and burned bits from grill grates.

Materials

• 2 cups + 1 1/2 cups of hot water
• 1 tbsp Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 1 tbsp baking soda

Tools

• Disposable pie tin
• 20-ounce bottle sprayer
• Tablespoon
• Metal scrubbie
• Gloves
• Oven mitts

Instructions

1. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
2. Put the pie tin on the grates and add 2 cups of hot water.
3. Close the lid of the grill and let the liquid steam for about 10 minutes.
4. Add the rest of the water, Sal Suds, vinegar, and baking soda to the spray bottle.
5. Shake to mix ingredients.
6. Use oven mitts to remove the pie tin from the grill interior.
7. Turn off the grill and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
8. Put on the gloves.
9. Liberally spray the grates with the cleaning solution.
10. Scrub with the metal scrubbie.

Notes

Do an even better job if your grates are removable - get both sides spotless!

We hope you enjoyed reading our homemade grill cleaner recipes and tips. If you did, please share our DIY grill cleaning tricks on Facebook and Pinterest with your family and friends.