Deep cleaning the grill: everything under the grates.
Brushing the grates before a cook cleans the one part anyone can see. Underneath sits a season of grease, pooled in the tray and packed into the burner ports. Grease plus open flame is the whole recipe for a flare-up. Once a year, take it apart.
How often does a grill need a deep clean?
Once a year, ideally before the season starts. Between teardowns, a hot burn-off and a brush before each cook keep the grates in shape, and a monthly look at the grease cup keeps the tray from overflowing. The yearly clean is the one that reaches the burners and the firebox.
What builds up inside a grill?
Drippings mix with carbon into a sticky black layer in the cookbox. Under a winter cover that layer holds moisture and draws mold. Lit again, packed grease flares hard, scorching the food and damaging the burners.
Why does one side of the grill cook hotter?
Usually blocked burner ports on the cool side. Light the burners and look at the flame: clean blue is right, and yellow or sputtering flame means clogged ports. Pull the burner tube, hold it to the light and clear the plugged holes with a wire. If the flame is still yellow and uneven after that, the tube is likely corroded through and wants replacing.
How to deep clean a gas grill.
Disconnect the propane tank or the gas line first. Pull the grates and the flavorizer bars, then lift out the grease tray. Scrape the carbon crust off the cookbox walls with a putty knife into a bucket, then scrub the grates with a wire brush and degreaser. Oven cleaner works on grates but strips the seasoning off cast iron; hot soapy water and a long soak handles most of them.
When to hand it off.
Parts rusted through and crumbling, or a smell of gas at the valve connections, mean the grill stays unlit until the lines are serviced. Or just a cookout coming up and no afternoon to spare. Grill cleaning is $— added to a plan or $— one-time, a grill.
Or never think about the grill again. On a plan it's cleaned during a seasonal visit, $— a grill, spread across the monthly bill. Plans
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