How to Clean Grill Grates

Co-authored by Filip Boksa

Last Updated: July 9, 2025 References

If you like to grill your food, it's important to clean the grate when food particles start to build up. Routine cleanings the grates after each use, in addition to yearly deep cleanings, will improve the quality of your food, prevent harmful bacteria from building up, and lower the risk of fire hazards. Porcelain grates require different care from cast iron and stainless steel grates. However, you can use the same deep cleaning method for all three.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Porcelain Grates

Porcelain coating is very fragile and easily damaged from scrubbing and scraping. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter. Otherwise, you could void your warranty.^{[1]
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Use a nylon scrubber brush while the grill is still hot. Avoid a brass brush, which can scrape the coating off the grate. Opt for a curved brush that can get in between the grating. Gently scrape in a diagonal motion. Start at the point closest to you and move upward. Move in one direction to minimize the risk of damage to the coating.
- If you have built-up gunk like barbecue sauce, wet the brush before scrubbing.^{[2]
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3
Clean the underside of the grill. Flip the grill over after it has cooled. Scrape away excess food and gunk with the brush using a diagonal motion. The underside will take somewhat longer to clean because of the drippings that accumulated during cooking. Scrub until the grate is completely clean.
- If your grate comes in multiple sections, flip and clean each part separately.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Stainless Steel and Cast Iron Grates

The bristles are soft enough to protect the surface of the grate. Choose between a roll brush or a straight brush. Both will clean the grill effectively, but the roll brush will more easily clean the sides of the grates.^{[4]
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This will soften any leftover grease and make it easier to clean up. Turn the grill to its “high” setting if it's not at that setting already. Let it heat up for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the temperature gauge reaches 500 to 600 °F (260 to 316 °C). Then, turn off the burners.^{[5]
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Scrub the grate. Scrub using a back-and-forth motion along the first bar. Continue until the bar is free of grease and food particles. Repeat the process on the rest of the grate.^{[6]
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- Alternatively, you can use Goo Gone's Grill and Grate Cleaner.^{[7]
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- Spray it directly onto the grill top when the grill is turned off and cool.^{[8]
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- After several minutes, wipe off with a damp cloth.^{[9]
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4
Apply vegetable oil to the grate. Dip the towel into a container of the oil to pick up about a teaspoon (5 mL). Place the towel in a pair of tongs and wipe it along each bar. This will prevent your grate from rusting.
- Don't apply more than a teaspoon of oil. Too much can cause a dangerous flare-up if it drips onto any smoldering food particles below the grate.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Deep Cleaning Grill Grates

Mix one cup (237 g) of vinegar and two cups (474 g) of baking soda. Pour the solution into a garbage bag or container large enough to fit the grates. Place the grates in the solution and allow them to soak overnight. Place a cover on the container. If you use a garbage bag, fasten it with a rubber band.^{[11]
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Untie the rubber band or remove the cover from the container. Lift the grates out of the solution. Then, rinse them down with a garden hose. Most of the stuck-on food should fall off.^{[12]
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Use a nylon brush for porcelain-coated grates. Move in gentle diagonal strokes. Cast iron or stainless steel grates can handle stainless steel bristles. Move in a gentle vertical direction.^{[13]
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Hose the grates down one last time. Pat the surface dry with a microfiber towel. Then, replace the grill.^{[14]
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Question

How do I make my grill grates look like new?

Bridgett Price
House Cleaning Professional
Bridgett Price is a House Cleaning Professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has over 8 years of experience in the industry and is the Co-Owner of Maid Easy, a maid service company servicing the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area witih over 17k professional cleanings under its belt. Maid Easy was featured on CNBC's 'Made It!' program and was voted as The Best of The Desert - Residential Cleaning Service by AZCentral. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.

Bridgett Price

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Mix baking soda with water and apply it to your grill grates with a soft brush. Then run your grill on medium-high heat so the baking soda dissolves the rust. Wipe your grates clean right after.

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Which product can I use to clean grill grates?

Filip Boksa
House Cleaning Professional
Filip Boksa is a House Cleaning Professional and the CEO and Founder of King of Maids, a company based in Chicago, Illinois. With over 10 years of professional experience, Filip and his team at King Maids specialize in providing home cleaning and organization services to their clients. They are dedicated to delivering high-quality and reliable service to ensure customer satisfaction.

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Expert Answer

To remove excess dirt and grime on your grill grates, the best product you can use is Goo Gone's Grill and Grate Cleaner.

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Question

How can I clean grill grates?

Filip Boksa
House Cleaning Professional
Filip Boksa is a House Cleaning Professional and the CEO and Founder of King of Maids, a company based in Chicago, Illinois. With over 10 years of professional experience, Filip and his team at King Maids specialize in providing home cleaning and organization services to their clients. They are dedicated to delivering high-quality and reliable service to ensure customer satisfaction.

Filip Boksa

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

You can spray Goo Gone's Grill and Grate Cleaner directly onto the grill top when the grill is off and cool. After several minutes, wipe off with a damp cloth. You can use a grill brush to loosen excess build-up.

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Tips

You can also try scrubbing water mixed with baking soda on your grates and turning your grill onto medium-high heat to remove rust.^{[15]
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If you don't have a grill brush, use aluminum foil. Crumple it into a ball about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Place it in between your tongs and scrub the grate one bar at a time.^{[16]
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Baste and marinade food with vinegar, citrus juice, or soy-based sauce mixtures to make grill clean-up easier.

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Warnings

In order to avoid the risk of being burned, do not attempt to clean grill grates over very hot coals.

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Food left on grilling grates can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that could contaminate food later.

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Replace your grill brush when the bristles loosen or become bent. They can deposit on your grate and get mixed in with your food with life-threatening results.^{[17]
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Things You'll Need

Nylon grill brush or aluminum foil (for porcelain grates)
Stainless steel brush (for stainless steel and cast iron grates)
Deep Cleaning materials:
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Hose
- Microfiber towel

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How to Clean Grill Grates

Steps

Cleaning Porcelain Grates

Cleaning Stainless Steel and Cast Iron Grates

Deep Cleaning Grill Grates

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

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References

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