This post is sponsored by P&G. All opinions expressed are my own.
This guide shows how to clean a dirty BBQ grill so it's ready for burgers, veggies, and backyard grilling season.
If your grill has seen one too many backyard cookouts, you are definitely not alone.
Once grilling season starts around here, our gas grill gets used constantly, and cleaning it somehow always gets pushed to the bottom of the list.
Between burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and random marshmallow disasters from the kids, those grill grates collect a shocking amount of grime and gunk over the summer.
This cleaning method helped get our dirty grill looking so much better without hours of exhausting scrubbing.
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Skill Level: Beginner
Total Time: 30 minutes
Supply List
- 5 Gallon Bucket or other container for soaking purposes
- Tide Oxi Laundry Pods
- Grill Brush
Before You Start
Before cleaning your grill grate or any surface that comes into contact with food, make sure everything gets rinsed thoroughly afterward.
This cleaning mixture works really well for cutting through grease, cooked-on grime, and buildup, but you definitely do not want any leftover cleaner hanging around where your food comes into contact with the grill.
If your grill has cast-iron grates, avoid soaking them for too long, as excess moisture can encourage rust. Stainless steel grates hold up a little better during soaking.
Soak the Grill Grates
Start by filling your bucket with water, then add the Tide Oxi according to the package directions.
Once the mixture is ready, remove the grill grates and place them into the bucket to soak. Let them sit for about five minutes while the cleaner loosens the grease and cooked-on buildup.
While the grates soak, use some of the cleaning mixture to wipe down the rest of the grill. It works well for cleaning the outside surfaces, side shelves, and the lid, where grease and grime tend to build up during grilling season.
Scrub Away the Gunk
After the grill grates have soaked, use a grill brush to scrub away the loosened grime while the grates are still in the bucket.
Even with light scrubbing, you will notice a huge difference right away. Once the heavy buildup starts coming loose, rinse the grates with a hose so you can clearly see any remaining dirty spots that still need attention.
For stubborn areas the brush cannot quite reach, grab an old rag or paper towel and scrub those sections by hand.
The best part is that most of the gunk wipes away much more easily after soaking.
Rinse Thoroughly
Once everything looks clean, rinse the grill grates really well with water.
This step matters because you want all the cleaner residue completely removed before cooking again. After rinsing, let the grates dry fully before placing them back into the grill.
To help prevent rust, especially on cast-iron grates, lightly dry them with a clean cloth after rinsing.
Before and After
I could not believe the difference after cleaning our grill this way. Our grill started out greasy and dirty, covered in cooked-on grime.
And ended up looking almost brand new again.
Nobody wants their burgers tasting like last summer's barbecue leftovers. 😄
Now the grill is ready for backyard dinners, summer cookouts, and plenty more meals outside.
Helpful Grill Tips
Keeping a grill cover on your BBQ when it is not in use helps protect it from extra dirt, moisture, and weather damage.
It also helps to clean the grill grates after each use, rather than waiting for the grease and buildup to harden into layers.
A quick cleanup after cooking makes a huge difference later.
More Cleaning Tips
Looking for more easy cleaning ideas? Here are a few more favorites to try next.
Hi, I'm Katie!
I'm so glad you're here. Want to make something fabulous? I'm here to help!
Bonnie @ Uncommon Designs
I need to do the same exact thing! We use our grill so much and it is really bad right now! Thanks for the inspiration!
Katie
Ours was awful! Like I would have been embarrassed for someone to open that thing!
Anna
Great post! I would have never thought to use oxi clean on my BBQ but what a great idea!
Anna 🙂
Katie
Thanks Anna! This stuff is my new best friend! It is great on carpet stains too!
Megan
Our grill looks pretty rough to and I would never have thought to use something like this! Great tip!
Katie
Thanks Megan! It certainly helps make it much easier! I've been using this stuff like crazy!
LUCY
wow...I had no idea...that's super awesome...thanks for the tips...:)
Katie
Thanks Lucy! It definitely makes it go much faster and easier! : )
Crystal
You read my mind. I use my grill all the time and all year long (in Texas we don't have many "winter" days). I was just saying its time to clean the grill again which I hate to do because it takes so much time and elbow grease. Can't wait to try your method. Anything that cuts down my scrubbing time works in my favor. Thanks for the great post!!
Katie
yes, in Texas you can use your grill year round : ) It definitely helps with the elbow grease! I did still have to scrub some of the really bad spots, but overall it was WAY easier! Thanks for always stopping by!! : )
Danielle
Giving it a go now Katie! I'll let you know how it pans out;)
Marianne
I think you meant "digestive tract." Not "track." Just came here from Pinterest and I'll be going elsewhere, because I'm not sure I trust this since you don't know the difference.
Jake
This seems like too much work and I don't have much time for this. Can I just use a steam cleaning machine or something like that?
Watson
our bbq grill defo need this 🙂 Thnx for sharing.
Colin
Great article, has come in handy on my grill!
usman
wao amazing.. looks really nice after wash..
Ann
I love tide thatsamazing .nice post.. thanks
Richard
nice idea for bbq gril .thanks for sharing .
paul
thats amazing
Powell
I tried using lava stone instead of coal and truly lava stones are not that messy at all so it's easier to clean.
Baktur
Thank you very much for this post! Very useful!