There’s nothing better than firing up the BBQ for a weekend feast. But when it comes to cleaning up afterwards, it’s often a different story.
If you’ve ever been tempted to just close the lid and deal with it “next time,” you’re not alone. Still, regular BBQ cleaning is one of the simplest ways to make sure your food tastes great, your BBQ stays in top condition, and your next cookout isn’t full of smoke and burnt-on leftovers.
Luckily, keeping your BBQ clean doesn’t have to be a major chore, especially when you know when and how to tackle it the right way.
Should You Clean Your BBQ After Every Use?
In short: yes, but it doesn’t have to be a big job every time.
After each use, a quick clean is all you need to keep your grill in good working order. A simple scrape-down while the grill is still warm removes loose food bits and stops grease from hardening into stubborn, baked-on grime.
This light maintenance keeps your BBQ performing well and avoids bigger cleaning jobs down the track.
You don’t need to do a full deep clean after every barbecue session. Instead, save the heavy-duty scrub for every few months (or after particularly greasy cookouts), depending on how often you fire it up.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your BBQ?
Skipping clean-up for too long can cause more than just a bit of mess. Here’s what you’re risking:
- Burnt and Bitter Flavours: Old food and grease residue can create bad-tasting smoke that ruins the flavour of fresh food.
- Fire Hazards: Excess grease build-up can actually cause flare-ups or grease fires, a serious safety risk.
- Rust and Damage: Moisture and leftover food can cause grills, plates, and burners to corrode faster.
- Unpleasant Smells and Smoke: A dirty BBQ will often smell bad even before you start cooking.
Over time, neglecting cleaning doesn’t just affect taste, it can shorten the life of your BBQ and cost you more in repairs or replacements.
Quick Clean vs Deep Clean: What’s the Difference?
Not all BBQ cleaning is created equal. Here’s the difference between a quick clean and a deep clean, and when you should do each.
Quick Clean (After Every Use)
- Burn off: After cooking, turn the burners up high for 10 minutes to burn off leftover food bits.
- Scrape: Use a good-quality grill brush or scraper to clean the grates while they’re still warm.
- Wipe surfaces: If needed, wipe down side tables or the lid to remove splatters or spills.
Takes about 5–10 minutes, and it saves hours of effort later.
Deep Clean (Every Few Months)
- Grill plates and racks: Remove them and give them a thorough clean.
- Grease trays and drip pans: Empty and degrease properly.
- Interior surfaces: Wipe or scrub down inside the hood and firebox to remove smoke residue and carbon buildup.
- Exterior surfaces: Clean and restore stainless steel or painted surfaces to keep your BBQ looking fresh.
How often you deep clean depends on how often you barbecue — regular users should aim for a deep clean every 3–4 months.
How to Properly Deep Clean Your BBQ
1. Start with the Grill Plates and Racks
If your grill plates, grates, or racks are coated in baked-on carbon, black soot, or thick grease, start with the Grill Power Kit. Here’s how:
- Place your grill plates into the supplied heavy-duty cleaning bag.
- Spray them thoroughly with the Grill Power cleaning solution provided in the kit.
- Seal the bag and leave it for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight, allowing the powerful formula to break down stubborn grease and carbon buildup.
- After soaking, remove the plates and rinse or scrub with minimal effort.
The Grill Power Kit is ideal for doing the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to spend hours scraping or chipping away at burnt residue.
2. Remove Everyday Grease and Surface Dirt with BBQ Kleen
Once the heavy-duty cleaning is done, use OzKleen BBQ Kleen for a more general surface clean.
BBQ Kleen is specially formulated to tackle grease, grime, and food splatter across multiple BBQ surfaces, including the hood, side tables, grease trays, and outer panels.
To use BBQ Kleen:
- Spray directly onto the dirty or greasy surfaces.
- Allow it to sit for a few minutes to loosen up stubborn dirt and grease.
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth or sponge.
- Rinse off if necessary for food-contact areas.
BBQ Kleen is perfect for keeping your BBQ hygienic and sparkling without harsh chemical smells or heavy scrubbing.
3. Polish and Protect with BBQ Restore & Shine
After cleaning, you’ll want to protect and restore your BBQ’s external surfaces, especially stainless steel or chrome finishes.
OzKleen BBQ Restore & Shine is designed to clean, polish, and add a protective finish to metal BBQ exteriors, helping to resist fingerprints, grime, and rust.
To use BBQ Restore & Shine:
- Ensure the surface is clean and dry before applying.
- Spray Restore & Shine directly onto stainless steel or metal surfaces.
- Wipe and polish gently with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
- Buff to a high shine for a professional finish.
Regular use of BBQ Restore & Shine not only keeps your BBQ looking new but also extends the life of your investment by reducing corrosion and weathering.
Tips to Make BBQ Cleaning Easier
- Burn off food residue after each cook: Turn the burners on high for 10 minutes after cooking to carbonise leftover scraps and make them easier to scrape off.
- Scrape while the grill is still warm: Use a grill brush or scraper while the grates are warm (not hot) to easily remove loosened food before it hardens.
- Lightly oil the grates before cooking: Brushing a little oil onto the grates before you cook can help prevent food from sticking and make cleanup quicker afterwards.
- Wipe down side tables and exterior surfaces after use: A quick spray and wipe with a BBQ cleaner stops grease and grime from building up and staining.
- Clean the drip tray regularly: Empty and wipe down the drip tray to prevent grease fires and reduce smoke during future cooks.
- Use a BBQ cover: Protect your BBQ from rain, dust, and debris between uses to reduce the amount of cleaning needed overall.
- Stay on top of small messes: Spot cleaning spills and splatters when they happen saves you time later compared to dealing with dried-on grease.
- Do a mini deep clean every few months: Even if you’re doing quick cleans after each cook, a proper degreasing of the grills, trays, and hood every few months keeps your BBQ working and looking its best.
- Use purpose-made cleaners: Products like OzKleen’s Grill Power Kit and BBQ Kleen are formulated specifically for BBQ surfaces, helping you clean faster and more thoroughly without damaging your grill.
- Dry surfaces after cleaning: After rinsing or wiping down, dry your BBQ surfaces with a cloth to prevent water spots and rust from forming.
A Cleaner BBQ, A Better Cookout
Keeping your BBQ clean isn’t just about looks, it’s about better-tasting food, safer cooking, and a longer-lasting grill.
By doing a quick clean after each use and a proper deep clean every few months, you’ll keep your BBQ running hotter, cleaner, and more efficiently for years to come.
And when it’s time for a deep clean, having the right products on hand — like Grill Power Kit for the heavy lifting, BBQ Kleen for everyday grease, and BBQ Restore & Shine for the final polish — makes it faster, easier, and a lot less of a chore.
