When the sun’s out, there’s nothing better than getting some sizzling pieces of meat on the BBQ or outdoor grill, but on the practical side of things, you will more than likely need to invest in the best BBQ cleaner to keep your grill clean. Whether you have a hybrid BBQ, gas BBQ or charcoal grill, leaving it dirty and unmaintained will not only make a harder job for you in the long run, but it can ruin the taste of your beautiful BBQ food and, worse, cause flare-ups.
We have rounded up the best BBQ cleaners that will help you out this summer, so can continue to show off your alfresco cooking skills. BBQ food from a dirty, greasy, burnt-in grill does not sound appealing in the slightest. When you find the right cleaner for your BBQ, you can clean it up until it's sparkling and, then, start cooking all over again.
Best BBQ cleaners at a glance
Overall best BBQ Cleaner: HG Oven, Grill, and BBQ Cleaner — View now on Amazon
Best for burnt-on food: McKLords BBQ Genie Grill Cleaner — View now on Amazon
Best BBQ degreaser: Jeyes BBQ and Oven Cleaner Spray — View now on eBay
A heavy-duty cleaner will sort out a year's worth of burnt-in food, grease and bacteria. If you don’t fancy risking the non-stick on your grill racks, then something plant-based, naturally sourced and less harsh could be the ticket.
There's a range of the best BBQ cleaners available, all designed with different purposes and specialisms. We’ve got some great cleaning tips for your outdoor kitchen, too. So get those BBQ tools at the ready.
Best BBQ cleaners to prepare for your next garden cookout
Best overall BBQ cleaner
HG/AmazonMulti-purpose, this tough cleaner removes caked-on and burnt-in grease from ovens, grills, barbeques and baking trays. Not only that, but it is quick and thorough. Plus, it's tough on muck and gentle on surfaces: suitable for cast iron and ceramic. Easy to use with a simple spray, you'll be saying goodbye to all that mucky grease in no time.
Customer review: "Bought to clean my gas BBQ. The flat plate and grill cleaned up well, so thought I would try on the inside of the lid which had never been cleaned - four years of baked-on grease. I was really surprised that it cleaned it, 75 per cent on the first application, and the remainder came off in a second. Foam ran a little as was upside down but stayed on when rubbed very lightly with a J cloth."
Pros
- All-in-one
- Degreaser
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not too powerful
Best BBQ cleaner for stainless steel
Weber/AmazonContaining white mineral oils, this Weber Stainless Steel Cleaner will bring out the best in your barbecue whether it’s raining, snowing or the sun is shining. Designed to protect and clean the external stainless steel parts of your barbecue, this easy-to-use spray makes your barbecue shine - and keeps you smiling. We love Weber's BBQ accessories.
Customer review: "I tried several types of stainless steel cleaners from the supermarket and am only super satisfied with the original from Weber. Somehow they always manage to develop the perfect product for cleaning and care of the grills. Absolutely recommended, I will use the Weber product in the future."
Pros
- Restores shine
- Gentle
- Resistant to weathering
Cons
- Oily
- Outside of the BBQ only
Best for burnt-on food
Mcklords/AmazonThis BBQ Genie cleaner from McKLords can be used on all kinds of BBQs, grills, ovens, and even baking trays. It works by loosening fat, stubborn food residue, and baked on grease. This has a handy spray mechanism for easy application and is a fast-acting solution - great for those who don't have the patience to spend hours scrubbing their BBQ.
Customer review: "I sprayed this on my BBQ grill rack that I forgot to clean from a BBQ around a month ago. I thought it would be hard work but this product just made the grease and burnt bits glide off nicely without the need for scrubbing! I would highly recommend this product."
Pros
- Can be used on multiple cooking surfaces
- Fast acting
Cons
- Need to use a fair amount for it to work
Best BBQ degreaser
Jeyes/eBaywww.ebay.co.uk
This Jeyes BBQ and Oven Cleaner Trigger Spray is a powerful BBQ cleaner that comes in a handy trigger spray bottle, making cleaning quick, easy and effective. We love the dual action trigger as it offers targeted foam and a quick, easy clean fine spray. As well as being tough on grease, it's a multi-surface cleaner with anti-bacterial properties.
Customer review: "Amazing stuff. It works 100 per cent!"
Pros
- Tough on grease and bacteria
- Long-lasting fragrance
- Fast action
Cons
- Isn't as effective on burnt-in residue
Best plant-based BBQ cleaner
EcoGuruswww.theecogurus.com
The EcoGurus natural, all-purpose cleaner promotes an eco-friendly clean, extensively tested to outperform other eco-household cleaning products. Made from the highest quality plant-based ingredients, this product delivers a great clean - no matter the surface. Safe on the skin and on the planet, this could be a great addition to your cleaning cupboard.
Customer review: "I’m happy with this product, it’s great for everyday cleaning. It includes a non-abrasive sponge, which makes it ideal for all types of surfaces. It has a pleasant smell, and leaves everything looking and smelling fresh. It’s also gentle to the skin since I have very sensitive skin. I would recommend it."
Pros
- Multi-surface cleaner
- Gentle
- Plant-based
Cons
- A little dry
Best BBQ cleaner for grates
Weber/AmazonSuitable for all barbeques, the high-efficiency Grate Cleaner is a fine mist spray that makes cleaning your grates and interior cook-box components a breeze. Biodegradable and with no hazardous ingredients, spray and let sit for 30 seconds to loosen grease and food residue and wipe clean.
Customer review: "Excellent stuff, my BBQ was splattered with fat after doing a pork joint on it. Used this with the Weber sponges and the grates and inside of the cook box came up a treat, just wait for it to cool down, spray on, leave for 30 seconds then wire brush, and finally wipe with the wet sponge."
Pros
- Easy to use
- High-efficiency
- Biodegradable
Cons
- Not as effective on built up grease
Best foaming cleaner
Glean/AmazonA cleaning solution that foams, rather than one you spray on, can allow for more precise application on tricky-to-clean grills. This GLEAN cleaner offers just that kind of foaming action, clinging to surfaces and working to break down the built-up grease and grime. Once you've applied this cleaner you need to leave it to work, then wipe it off, although some scrubbing may be required on particularly tough food residue.
Customer review: "I recently tried this multi-surface cleaner, and it's quite effective. It's been particularly handy for tough grease stains in the kitchen. The foam action clings to surfaces, making cleaning less of a chore. While it works well on most spills and stains, for some deeply set stains, a bit of scrubbing is still needed."
Pros
- Foaming action
- Multi-purpose uses
Cons
- Has a strong smell
How we chose the best BBQ cleaners
All of these BBQ cleaners have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the type of application and effectiveness in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching BBQ cleaners to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
FAQs
How do I clean up my BBQ?
Charcoal and gas barbeques have different cleaning processes. Even so, some manufacturers may have special recommendations for covering or special cleaning instructions for their range of BBQs. Our advice is to make sure to check the instructions manual or refer to the manufacturer's website before purchasing a BBQ cleaner.
Gas
Gas BBQs are ideal for cooking your food this summer. They, with their open cooking areas, offer the convenience of quick cooking while still giving that authentic grilled flavour to your meal.
Before you start the cleaning, it is recommended to do some preparation. It’s best to start this whilst the BBQ is still hot. Generally, keep that BBQ on after your cookout with the lid down — for around half an hour. Why? This will char any food stuck anywhere — as a pyrolytic oven would.
Now, onto the cleaning. Turn off the BBQ and let it cool down a little. We don't want to burn ourselves. Then, grab a pair of waterproof and heat-resistant gloves - preferably ones that go up to your elbow. With your trusty wire brush, you should be able to brush any charred debris from the grill and inside. Disconnect the gas once you're happy.
Hopefully, by now, your BBQ is a little cooler. With this, why not remove some components if they need a bit of extra care? For the inside, get a tool (whether scraper, wool pad or wire brush) and get rid of the rest of the debris. If you're still not satisfied, this is where the cleaner could come in. Ensure the BBQ is dry before reassembly.
Tip: BBQ-friendly wire brushes should be regularly inspected. Why? This is because the bristles can become loose after a cleaning. Then, possibly, these bristles find their way into a burger and make someone ill.
Charcoal
Charcoal BBQs come with the skill to hold plenty of BBQ fuel for large amounts of food. Perfect for a larger party. From hog roasts to slow-cooking a joint of beef, a charcoal BBQ is a traditional way to prepare food outdoors.
1. Firstly – you should start with the base. For this, you need to brush out any remaining ash or debris from inside the base. Then, wash the inside of the base with some soap and a steel wool pad. If you’re struggling with grease, try a plant-based cleaner like the EcoGurus All-Purpose cleaner alongside a cookbox scraper. That should do it.
2. Next, you can tackle the outside with a microfibre cloth — with some soap. Rinse with water.
3. Once clean as can be, make sure there is no more soap on the BBQ and leave it to air dry.
4. Repeat this process with the lid.
Grill
Lastly, the grills and racks — for gas, charcoal or hybrid. Just go easy on the chemicals, unless necessary, and you should be fine. Don't risk your non-stick for the sake of a clean grill. Here are our steps to cleaning your BBQ grill:
Firstly, brush any charred, left-over food with a wire brush. Next, you should be able to wipe off as much grease as you can with a microfibre cloth. Some people even recommend using sheets of old newspaper. But, it's up to you.
If the racks still are not budging, we recommend using the Weber Grate Cleaner. Alternatively, Oven Pride can be used sparingly for a deep clean – and if you’re able to take the grill racks out from the BBQ. Only apply for how long the product tells you to. Just make sure not to overdo it because the metal surfaces can lose their non-stick properties.
After this, you may still have some tough bits left. So, go in with your brush or a steel wool pad. You may want to do a second clean if necessary. But, don't overdo it. Rinse with mild soap and water.
Tip: You can't go wrong with using traditional ingredients like bicarbonate of soda and vinegar.
Can I use oven cleaner on a BBQ?
The last thing you want to do is damage your BBQ. So, you need to be careful what chemicals you put on it.
Generally, most cleaning products are fine to use on materials such as stainless steel. But, some specialist barbecues could have parts that are made from cast iron or enamel. This is where you could run into an issue.
Most BBQ brands make their own cleaner. For example, Weber makes their own enamel-friendly cleaner.
Oven cleaners can be quite abrasive, especially the ones with chemicals. As previously mentioned, these harsh chemicals could take the non-stick properties from the BBQ grill racks. And that’s not what you want.
You could, in theory, use your regular oven cleaner. However, make sure to check the cleaning instructions provided by your BBQ manufacturer, as well as the cleaning product itself. But, we don't really recommend them.
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Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Modern Gardens Magazine, an all-rounder. When she’s not writing about houseplants, she’s tending to her own growing collection…