The Best Way to Clean Your Grill Without A BBQ Brush

[@tomwadek]

Do you clean your grates with the onion method or the aluminum ball method?

[@tylerjones7310]

With onion yes and garlic yes but I ve aigeries to onions

[@tomwadek]

@@tylerjones7310 I’m sorry to hear that. Have you also tried the balled up aluminum foil method.

[@Fireal4632]

no why would i waste an onion. Im not a pussy and i clean my grates

[@xordoom8467]

Another way to remove the gunk without damaging or scratching any of the enamel is to use a Steamer with the scotch-Brite attachment, without almost any pressure the steam will melt\dissolve most of the gunk\grease within seconds and the Scotch-Brite helps with any stubborn gunk. You'll be done in half the time or faster using a steamer...

[@noogman]

I have a 22inch weber grill. I bought a 24 inch water pan normally used to catch overflow from a water heater. These water pans come with a hole in one side. You will need to plug that hole with some PVC pipe, a rubber casket and a cap. Test your pan to make sure it doesn't leak. Place your water pan on the counter, put your grill grate in the pan add some hot water and Dawn. Let it sit over night, then scrub the grate on both sides with a stainless steel pad. You will be amazed at how easy it is to clean your grate like new. Dump out the water from you 24 inch water heater pan, clean the pan with some more Dawn. Let your grate dry and your good to go.

[@tomwadek]

Thanks for sharing!

[@chrisp7293]

The crumbled foil method is one of my favourite methods. I also use a metal scourer that’s used for pots and pans. You can also rinse it, and reuse it multiple times. Thanks for the detailed review.

[@tomwadek]

I was surprised how simple yet brilliant the foil method was. Thanks for watching and suggesting the scourer

[@AverageReviewsYT]

I have always cleaned my grates within the same day, and I take the grates out and use a plastic scrub brush… works fine..

[@DCMae]

I use the Kona Safe Clean Grill Brush. It works best if you wet it first, then use it while the grate is hot. This way develops steam cleaning.

[@tomwadek]

Thanks for sharing!

[@gamrkidd]

I got a custom built Argentinian / Santa Maria style lump / wood burning grill and it has V Shaped grates . Very hard to clean but the aluminum ball and onion are probably the best methods I’ve used .. a pumice stone worked well but I probably won’t use that anymore

[@dingo5208]

Use those wood scrapers, they work well. I use a spiral metal scrubber and follow it up with the wood. The only downside is you have to burn them to the grate so if you have many grills you have to have a scraper for each grill.

[@chrisubias7135]

I put coals in pit, light it up with bbq lighter fluid. Make a big fire fueling it with lighter fluid. Have to be careful not the flame crawl up the stream of fluid. This burns off and make ashes which is easy to clean off with wir3 brush

[@GONZOFAM7]

I've always wire brushed then onioned. I'd never heard of the wire issue until I started seeing ads for the Grill Rescue product on FB and Insta. I'm sure it's a real thing and I'm lucky. I've since switched to an old grill fork to scrape between the grates and an onion after. Can't be too safe. Maybe the onion works because they are full of water and it kind of steam cleans like the Grill Rescue? Nice video, thanks.

[@tomwadek]

Great tip!

[@christianmeza4941]

once is hot use a bent scraper, paint scraper etc first to remove the dirty stuff, wear thick gloves because some hot particles could fly and fall on your hands, that will be faster and easier after that u can keep cleaning with the onion or aluminum ball etc..

[@curtisrogers4190]

I use the aluminum ball but I do it on a cold grill and then I can clean both sides of the grill and does a great job even when it is cold.

[@tomwadek]

That’s great to know. Thank you!

[@Billabong0110]

If you have a wide enough sink. Then soak the grill on a hotwater. Add sodium bicarbonate then add white vinegar ( 1 Li). Leave it for ❤30mins. Rinse it. Then wala. Almost new grill. Just dont use it on aluminium or brass grill as it will oxidize from the acid base reaction. 100 garantisado.

[@shindukess]

My method is a coconut husk and a bowl of water. Let the grates get hot and cook the gunk until it's ash. Dip the wide end of the husk in the water and scrub the grate. It'll steam and scrape it clean really quick like cast iron. Just move fast and watch out for steam burns. No metals or plastics to worry about.

[@tomwadek]

Thanks for sharing

[@KevinDurbin]

OMG, this literally happened to me about 10-12 years ago on my gas grill. Up to that point, I ALWAYS used a wire brush to clean the grill. Then that one day when I was heating it up and getting ready to put the chicken on............... I saw it; the shiny reflective wire bristles that had fallen off. The grill was already heated, so I just turned it up to the highest level for about 10-15 minutes more, until it started smoking, then I took a cloth with avocado oil and rubbed down the grill. Threw away the wire bristle brushes. Cleaning with the cloth/oil was probably not smart either, but I hadn't heard of the onion method at that point

[@tomwadek]

i'm glad you were ok!

[@d00de83]

@@tomwadek Guys I had the same issue 5 years ago and we re invented the bbq brush all together check out the BoyerBrush!

[@GretaWardFireFly]

I have used spraying grills with simple green, using a Teflon scrubber and rinsing off. I will have to try these two.

[@user1233002]

Great video, Tom. I used onions and foil for 25 years. And I loved it.

[@Gkrissy]

Thank God you made this video because yes I’ve seen a tv special of a man who went to ER and needed surgery because of the bristles he swallowed and how it destroyed his stomach. So I don’t use bristle brushes.

[@Hoakaloa]

Thank you for this. I am going to use the onion method from now on. Onions are an easily renewable resource and can be eaten or composted. There are very expensive grills that have laser cut steel grates that are flat and reversible, so you just flip them and burn off the dirty side. But those types of grills are really really expensive (for example, Hestan).

[@LuisCipher]

Get grill up to 500*F cover for 15-20 minutes. Wearing Oven mitts/grill mitts/ fire retardant gloves open the grill and use the Onion first, then the ball of aluminum foil. Have a wire clothes hanger handy. Use the wire hanger to hook the grate, move it around, and flip it over to scrub the opposite side. You can also use the wire hanger to help knock off carbon deposits from the grate. Just make a small J with one end of the wire and slip it through the grates then slide it back and forth along the grates. Do not use wire hangers with any plastic or rubber coating without removing the coating first. Do not burn off any coatings using your grill. You don't want plastic or chemicals in your grill. It's best to use a plain copper wire hanger.

[@rossitherhodie5659]

Good idea. Half a potato and some lemon Juice also works.

[@miggythegreat]

I use half an orange. Citrus power! 💪🏼

[@tomwadek]

The powers of citrus! Thanks for sharing

[@swisswildpicsswp3095]

I just use an angle grinder with wire brush. A bit overkill, but if a wire gets loose and gets in your food, you WILL notice it

[@MrJpd3]

I use my pressure washer. Try it!. Thanks.

[@Saintash1964]

Wouldn’t it be just as easy to let the grill cool off& then wash in warm soapy water & then rinse off ? Sorry but I’m a newbie to charcoal BBQ’s

[@Hoakaloa]

No, that doesn't work well. The cooked on gunk is really difficult to remove with soap and water and the grill grates are large and awkward. I have seen some people heat up the grill and then use sturdy rags soaked in hot water and then rung out to clean up the grates. That seems to work OK but you have to have rages to use and then those end up in the landfill.

[@michaelhannah5376]

Works fine for me, I do that every time I cook with it.

[@aaronlong46]

Faaaaaaah-que!!!!!!!

[@aronp713]

Doesn’t using the aluminum also leave aluminum behind I’ve used the cheap brand. I’ve also used the more expensive brand of aluminum and I always see some residue left behind.

[@dannykapz]

As a user of the safer spiral brush, I’m definitely going to be trying the onion or the tin foil method for my next cook.

[@tomwadek]

Thanks for watching Dan. Amazing how simple the solution was. Glad the community recommended them.

[@louisfan9067]

If it’s a charcoal grill the grates usually come out in 1-2 pieces. So just take a steel scoring ball and scrape them under a garden hose. Be sure to get a food safe garden hose though.

[@taylorc5716]

Doesn’t the foil fall apart or at least shed any particles???

[@Szolkens]

My question as well. I wouldn't choose a brush cause I'm afraid it will leave particles on the grate and I'll eat them someday

[@BigfootMediaPro]

The potential risks of Aluminum food exposure is becoming more well known. For that reason I won’t use aluminum ball anymore. Steel scouring pads can leave behinds small hair like strands. Even a green scouring pad can fall apart when used on a grill. I like the wooden scraper method but may add an onion to my repertoire.

[@AntonioDal.]

I will try out chainmail scrub soon

[@michaelwelker3595]

The steel wire cleaner you have to dip it in warm water and then scrape the grill.

[@ArcanePath360]

The wire brush is not only dangerous to the non-stick grills, but wires can come off and get lodged into the grill and end up in your food. I've heard where people have needed surgery to remove it. Happens more often than you would think

[@AlphaWebSoluitions]

from what I can see, the rescue brush seems nice... at least the ad is.

[@EngineerZX]

Why not use the brush then (the onion or the ball)??

[@sonycarp8271]

Kamado, there it is, 🔥

[@bbfreetube]

Gotta share. Thanks

[@tomwadek]

Thank you for sharing, happy grilling

[@notabot0101]

Grate channel 😁 deserves more attention

[@tomwadek]

😂thank you!

[@RadiusFive]

The best method I found is chainmail in kitchen sink with dish soap. Takes a few minutes, but gets the job done very well.

[@tomwadek]

Great tip!

[@michaelstump6933]

Chainmail works extremely well on cleaning difficult, baked-on residue on cast iron skillets, too!

[@VillanuevaMedia]

I go in with my brush and the onion works everytime and gives a great smell and flavor. Especially here in California a lot of Mexicans stand by it😎 By the way have you heard of the spider venom for the kettles? It's a temp controller and I really like mine.

[@tomwadek]

I have heard of it. My dream grill is the Weber summit kamado so I figured I would just save for that. How was the installation on yours. I heard it can be difficult

[@VillanuevaMedia]

@@tomwadek installing it wasn’t bad at all. Just needed to angle it a little. Been really solid at holding temps.

[@tomwadek]

@@VillanuevaMedia that’s wonderful glad it’s working well for you

[@jodic.8092]

I tried the aluminum foil and it left little foil pieces all over the (hot) grill. Anyone else have this problem?

[@tomwadek]

Oh no, make sure you use the heavy duty foil

[@johnmason6213]

When carbon steel, stainless steel or cast iron frying pans get burnt on material the quickest and easiest way to clean it is to fry onion in it. I never thought of trying this.

[@RockHudrock]

5:53 😳 Phoebe Kates ?!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@tylerjones7310]

Have you tried grill cleaning stone blocks?

[@tomwadek]

Yes I have. I think it was in the original video. They always left this residue and sounded terrible. Honestly, it’s hard to beat the steel wire brushes when it comes to cleaning but I just wish they were safer

[@agfa663]

Throw your grate face down on the grass and leave it there until next morning. The dew makes miracle. Then put your grate back onto the bbq and brush out the grate on both sides. That IS the easiest method.

[@dw049]

Someone told me about this. Was shocked how easy it was to clean the next morning

[@BC-hr2of]

Already shared with the kids and grandkids 😎

[@tomwadek]

Thank you!

[@_shahazmir]

Thanks for sharing ☺️

[@tomwadek]

No problem! Thanks for your comment

[@RobertJToledo]

Quick question guys. What do you do when they start to rust???

[@tomwadek]

I toss it. Likely to break off soon

[@leondevries478]

Throw the grill in Coca cola, really, best to you from the Netherlands ...

[@RobertJToledo]

@@leondevries478 Thank you!

[@LiftingDonuts]

Yeah I always want aluminum in my food.

[@aronp713]

I use that recently, but I noticed that it left some residue behind

[@sonderstudios6675]

But, why would you do this with the grill hot?

[@DCMae]

The heat helps to loosen the greasy build-up.

[@blink555]

throw the onion on the fire. smells great!

[@David-gu8mx]

Newspaper method

[@davidmillan2057]

scub daddy for the w

[@petertrout7866]

Both do a half ass job, case closed.

[@littlestar5737]

I just buy new grates every time.

[@kumchavalcha]

steel "chain mail" + vinegar, onions and pottato raw for seasoning, you can also try lemon+sea salt for cleaning;) or simply burn the top with high temp, wait to cool down and simply wash it ,btw avoid aluminium and high temps... it's baaaad..

[@tomwadek]

Thanks for the tip!