How to Deep Clean a BBQ Grill Mid-Summer

Your grill has been through a lot by July — here’s a full mid-season deep clean to keep it performing at its best.

By the time July 4th rolls around, your grill has been through multiple cookouts’ worth of grease, carbon buildup, and food residue. A mid-season deep clean improves cooking performance, prevents flare-ups, and extends the life of your grill. This is the full clean — not just a brush-and-go.

When to Deep Clean

Deep clean your grill when you notice any of these: excessive smoke during preheating, persistent bad smells when grilling, food sticking more than usual despite oiling the grates, or visible heavy grease buildup on burner covers or grill walls. For heavy users, a mid-season deep clean every 6–8 sessions is ideal.

Gas Grill Deep Clean

Gas Grill — Complete Deep Clean

Turn all burners to high for 15 min with lid closed — burns off food residue
Let cool completely before disassembly
Remove and soak grates in hot soapy water for 30 min, then scrub with a grill brush
Remove burner covers/flame deflectors — scrape off buildup, wash with soapy water, rinse
Clean burner tubes: check for clogs with a venturi brush or pipe cleaner; blocked tubes cause uneven heating
Scrape out the firebox with a plastic scraper — remove carbon and grease deposits
Clean and empty the grease tray — this is the #1 fire hazard if neglected
Wipe all interior walls with warm soapy water, rinse
Check igniter — clean the spark tip of any buildup
Wipe and clean exterior surfaces
Reassemble, oil grates, run a preheat to season

Charcoal Grill Deep Clean

Remove all ash and debris from bowl and ash catcher
Scrub grates with grill brush; soak in hot soapy water if heavily caked
Scrape and wipe inside of bowl — remove all baked-on grease
Clean inside of lid — charcoal grease deposits here and creates bitter-tasting smoke
Clean and open vents — blocked vents destroy temperature control
Re-season grates with vegetable oil after drying

Maintenance Schedule for the Rest of Summer

Before each use: Preheat on high for 10 min, brush grates
After each use: Burn off residue on high for 10 min, brush while hot
Monthly: Check and empty grease trap, wipe burner covers
End of season: Full deep clean before winter storage

Grease Trap Alert: More grill fires start from an overflowing grease trap than any other cause. Check yours after every 3–4 uses in the summer — high-frequency grilling fills it fast. A foil liner in the grease tray makes cleaning it a 10-second job.

How do I know if my burners need replacing?

Hold a flashlight parallel to the burner tubes and look for visible rust holes, cracks, or areas where the flame pattern is uneven (orange/yellow instead of blue). Corroded tubes with holes divert gas improperly and create dangerous uneven heating. Most burner tubes are inexpensive to replace and available at hardware stores.

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