Get your Grill Ready for Summer

 If your grill is covered with dirt and grime, it's time to give it a good spring cleaning. With a little elbow grease, your grill can be in tip-top shape in no time. First you'll need to gather some materials from around the house including, dish soap, a bucket, a grill brush, paper towels, gloves and foil. Your grill will be easiest to clean when it's warm. So either preheat your grill before cleaning or clean it after use. Before you begin, make sure the dials are all set to off and disconnect the gas. Once the grates have cooled enough to touch them, put on gloves and remove them from the grill. Use a wire brush to scrub grease and food particles from the grate. If this method isn't enough, submerge the grate in a bucket of soapy water. Let it soak until the build-up is loosened. Clean again with the wire brush and rinse. If the cooking grate is cast iron, oil it with vegetable oil to keep it from rusting. Before putting the grate back on, cover the heating elements with foil to protect them as you clean the rest of the grill. Use your grill brush and either soapy water or oven cleaner for more stubborn grease to scrub the underside of the hood and the inside walls of the grill. Wipe down the inside and outside of the grill with a damp rag or paper towels. Put the grates in place, and you're done! To keep your grill clean, use oil or cooking spray on the grates when cooking and clean with the grill brush after each use. Then, wipe it down with paper towels or stainless steel wipes. This should keep your grill looking like new all season long.