Cleaning Your Grill Grates Without Chemicals

There is nothing better than firing up your grill and cooking up a bundle of vegetables on a hot summer’s evening. Each time you flip a black bean burger, layer your veggies with sauce or add a new rub to your tofu, your grill gets a little more greasy and grimy. Over time, that adds up.

Eventually, your grill grates need a good cleaning. What better way to do so than with a non-toxic grill cleaner? Instead of running out to buy a chemical-laden product, make a homemade degreaser with the items you already have at home. A clean grill will help avoid flare-ups and give you better-tasting food. And a cleaner made with vinegar or baking soda is much safer for you to ingest should some be left on the grill accidentally.

Here are a few ways to clean your BBQ grill or rusty grill grates with the products you have at home. 

Clean Your Grill Grates With Aluminum Foil & Baking Soda

One of the easiest ways to clean your grill grates is with a simple homemade degreaser made from baking soda and water. Simply mix 1½ cups of baking soda with ½ cup of water so it forms a paste. This paste should be thick enough to stick to your grill grate. 

Then remove the grate from the grill, and using a sponge, cover the BBQ grill grate with the paste and let it sit for a few minutes. Grab the aluminum foil from your pantry, and tear off a piece about 2 feet long. Crumple the aluminum foil into a ball, and use this ball to scrub the grates. Take time to go up and down both the top side and bottom side of the grate along each wire. 

After a good scrub, rinse the grate, let it dry, and then put it back in the grill. 

Clean Your Grill Grates With Vinegar

Another easy way to clean your BBQ grill grates is with vinegar. In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of water with 2 cups of vinegar. Spray this mixture on the grate and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then grab a piece of crumpled-up aluminum foil, or a scouring pad, and scrub the grate. Rinse with water when you're done and let it dry.

You can also use this mixture to clean the outside of your grill. Simply spray the vinegar mixture on a cloth and wipe the outside clean. 

How To Clean Rusted Grill Grates

If you open your grill to find a rusty grate inside, it's crucial to clean it before using it. The rust will contaminate your food quickly. But just how do you clean a rusted grill grate? Fortunately, your vinegar and baking soda can be used for this cleaning project as well. 

Put a cup of baking soda in a bowl. Add vinegar, little by little, until it creates a thick paste that will stick to the grill grate. Using a scouring pad, apply the paste to your grate, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Scrub with a grill brush or scouring pad, rinse, and let dry. If you see some rusty spots left on the grate, reapply the mixture and let it sit for another 30- 60 minutes. 

Keeping your grill clean is an important part of your food prep and cooking routine. No one wants food poisoning from an unclean grill. Fortunately, cleaning the grill grates doesn't have to be difficult, and using non-toxic cleaning products is certainly better for your health and the environment.