The 10p household product chefs 'swear by' to clean stubborn dirt off BBQs
It might sound odd, but is said to 'work like a charm'
We're quickly heading into barbecue season as the temperatures are set to soar in Manchester next week according to the Met Office. With estimated peaks of 24 degrees on April 30, families across the region are likely to be busting out the barbies for the first time of the year.
If it's been a while since you last cooked on the outdoor grill, it might be looking a little worse for wear after marinating in the shed all winter. Cleaning off layers of ash and grime is no easy feat, but a BBQ expert has shared advice on how to best clean your garden gadget with relative ease.
As reported by Express Online, Rebecca Smith from Vonhaus explains that using a household item that you're almost certain to have can be an unexpected way to clean the deepest and darkest corners of your barbecue. By crumpling up a piece of aluminium foil into a ball and using it to scrub the metal parts of your barbecue, it can act as an easy way to dislodge any remaining debris.
Smith estimates that this method can work out to around 10p if you break down the costs, and says that it "works like a charm". She elaborates with: "Alternatively, here’s a hack that might sound odd but works like a charm. Crumple a piece of aluminium foil (roughly 10p worth if you break down the cost) into a loose ball, and use it to scrub off burnt-on residue. The foil is cheap, effective, and great for getting into those tricky corners of your grill grates.”
She added: “Or, for a change of pace, consider using a handheld steamer if you have one. Direct steam can soften up grime without any scrubbing at all.
"Some grillers even swear by a quick blast with a pressure washer (on a low setting) to knock off stubborn buildup. And if you’re really in a pinch, a few drops of espresso machine cleaner mixed with water might just surprise you with its degreasing power."
The experts say that checking for loose or damaged parts on your BBQ is essential before the summer. Faults to the burners, gas lines and grill body can cause dangerous hazards.
They recommend tightening screws, replacing worn-out parts and testing the grill in a safe location. If something doesn't seem right, simply replace it.
Importantly, the experts also urge people to keep their grill clean and rust-free throughout the summer. They advise taking a few minutes to brush off the grates after every BBQ.
If you don't have aluminium foil to hand, we've rounded up a few other products that are sure to get your BBQ in tip-top shape this summer. For a brush and scraper, we'd recommend this one from Grill Guard.
For £11.99, it comes with an 18" grill cleaner that's able to scrub in the more hard-to-reach spots. It has a 4.6 star rating on Amazon, with customers singing its praises in the reviews.
Alternatively, there's the Sizzle Buddy gadget, also at Amazon. Sold at £19.99, it lets you load up a squeezable reservoir with water and cleaning solution with a brush head nozzle distributing and scrubbing the solution across the grill.
In terms of cleaning solution, there are plenty of options out there, but we'd recommend the HG Oven, Grill & Barbecue Cleaner Spray. HG is known for its powerful cleaning products with its mould cleaner a mainstay in most renting households - mine included.
The barbecue cleaning variant of HG's cleaning solution is relatively inexpensive, costing £6.50 at Amazon. It has a 4.3 star review score on average with over 15,000 customers leaving their thoughts on the product page.
For another option, there's the BBQ cleaner from Jeyes. This solution has the best review score of the bunch, boasting a huge 4.8 stars.
One review reads: "This is clearly a very effective cleaning agent, and has now taken up permanent residence in my kitchen cleaning armoury." A 750ml bottle is available for £5.99, a little cheaper than the HG option.