Grilling is fun for a variety of reasons - it’s amazing to see a meal prepared with love and care fresh on your plate, ready to enjoy.
Unfortunately there is a downside to grilling - the clean up.
Nobody enjoys cleaning, especially after a hearty meal. Grilling can make a lot of mess too, which means it can take even longer to clean.
In order to do a good job cleaning your grill, you are going to need a good quality grill cleaner.
Of course, there are a lot of fantastic grill cleaners on the market, the only question is what will be the best choice for you and your grill?
Thankfully, we’re here to help.
Here are just a few of the best grill cleaners on the market. We’ve also written a nifty buyer’s guide to help you to make your decision.
OUR TOP PICK
The Easy Off Professional Oven and Grill Cleaner is a great choice if you want to have a squeaky clean grill in no time. It is capable of doing spot cleans in a mere 5 minutes!
Not only that but this particular grill cleaner can also clean ovens. This makes it pretty versatile to use as a whole.
It can cut through any grease and grime in no time, whether it’s on your grill, your pots and pans or on your oven.
To use it, you simply have to spray the solution, wait a minute or two, then just wipe the grease away.
In addition to this, the Easy Off Professional Oven and Grill cleaner is pretty affordable for a grill cleaner. You can get a lot of formula for your money.
It’s ideal if you don’t want to spend a lot of time trying to clean your grill. It doesn’t include any fumes, and you don’t need to wear protective gloves when you use it either.
Its sticking power isn’t the best, though.
Pros
- Affordable
- Works well on flat surfaces
- Dissolves grease and grime in no time
Cons
- Doesn’t have the best sticking power
EDITORS CHOICE
Nobody wants to spend their whole day cleaning their oven, which is why the Therapy Premium Stainless Steel Cleaner is such a big asset to anyone looking for a quick and easy clean.
The solution comes in a 16 oz bottle, which means that it can last you for quite some time.
The bottle has a spray bottle top, and this means that you can spray as much or as little as you need in any given moment.
It does a great job of banishing grease from your grill. Of course, one of the main issues with grill cleaners is that they can often be made out of toxic of non-biodegradable materials.
Thankfully, that is certainly not the case with this formula. The cleaner is made out of plants, and it is very easy to rinse off the surfaces. You can expect stunningly shiny surfaces when cleaning, as if nobody had ever used the grill before.
The cleaner even comes with a microfiber cloth. It’s affordable, especially considering all that it offers.
You will need to put a little extra effort into cleaning though if there are any bits burnt on into your oven, as those can be harder to clean.
Pros
- Plant based formula
- No streaks when cleaning
- Affordable
- Good value for money
Cons
- Will require extra effort to clean especially tough stains
BEST VALUE
Sometimes you just want a little extra versatility in your grill cleaner. That is certainly something that you will get with the Citrusafe Grill Cleaning Spray.
This is a multipurpose cleaner that not only cleans grills, but can also work on pretty much anything else. It’s especially good at cleaning appliances that are made out of stainless steel.
The cleaning spray is ideal for cutting through grease. It’s very affordable as a whole, and with your purchase you will get a 23 oz. bottle.
This bottle has been designed to be as ergonomic as possible, and has an easy to use nozzle. It also has a refreshing citrus scent that will make your grill smell heavenly.
This is thankfully a non toxic cleaner, and it even has biodegradable compounds. It doesn’t corrode appliances, so it’s totally safe to use.
Of course, as it isn’t a chemical cleaner, it may not have quite the level of power as sprays that do include chemicals.
Pros
- Non toxic
- Citrus smell
- Works on a range of appliances
- Affordable
Cons
- Not as much power as chemical formulas
RUNNER UP
If you want your grease to be gone in no time at all, you will love the TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray for BBQ.
This effective spray is extremely versatile, and there’s a lot to love about it. It can get rid of any particularly tough stains in no time at all.
If you use this cleaner, not only can you clean the grill but you can also clean the outside cover of the grill.
You can use it with pretty much any type of cleaning apparatus, whether it has no bristles or if it’s just a brush. The cleaner is capable of cutting through grease on whatever grates you have, from gas to oil stone and propane grills.
In addition to this, the cleaner doesn’t have any strong smells. The bottle is decently sized so you will get enough formula for the task you are trying to complete. The bottle is somewhat awkward to use, however.
Pros
- Decent bottle size
- Versatile
- No strong smells
Cons
- Bottle shape makes it a little difficult to use
RUNNER UP
If affordability is one of your top priorities, we’re sure you’ll appreciate the Goo Gone Grill and Grate Cleaner. This fantastic cleaning solution provides you with a top tier performance, allowing you to clean in no time at all.
This particular cleaner is biodegradable, and it also features a pleasant orangey smell in the air once you’ve used it. This is certainly a welcome thing, as many grill cleaners can smell quite unappealing.
With your purchase, you will get a lot of formula that should last you at least a couple of months. It’s even very easy to use.
You can use the formula on pretty much any material, but it is advised that you do not use it on faux stainless steel or aluminum.
The gel formula acts quickly, so you don’t need to wait for ages before scrubbing for the formula to work. It can even prevent corrosion.
Pros
- Biodegradable
- Nice orange smell
- Large bottle
- Affordable price
Cons
- Some may find the orange smell a little bit too sweet
Best Grill Cleaner Buying Guide
What is a Grill Cleaner?
Grill cleaners are basically cleaning solutions that are specially designed to get rid of any greases or oils that are particularly stubborn after you’ve finished cleaning.
You can find these things in a range of forms, from spray on cleaners, to cleaners that have specific modes of application.
Why Should I Use a Grill Cleaner?
Sure, you can use a grill brush or burn off the mess after you’ve finished cooking by just turning the grill back on, but sometimes a quick fix just can’t solve every issue. Every once in a while you will need to give your grill a deep clean.
In essence, a grill cleaner will get rid of anything left over after you’re cooking. If your grill isn’t properly cleaned then your food may end up tasting worse than it should, or your cook times can be altered. You can avoid this completely just by getting a decent grill cleaner.
Things to Consider
There are a lot of grill cleaners on the market, which is why it’s so important to make sure that you choose the right one for you. It’s not the best idea to just buy the first cleaner that you see.
You may find that the one you pick up isn’t compatible with your particular grill cleaner, or it may leave off horrible smelling fumes. So what are some of the things that you need to think about when making your decision? Read on…
Types of Cleaner
There are a few main types of cleaners. You can have an all purpose cleaner which will allow you to use them for a range of different cleaning tasks. You can also opt for an interior cleaner - these are usually the best heavy duty options.
Finally, you can have exterior cleaners, which are designed to make the outside of your grill look clean. You will need to ensure that you have the right cleaner for each part of the grill to get the best results.
Ingredients
You will usually find that most standard grill cleaners consist of toxic chemicals that are needed to get rid of all the grime and grease. Sure, they work well, but they have their downsides.
They can actually harm your health and they aren’t very friendly for the environment either. Some grill cleaners can end up irritating your skin if it manages to get on you too.
There are options on the market that do a great job of cleaning, while also keeping you and the environment safe from harsh chemicals. Look for cleaners that are non toxic and biodegradable. There are also some out there that are made out of totally natural ingredients which are worth considering.
Versatility
You may not want to spend the extra money buying a grill brush in addition to your grill cleaner. In this case, it’s worth hunting down a cleaner that offers you plenty of versatility.
If you only use your grill once in a while, then if you buy a grill cleaner that costs a fortune and can only be used to clean your grill, you may not use it for a long time.
Look for a cleaner that can be used for a range of different cleaning activities. There are some out there that will allow you to clean every stainless steel surface in your household in addition to your grill.
You should also check what grills the grill cleaner will work on, as some are designed only for certain kinds.
Smell
You may not be too concerned about the smell of the grill cleaner, after all the chances of it affecting your food are slim.
With that being said, your food may end up smelling a little unpleasant.
It’s worth considering a grill cleaner that is scent free. The last thing you want is for your burger patties to smell like your household cleaning agents.
There are a lot of great options out there that either have no smell or a smell that is light.
Effectiveness
The main thing you need to think about when buying your grill cleaner is how effective it is. You need something that will do the job and do it well. There’s no use buying a grill cleaner that can’t do what it’s designed to do.
Grills can get pretty messy, so you need to ensure that your grill cleaner can dissolve any grime on your grill. Otherwise you’re just wasting your money on a product that barely works.
You should also think about how long it takes for the cleaner to work. Some can take a couple of hours, whereas others only need a couple of minutes. If you want a fast acting cleaner though, make sure it’s a good one.
Ease of Use
The last thing you want when you want to get on with cleaning your grill is a list of instructions that take a long time to figure out. You want something that’s easy to use, something that isn’t going to take a lot of extra effort.
With that being said, there are some grill cleaners that do most of the work for you, whereas others require a little more effort from your end.
You shouldn’t expect miracles - it often isn’t a matter of just one squirt and it’s clean. Cleaning a grill takes time so you need to account for that. If the cleaner can make things a little bit easier for you though, then it’s worth it.
Material of the Grill
When buying a grill cleaner, you need to think about the material the grill is made out of. Some grill cleaners won’t work with certain materials. You should choose special solutions, for example one that can account for stainless steel, another for a charcoal grill.
In addition to this, your grill material is also going to lay out how long it’ll take to complete the cleaning process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean my grill?
You should make sure that you clear off your grill on a fairly regular basis, but a deep cleaning should be done every month or so. This does somewhat depend on how often you use the grill, however. You will also need to take the grill apart once a year for an even deeper clean.
When you’re cleaning your grill, you should also make sure that you have some decent brushes for scrubbing. You should also invest in a decent pair of gloves to protect yourself.
To clean the grill, take the grill grates, drawers and anything else that you can remove easily out of the grill. You should try and soak these, then scrub them thoroughly.
You will also need to clean the lid’s interior, the outside of the grill and the very bottom of the grill. You should also try and re-oil it after you clean, though this will depend on what material your grill is made out of.
How do I clean the outside of my grill?
It’s not that difficult to clean the outside of a grill!
All you need to do is give the stainless steel parts a good scrub using non abrasive, non toxic cleaners or polish. This cleaner needs to be designed for use on grills.
You should use a microfiber cloth to clean if possible, and just clean in the direction of the stainless steel’s grain.
When should I clean my grill?
You may be surprised to learn that the best possible time to clean your grill is when it’s just cooling down, but still warm enough.
It shouldn’t be excessively hot, but it should be warm enough for the fat and grease to fall off.
It’s possible to clean the grill when it’s cold, but you will need to work a little harder to get rid of any grease and grime.
Is it possible to use a vacuum cleaner to clean a grill?
If you wish to, you can use a vacuum cleaner to clean your grill.
If you plan on cleaning through this method, you should opt for a hand held vacuum, as this will be much easier to move around and it will have the power to get rid of any left over food.
Can you use an oven cleaner on BBQ grates?
It’s possible to use an oven cleaner to clean BBQ grates.
A lot of people choose to use oven cleaners to clean their grills, or they use dish soap.
It is certainly better to buy a proper grill cleaner however, as they are designed specifically for cleaning grills. This often makes them more effective to use.
Last update on 2024-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API