Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
I have never cleaned my Grill grates ever, on any smoker, pit or grill, I brush at the end of a cook and once again when the grates are warmed up prior to cooking, if you have grates with a flat bottom and rounded top, flip every so often, turn up the heat brush off the bits, cool and flip back.
I think I may have cleaned them once on my old gosm gasser years ago and once on the pit after seasoning but that was before I knew any better.