cleaning metal grates

[saltysandman]

took my metal SS grates onto the driveway and blasted them with my electric power washer (EPW). yup i just made up that acronym. Worked great but now I have clean stripes on the driveway.

I've also put them in the oven in cleaning mode but seems like overkill.

 

[hillbillyrkstr]

Put them in a garbage bag and spray them down with oven cleaver. Lay them out in the sun for a few hours.

Scott

 

[chilerelleno]

Wow... You clean your grates?
I call that seasoning, and like with cast iron, leave it alone.

Careful now, your wife might want you to wash the whole drive now.

 

[gmc2003]

I'll give them a wipe down or brushing after smoking, but never have washed them outside of the initial unboxing. The closest thing to a real cleaning is popping them in the kettle for the high heat treatment.

Chris

 

[saltysandman]

Wow... You clean your grates?
I call that seasoning, and like with cast iron, leave it alone.

Careful now, your wife might want you to wash the whole drive now.

indeed. mine's not quite seasoning. more like burnt on food.

 

[chilerelleno]

I knock the bits/pieces off with either a tap on the concrete or with a quick pass of the wire brush.
Our dog happily cleans up for me so I don't have to sweep, thoughtful lil'girl she is.

 

[zwiller]

Place into utility sink with some hot water and oxyclean. Let it sit a few. Brush them down and rinse. Good as new. I get Oxy at the dollar stores.

 

[saltysandman]

Place into utility sink with some hot water and oxyclean. Let it sit a few. Brush them down and rinse. Good as new. I get Oxy at the dollar stores.

oxy clean? that does make sense. thank you all for the great ideas.

 

[radioguy]

I like the oven cleaner, trash bag and sit in the sun if grates are really bad. I just brush with wire brush while still warm from cook.

RG

 

[solman]

Put them in a garbage bag and spray them down with oven cleaver. Lay them out in the sun for a few hours.

Scott

but how do you actually clean them after they've been sitting in the bag for a few hours?

 

[kelbro]

but how do you actually clean them after they've been sitting in the bag for a few hours?

Just rinse with hot water. That oven cleaner is mostly lye so be careful where you dump it. Works very well though.

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

If it's my kettle, a full chimney of coals gets it hot enough that a quick hit with a grill brush is all it takes. With my WSM grates, I just throw them in the kettle from time to time. Get a grill brush, and brush the grates before every cook. If you don't have a high heat grill, the oven cleaner trick is pretty easy, and doesn't pinstripe your driveway (which I've done before).