I use fire to clean my grates exclusively! I let them burn off over the hot coals when grilling, and then they are "clean" for my next smoke. I always put my grates on the grill after I'm finished cooking to burn off everything. I hate wasting hot coals!
I've found the weed burner works well on the ones for my electric box (yeah, I take them out first). if I were using the UDS I'd just drop the grates to the lowest rack setting, and stoke up the initial 'getting my coals' fire up as high as possible. a few minutes at 700F seared the grates clean and cleared off anything that might happen to have put itself on the walls.
I think, what I might do later on in the year is knock up a metal box to fit my grates into on one side, and the weed burner in the other, and that way I can give them a good torching for several minutes. actually might be good to have just in general. I wind up cleaning and reseasoning cast iron a lot... (I have other people living here that are hard on the pans)
but in general, I find fire cleans a multitude of things...
I have had one of those. They gunk up easily and are rendered ineffective.
The scrubber I have has a "U" shaped handle with two scrubbie pads on it . Warm up the grill (warm) and just rub, no kidding looks new in less than 10 seconds.
After about 4 BBQ hamburgers or 1 rack of ribs I clean between the bars with the beater pocket knife. I'll never use a brush again, and will give the scrubbie pads to my kids for Christmas presents along with the story of finding a wire from the old style brush in my food. Still scares me to think what could have happened.............no way your going to pass that sucker!
Any ideas about this type? I may try this style next.
Ron
I guess it depends on what you cook. We do mostly chicken, steaks and hamburgers. Ours has lasted about a year and is VERY clean still.
I have had one of those. They gunk up easily and are rendered ineffective.