How to Prepare Your Grill for the Winter

Posted November 11, 2022

Grilling season, for most, is coming to an end. That means it is time to prepare your grill for the winter months. Deep cleaning your grill seasonally and storing it properly will help to keep it in prime condition for longer.

If you live in an area of the country that is warm year-round or if you grill through the winter months, it is still important to do an end-of-season deep clean for your grill.

Cleaning Supplies You Will Need

You will want to gather all the supplies you need before getting started. Here is a list of what we suggest you work with to deep clean your grill each fall.

• Rubber gloves

• Grill brush

• Shop vacuum

• Cleaner of choice: Dish soap, vinegar, and baking soda, or a grill cleaner

• Rag or microfiber (stainless steel grills)

• Stainless steel cleaner (stainless steel grills)

• Cooking oil (vegetable, olive, etc.)

• Grill cover

How to Clean Your Grill

When to Deep Clean Your Grill

To prepare your grill for winter, you will want to deep clean it following our guidelines below. You will also want to follow this same process at the beginning of the grilling season. Throughout the winter months, your grill can get dirty from insects, vermin, and dust accumulation.

If you use your grill frequently, you may also want to consider deep cleaning it throughout the grilling season.

How to Deep Clean Your Grill

1. To get started, turn your grill on and heat the cooking grids for five minutes.

2. Immediately scrape the grids with your grill cleaning brush to remove as much food and debris as possible

3. Allow your grill to fully cool.

4. Remove the cooking grids and any other removable parts.

5. Empty your grill’s hopper if applicable.

6. Mix a bucket with hot water and dish soap.

7. Dip a rag into the soapy water and use the rag to scrub the cooking grids and remove any remaining debris.

8. Rinse the grids thoroughly with water to ensure any soap residue is fully removed.

9. Use a vacuum to clean out the grill's interior and remove any food that has dropped into the cavity in step 2.

10. Scrub the grill’s interior cavity with your rag and soapy water mixture. Use a second rag with just water to rinse away any soap residue.

11. Remove any drip pans, drawers, and/or trays and clean them in the same manor.

12. Fully dry all parts before placing them back into their proper locations in the grill.

13. Use a rag or paper towel to fully coat your cooking grids in cooking oil. This will prevent excess moisture from seeping into the grids over time and wearing them down as well as seasoning your grill.

14. Use water or a stainless-steel cleaner to wipe down your grill’s exterior and remove any food or buildup.

Extra Steps for Winterization

There are a few additional steps we recommend taking to prepare your grill for storage over the winter.

• Disconnect and remove the propane tank if applicable.

• Wrap burners, hoses, and other parts with small pieces of plastic or store them in a secure tote. This will prevent insects from getting inside these areas and building a home.

• If your grill has a battery or electric-powered starter, disconnect it.

• If your grill has a rotisserie motor, remove and store this indoors.

• Cover your grill and store it out of the elements if possible. If you can’t store your grill in a garage or shed, try your best to keep it covered well and invest in a quality grill cover.

• Carefully check all drawers, legs, and other parts of your grill for food drippings or crumbs you might have missed. This will prevent the unwanted attraction of rodents and corrosion from food.

Shop For Your Grill at Queen City

At Queen City Audio Video Appliance, we are here to help you find the best grill to meet your needs and give you the advice to keep it working well year after year. Shop our selection of pellet grills, propane grills, charcoal grills, and natural gas grills online today.

Our appliance store has several locations you can choose from serving the Carolinas in Charlotte, Salisbury, Morganton, Monroe, Pineville, and our new store coming soon in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.