How to Clean Porcelain Grill Grates

Co-authored by Bridgett Price and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

The sun is shining and the weather is warm—it’s the perfect day for a BBQ! But if your grill grates are looking a little grimy or greasy, a good wash will clean them up and get them ready to feed your guests. Porcelain or ceramic coated grill grates tend to chip easily, so it’s important to use the right products when cleaning them. That’s why in this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about deep cleaning and spot cleaning your porcelain grates.

Things You Should Know

Soak your grates in baking soda, water, and soap (avoid soap with citrus) for about 30 minutes. Scrub off any stubborn grime with a toothbrush, then rinse.
Heat your grill for about 10 minutes, then soak the grates in a professional grill cleaner. Wait 30 minutes, scrub the grates with a rag, and rinse.
Spot clean, as needed, with a nylon brush.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Soap and Baking Soda

1
Fill a tub with warm, soapy water. Grab a plastic bin that’s big enough to fit your grill grates in. Add about 1/2 cup (64 g) of baking soda and 2 to 3 drops of dish soap, then mix them together until the water starts to foam.^{[1]
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- Baking soda is mildly abrasive, but it’s not harmful to porcelain grill grates.
- Avoid any dish soaps that contain citrus. Citrus can corrode porcelain or ceramic coated grates.^{[2]
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2
Soak the grates for about 30 minutes. Place your dirty grates inside the tub so that your water mixture covers them. Leave them to soak for at least 30 minutes to give the baking soda and dish soap time to work.^{[3]
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- If your tub isn’t big enough to submerge the grates completely, soak 1 side of the grates for 15 minutes, then flip them to the other side.
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3
Scrub the grates with a nylon brush. A nylon brush is tough on grease and grime, but gentle on your grates. Put on some gloves to protect your hands, then grab your grill grates and start scrubbing. Focus on the areas where the grease is caked on to really make them shine.
- Use an old toothbrush to get into any nooks and crannies.
- It’s important to use gentle tools on your porcelain grill grates. Using a wire brush could chip the porcelain coating, leading to rust and damage over time.
4
Rinse the grates with a hose. Once you’re done scrubbing, lay your grates out on your lawn and rinse them off completely. Watch that grime and grease rinse away!^{[4]
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5
Let the grates air dry before putting them back onto the grill. Pat your grates dry with a towel to speed up the drying process. Let them sit outside for a few hours until they’re fully dry before loading them back into your grill.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Grill Cleaner

1
Heat the grill for 10 minutes, then let it cool. Heating up the grill burns off any excess food or grease that might be stuck on the grates. Heat up the grill and then let it cool completely to avoid burning yourself during the cleaning process.^{[6]
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2
Place the grates on a trash bag outside. Put on some gloves and remove the grates, then set them down on a plastic garbage bag. The bag will collect any residual grill cleaner spray so that it doesn’t get on your lawn.^{[7]
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3
Coat the grates with the grill cleaner. Be sure to choose a grill cleaner that’s safe for porcelain and ceramic coated grill grates. Spray the cleaner onto the grates on both sides, and make sure the entire grate is coated.^{[8]
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- Most grill cleaners will specify what kind of grills they’re safe to use on. If you’re not sure, check the instructions on the bottle.
4
Let the cleaner sit for at least 30 minutes. Grill cleaner works by breaking down the greasy, grimy food that’s stuck onto the grates. Give the cleaner some time to work as you tackle other outdoor projects.^{[9]
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5
Scrub the grates with a rag. Use a little elbow grease to wipe off any leftover grime. Grab a clean rag and scrub the grates, focusing on any areas that are super dirty.^{[10]
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- You can also use a nylon scrub brush. Just avoid using a metal grill brush, since that could scratch your grill grates.
6
Rinse the grates with a hose. Once you’re satisfied with the grates, grab your hose and rinse off the grates on both sides. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear, then set the grates in the sun to air dry.^{[11]
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- Make sure that you rinse off your grates thoroughly before using them again. Eating food that’s been contaminated with grill cleaner can be dangerous, and it could make you sick.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Spot Cleaning

1
Use a nylon brush to wipe down the grill after every use. While your grill is still warm, grab a nylon brush and scrape the grates. Focus on any areas that have collected a lot of grease to make sure it doesn’t stick. Cleaning your grill after every use will help keep it clean longer, ensuring you have fewer deep cleans to worry about.^{[12]
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- Wire grill brushes may be popular, but they aren’t the best option for cleaning a grill. Not only do they have a chance to scratch your grates, but the metal wires can break off and get stuck to your grill, which can then transfer into your food.^{[13]
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2
Scrub the grates with aluminum foil for a deeper clean. Aluminum foil helps remove caked on grease in hard-to-reach places. Grab a sheet of aluminum foil and ball it up so it’s about fist-sized. Then, use the foil to scrub the grates and clean them off.^{[14]
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- If the grates are too hot to touch directly, hold the foil with a pair of tongs.
3
Spray the grates with vinegar to target a specific area. Need to quickly dissolve some grease on your grill? Put white vinegar into a spray bottle, then spritz the grates. Use aluminum foil or a nylon brush to scrub the area and remove grease and grime.^{[15]
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- White vinegar is naturally acidic, so it can break down grease quickly.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Has anyone tried using oven cleaner to clean porcelain grates?

Anthony "TC" Williams
Experienced Landscaper
Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.

Anthony "TC" Williams

Experienced Landscaper

Expert Answer

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Be sure to read the label and directions of the oven cleaner as some may be only for metal grates. If the cleaner is safe for porcelain, you can try it.
Question

Are the grates dishwasher safe?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

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No, porcelain grill grates are not dishwasher safe. Unfortunately, dishwasher soap is abrasive, and it can scratch and corrode the porcelain coating on the outside of your grates.