FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — It may not be peak grilling season, but there are still steps you should be taking to get the most out of your barbecue. “If you maintain your grates, your flavorizing bars and your flame bars,” says Ace Hardware Assistant merchandise manager Cheryl Register. “Keep it nice, keep it clean and you’ll be ready to fire up for any occasion that you want to.” Register says cleaning the interior and exterior differs slightly from each brand and model, but there are tried and true methods that work for all. “You don’t want to have to come out and spend $50 on new grates, $100 on your stainless steel flavorizer bars,” she said. “If you keep them maintained, you can get 10 to 15 years out of a BBQ if you do the right process when you’re putting it away. After burning off residue, use a grill brush to scrub the grates after they cool. “There are grill cleaners, but my number one go-to to clean those grates is Dawn dishwashing soap,” Register said. “It cuts the grease. You just scrub it lightly with steel wool.” California weather may give us year-round opportunities to grill, but cleaning is an important step as it prevents flare-ups. Put away any liners that may attract pests. Using a Traeger? Make sure you’re not using the hopper as a storage area for pellets. “When it’s time to put that away, get those pellets out of there so they don’t deteriorate or disintegrate in there,” Register said. Using a cover goes a long way. “That’s a little bit more expensive, but it’s going to give you longevity against rust and the other elements,” Register said. “Get your propane disconnected, get the valve and cover it with a plastic bag so no spiders go up in there as well.” In addition to covering your grill, cover the propane hose. “Spiders will find any little crack or crevice to make a little nest or web, and that will clog your propane,” Register said. Protecting your purchase actually starts the day you buy it. Make sure to register your grill to ensure you can get replacement parts within warranty if anything goes wrong.
https://abc30.com/post/watching-wallet-keeping-grill-good-shape-during-winter/18185818/
