Having a clean BBQ is not complicated when you are well equipped!
So today I'm talking to you about several really hot products that make the process easier and allow you to finish it quickly. The best part of all this (apart from your BBQ which is going to shiner when you're done 😉)? That's because all these fire products are available at BBQ Québec at really affordable prices. 💯 (Don't worry, I'll also explain how to clean your BBQ thoroughly so that it's clean, clean, clean. 🤩)
Before I get into the thick of it, though, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you about five signs that indicate you're really due to change your BBQ (because there's a limit to what my secret tricks can accomplish 😜):
- The paint on your BBQ is peeling and ending up on your pieces of meat;
- Your BBQ bowl is as twisted as a Twist-O-Max;
- The burner of your BBQ has fallen to the bottom;
- The lid of your BBQ makes so much noise when you lift it that it disturbs your neighbors;
- Your BBQ grill is so damaged that you have to cut your ribs in half to cook them in an indirect zone.
If you have recognized your BBQ through these signs, the products I am going to tell you about will not save it, but can help in the meantime… maybe. 🙈
The first product on the list is the BBQ Degreaser Quebec . This is a product made in Quebec that strips, not a little (I even wash my car mags and my shower with it 🤯)! To use it, it's simple, you just have to follow the instructions on the back, but to summarize, you spray it on your BBQ, let it act for 2-3 minutes and rinse it with a pressure washer or a garden hose.
Then, once your BBQ is well degreased, use the BBQ Quebec Luster Reviver to make it shine. This product, also made in Quebec, is so effective that I advise you to wear sunglasses so as not to hurt your eyes; your BBQ will SPARK! ✨
Otherwise, to clean the inside of your BBQ more thoroughly, I recommend This Napoleon cleaning set (I would like to point out, however, that your BBQ does not need to be a Napoleon brand for you to be able to use it). This practical kit is very interesting because it contains four accessories:
- a "hook" (an orifice cleaner) to unclog burners;
- a tank scraper to thoroughly scrape away grease that has accumulated in the tank or lid;
- a venturi brush to clean the inside of the burner (very effective for removing cobwebs, for example);
- an angled cleaning brush with a grill scraper to thoroughly clean the grills.
Also know that these accessories will give an equally beautiful result, whether your BBQ is gas, pellet or electric.
As for the grates, you can clean them using the BBQ Quebec wooden scraper so you don't leave any hairs behind when you scrub them. Personally, I stick to the bristles when I clean, but this is a great scraper to have to keep your BBQ grills cleaner.
Another option is to use the "terminator" of brushes, the Grill Daddy! Made in the USA and very durable, the Grill Daddy and the Grill Daddy Pro are easy to use: you put water in, heat the BBQ, then when it's nice and hot, you scrub its grates with one of the two brushes. Seriously, you'll feel like you have brand new grates after that, it's sick! Whether your BBQ grates are made of cast iron, steel or porcelain-enameled steel, they ALL deserve to be cleaned with a Grill Daddy. (By the way, these brushes sell like hotcakes, so it's not always easy to get one, but we're working very hard with the manufacturer to get more, more often. 🤞)
Otherwise, if you have a pellet BBQ, the grease seal is often very dirty. I therefore invite you to change it from time to time by replacing it with a new seal.
If, on the other hand, you have a gas BBQ, then I advise you to use r aluminum dishes to collect the fat. In addition to being effective, it is very easy to replace them when they have done their job.
By the way, if you have a gas BBQ, the Napoleon burner cleaning kit is a great way to unclog and clean your BBQ burner. (If you're not interested in the four-piece accessory set I mentioned above, this is a good option to consider instead.)
Otherwise, if your BBQ (whatever its fuel type) has not been lit for a while (and you are still a little afraid to open it in case there is rust, squirrels, insects… that kind of little surprise), the Grill Grate Panels are products that can literally "save the life of your BBQ". This is a secret that I'm telling you because we don't often talk about these panels during our lives; precisely because they are so effective that we would risk selling fewer BBQs if we talked about them too often. 🙈 Basically, you install these cast aluminum grills in your BBQ, they absorb its heat, then distribute it equally over the entire cooking surface. The panels are reversible, so whether you use their "grill" side or their "plate" side, you can easily cook and/or fry shrimp, vegetables and even eggs. As you can imagine, these panels are a great way to "rejuvenate" your BBQ.
Otherwise, we all know that sometimes things break or bend in BBQs. If you have a charcoal BBQ and it has little "fins" on the bottom (to empty the ashes more easily), they can lose their shape, especially if your BBQ is an "entry-level" model and they are made of aluminum. If this happens to you, it is super easy to change them with our replacements (available in our stores).
The grills are also another component of BBQs that, over time, can bend, break or rust. If you recognize your grills in one or more of these aspects, well, it's time to change them. If you have a charcoal BBQ, I even advise you to replace its grill with the BBQ Québec cooking grid . Made of 304 stainless steel, it does not oxidize, does not rust and remains beautiful. Like all BBQ Québec products, this grid is a quality product that you can keep for a long time. 👌
Also, it is likely that the background grid of your charcoal BBQ also needs some love. That's why, if it's in good condition, I recommend getting a second one to double it up, then placing it so that the grill is in an "x" shape. This way, the big chunks of charcoal won't fall to the bottom of your BBQ and it will be easier for you to maintain it.
Lately, the Napoleon's carpet and the Quebec BBQ mats are great ways to make sure you protect your patio from dripping grease and to complete your BBQ area beautifully. In the case of BBQ Québec mats, they are even available in different sizes, so no matter what type of BBQ you have, there is a model that will suit it perfectly.
Here, on the other hand, I hear you saying to me "JP, products are all well and good, but how do you clean them?" I was going to get to that! To properly clean your BBQ, I advise you to follow these steps:
- Remove the grates from your BBQ and scrub them with a brush (I said it before, and I'll say it again, it works really, really, really well with the Grill Daddy steam brush; I can't recommend it enough!).
- Once that's done, use the Napoleon Bowl Scraper to clean any carbon residue from the bowl and lid of your BBQ. Also use it to scrape off any grease stuck on your BBQ's baffles.
- The next steps, I highly recommend them if you have a gas BBQ. In fact, after having cleaned them well, soak the deflectors and the grids of your BBQ in a tub filled with hot water and BBQ Québec Degreaser (pour half a bottle of Degreaser and add the same amount of water in the tub). Since the tub contains a mixture of water and Degreaser, I advise you to be patient and let everything act for a good while.
- While you wait, use the remaining Degreaser in the bottle to clean the inside (lid, bowl, burner, etc.) and outside of your BBQ. Let the product sit for 2-3 minutes, then rinse everything thoroughly.
- Rinse the baffles and grids that you placed in the tray, then reinsert them into the BBQ.
- Admire your beautiful clean BBQ!
There you have it! Apply my cleaning tips, and it’s clear that your BBQ area will be unrecognizable!
Happy BBQ cleaning everyone! 🔥
P.S. – To see me present all these products live, Click here .