| One of the greatest pleasures of the long | | | | If you have a casing and hood that is vitreous |
| summer days is standing over a scalding barbecue | | | | enamel you may have to use an oven cleaner |
| grill in your backyard blackening a row of your | | | | type product (preferably non-toxic) to remove |
| favorite sausages. | | | | the baked on grease. Depending upon the state |
| When daylight saving starts, barbecues across the | | | | of the grease you may have to do this several |
| country will be wakened from their winter | | | | times and then the grease can be removed with |
| hibernation and prepared for the summer season. | | | | scourers and cloths. You should also wash the |
| That is the time to do a few routine checks and | | | | complete casing thoroughly. |
| preparations which will keep your barbecue | | | | De-rusting and re-oiling |
| operating safely for the season. | | | | If your grills and burners are cast iron, they may |
| Cleaning the inside of your barbecue | | | | have corroded over winter. Scrape off any flaked |
| The first step to annual barbecue maintenance is | | | | rust and then give the surface a good scour with |
| cleaning. It has to be done! | | | | a wire brush, wash all the parts and then spray |
| The secret to cleaning your barbecue is to do it | | | | with cooking oil before they rust up again. |
| every time you use it, but don't go over the top | | | | If the outer casing is developing rust spots, these |
| - a coat of natural food oils on the cast iron parts | | | | should be rubbed back with steel wool and |
| protects them from rust. Eventually those oils, | | | | treated with rust converter before retouching |
| fats and burnt-on food will build up excessively | | | | with heat-resistant paint. |
| and need to be removed. | | | | Timber barbecue trolleys can be kept in good |
| Warm barbecues are easier to clean than cold | | | | order by re-oiling them once a year. Give the |
| ones, so start it up for a short time first then | | | | trolley a light sanding then use outdoor furniture oil |
| turn it off and disconnect the gas before | | | | or a specially formulated barbecue trolley oil. This |
| dismantling the entire barbecue to wash all the | | | | will not only soak through oil stains on the top of |
| parts one by one. | | | | your trolley but help protect against new ones. |
| The grills can be spread out on some newspaper | | | | Renew volcanic heating rocks each year as they |
| and scraped clean with a grill scraper which is | | | | become clogged with grease and oil. Empty the |
| normally specially shaped to fit around the grill | | | | old sand from the drip tray, clean the tray and |
| bars. | | | | give it a spray of vegetable oil before lining it with |
| Alternately, grab a grill stone. These man-made | | | | aluminium foil. Place new washed sand on top of |
| stone blocks are soft enough to grind to the | | | | the foil. |
| shape of the grill as you use them, removing | | | | Keep it working (and safe) |
| grease and burnt-on food as you go. This is a | | | | Gas taps can become stiff over winter, causing |
| great tool as it customises to your grill shape. | | | | plastic controls to break. Remove the plastic |
| Spray on some cooking oil before scrubbing the | | | | knobs and spray the mechanisms with a lubricant |
| grill clean with warm water and soap mixed with | | | | like WD-40 to free them up. Apply a drop of |
| white vinegar to remove any residue. Once dry, | | | | sewing machine oil to each tap and then cover |
| spray on a little more oil and spread it with a | | | | them with Vaseline to keep the oil in. |
| paper towel or cloth. Make sure that the soap | | | | If one or more of your burners doesn't seem to |
| mixture is well cleaned off. | | | | generate a flame then it may be because a gas |
| If you have ceramic flame-tamers or cooking | | | | jet has become clogged. |
| grids these should be cleaned with soapy water | | | | If you lift the burner out of the barbecue you will |
| and a brass wire barbecue brush. Soak in the | | | | see the small brass jets - these are like a small |
| soapy water for an hour first. | | | | covered nut with a tiny hole through them. They |
| The outer casing | | | | can be simply removed with a small spanner. If |
| If your barbecue has a stainless-steel outer casing | | | | you can't clear the blockage, buy new ones from |
| and trolley, then all it will need is cleaning. Harsh | | | | a barbecue shop. |
| cleaners and abrasives shouldn't be used on | | | | Reconnect the gas and check all the connections |
| stainless-steel as they will scratch it - the soapy | | | | by coating them with a mix of 50/50 dishwashing |
| water and vinegar mix is all that is needed. After | | | | liquid and water. If gas is leaking you will detect |
| cleaning the outer casing, it can be buffed with | | | | bubbles forming in the mixture. Try tightening the |
| cleaning oil, or even a little baby oil. The oil will | | | | connections or replacing the seals. |
| remove watermarks and fingerprints and will also | | | | Follow these simple hints and tips and your |
| make it easier to clean next time. | | | | barbecue will last for years. |