After a large cookout where your grill has been used, you might want to make sure that you clean up the grill before using it again.
Although PK grills are made from resistant cast aluminum, the combination of ash, grime, and moisture can be a little corrosive when left there for a long time.
If you want to know how to clean a PK grill the right way, you’re in for a treat!
In today’s article, I’ll provide you with a brief guide that walks you through every step to clean and preserve your precious PK Grill for as long as possible. Let’s dive right in!
Step 1: Make Sure That the Grill is Completely Cold to Touch
The first thing you need to care about while dealing with a grill is your safety.
Before doing any cleaning on your grill, you have to remove all the still-burning coal in the grill and make sure that all the ash and oils have cooled down.
You can simply skip to the next step if you’re sure that the grill is cool to touch.
Step 2: Gather All the Necessary Tools and Items for the Cleanup
While you’re waiting for the grill and ashes to cool down completely, you can use the time in order to prepare the tools and items necessary for the job.
This also comes with the extra advantage of saving you the back and forth while cleaning and makes your job a lot easier.
To clean your grill, you’re going to need the following items:
- A water hose connected to a source
- A suitable spot outdoors where you can use a water hose
- A set of clean, dry rags
- A nontoxic degreaser, preferably a biodegradable one like Stanley Degreaser Concentrate or Grab Green Kitchen Power Degreaser
- Scrubbing brush
- Some cooking oil
- An aluminum polish restorer, such as 3M Marine (optional)
- Vacuum cleaner or shop vac (optional, but it makes the job much easier and quicker)
Step 3: Remove and Clean the Grilling Grid Separately
With everything ready for cleanup, start by removing the grill grid in order to clean it.
You should avoid cleaning the grill grid while on the grill because the liquids used can wet the ash, which makes it sticky and hard to clean.
After removing the grid, apply some of the degreaser all over and give it some time to cure and break off the grime. You can head to the next step and get back to it while cleaning the grill.
Step 4: Empty Any Coal or Dripping Baskets
Now that the ash is exposed, you should remove it before doing any cleaning. The easier way to do that is by using a shop vac or a vacuum cleaner.
However, you can simply empty the ash in a bag, especially if you use a charcoal basket. Similarly, remove and dispose of the dripping basket if you use any.
If you use a dripping basket, then you should also have a bottom grid where the basket lays on. Ideally, you don’t need to clean this one very often.
Yet, when it’s time to clean it, remove it and apply the same cleaning process as the grilling grate.
Step 5: Clean the Grill Lid and Coal Chamber
Ideally, you shouldn’t clean the interior of the grill to keep the grill seasoning intact, which is great for proper temperature control while grilling.
Some people might suggest using a wire brush for this job. However, this can scratch and ruin the aluminum finish. Instead, a simple wipe with a clean rag should be enough.
As for the exterior of these two chambers, the oils and greases will accumulate over them with time, which creates a layer of grime that can be bad for cast aluminum.
To fix that, all you need is to spray or apply some of the nontoxic biodegradable degreasers on the grill’s exterior and let it break down the grime molecules for about 2 to 3 minutes.
It’s also recommended that you remove the grill from the legs to make it easier to reach
In the meantime, your grilling grid from step 2 should be ready for cleaning. Start scrubbing the grid with a scrubbing brush until the grate is fairly clean. Similarly, scrub the exterior of the grill to remove any grime left.
Step 6: Rinse All Cleaned Parts Properly with Water
When everything is cleaned up properly, all you need to do is hose it down with running water to get all the broken grime off the grill.
The water should be washed down easily through the draining holes in the grill.
Once you’re satisfied with the grill’s cleanliness, wipe the exterior down with a clean rag to dry it up or leave the removed parts air dry while you continue your cleaning process.
Step 7: Clean the Legs, Table, and Any Remaining Accessories
You only need to clean the legs of the grill using a clean rag to remove dust and dirt, but you can also use the scrubbing brush if the legs need extra cleaning.
The same applies to the legs or any extra accessories that you use with the grill. Remember to rinse all these parts with your water hose to remove the degreaser.
Step 8: Put the Clean Grill Parts Back Together
Return the grill chambers back where they are and put the grilling grid back on and consider storing your grill in your garage or shed to avoid exposing the grill to the elements of weather.
Step 9: Wipe and Polish the Exterior of the Grill
While this step is optional, you can finish up by applying some aluminum polish to retain the aesthetics of your grill’s exterior.
Wrap Up
There you have it! A brief guide that shows you everything you need to know in order to clean your PK Grill.
As you can see, the cleanup process is fairly easy and won’t take longer than 10 minutes.
Ideally, you should clean your grill between each use to make sure that it lasts for years to come, although you can get away with vacuuming the ashes and wiping the exterior for a few uses.