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