How to Clean Your BBQ Bacteria Free Using a Pressure Washer

There are pros and cons to both methods, but ultimately it comes down to the time you want to spend washing. If you decide to do it by hand, you can expect to spend at least an hour doing so, whereas the pressure washer takes 10-15 minutes.

I have put this guide together so that you can take the correct steps to pressure wash your BBQ without causing any damage to it (which can happen if done incorrectly).

The Step by Step

Step One: Preparing the BBQ

This step depends on the kind of BBQ you own. If you have a standard coal BBQ (think Weber), then all you need to do is remove any used coals and take the grill out. Prop it up against something sturdy, and it’s ready to be washed.

If you have a gas BBQ, you need to disconnect the propane tank and the electrical. Following this, you should also remove the grates so that they can be cleaned separately.

It is vital that everything is disconnected before you start pressure washing to prevent damage to your gas BBQ.

Step Two: Applying Detergent

For the standard coal BBQ, this step is quite simple. Put the detergent in the pressure washer and use it to apply the degreaser to the grill. Make sure you really cover it, and then leave it to sit and soak in for three to five minutes.

For the gas BBQ, the process is similar. The detergent should be placed in the pressure washer, and then applied to the grill. However, it should be done at a low pressure so that you are careful to avoid the heating elements.

This is very important, so make sure you take your time with this step. Again, the degreaser should be left to soak for three to five minutes.

Step Three: Rinsing

Connect the appropriate nozzle for rinsing (as per your pressure washer manual) and proceed to rinse the degreaser off the grill. This step is the same for both types of BBQ.

The best way to rinse the grill is to use a top down motion, like when you are washing your car or a boat. This gives a better rinse and is more time efficient. If the grease is really severe, however, you can switch to a turbo nozzle for a little more power.

Step Four: Oil

Coat the cooking grid will oil once you have finished washing it and it is dry. This way, it preserves the metal and also helps to create a non-stick surface for your next BBQ session.

You can also coat the grates in these for your gas BBQ. Once this is done, you can put everything back together, and it will be clean and ready for your next BBQ.

Here is a great video guide for cleaning your BBQ.

Step Five (optional): The Outside

Sometimes the outside of the BBQ gets a bit mucky as well. All you need for this is a bucket filled with water and washing up liquid.

Using a sponge, you can gently scrub the dirty areas to remove the grime. If is a particularly tough, greasy, stain, you can also use a little degreaser for some extra power.

To Conclude

Taking care of your BBQ is incredibly important. After all, in the summer months, it often becomes one of the main places to cook. You can cook anything on a BBQ, from delicious meats to bananas filled with chocolate – the possibilities are endless.

However, to get the best out of your BBQ, you need to make sure it is cleaned regularly and maintained. Hence I put this guide together. Hopefully, you have found it useful.

We love to hear from you, so please feel free to leave a message for us in the comments! Did you love it? Hate it? Or maybe you have some tips of your own that you would like to see added?