If you use your grill often, you know how important it is to keep it clean and in good condition. Using the proper tools and cleaning solutions are the best way to keep your grill from succumbing to the elements and help keep it working year after year. Even if you are only an occasional outdoor chef, it is important to keep your grill clean as it does prolong the life of your grill. Here are some suggestions on how to clean an outdoor gas grill:

• As soon as you remove the food from the grill, use a brass brush to clean the grates. Brass is soft enough to remove the cooked on food, but will not harm the coated surfaces of the grates.
• After the grill cools down, spray the grates with a cooking oil spray such as Pam, Crisco spray or peanut oil. This step loosens any other food particles. You can spray the grates again before pre-heating the grill next time you cook and keeps the grates nicely prepared for whatever you need to cook on them.
• If in other articles you have read on how to clean an outdoor gas grill you have seen the advice to "burn-off" your grill by turning it on high & letting it cook for 10 minutes, the previous point does the same thing, only more effectively with less wear and tear on your grill.

These suggestions on how to clean an outdoor gas grill are good for every day use, but what about a grill that has been left to sit all winter that hadn't been cleaned before storage? Make sure to check with your owner's manual to see if you are voiding any warranties, but an overnight session with oven cleaner is one way to clean the grates. Most manufacturers advise against oven cleaner on the burners, so you may have to take the grates out, but it is usually worth the effort. Rinse the grates thoroughly and make sure to preheat the grill to a high temperature for at least 15-20 minutes after using oven cleaner to burn off any residue.

If your grill has been stored in a shed or even outside with a cover, you should make sure there are no spider webs in the tubes that supply the gas to the burners. Use a pipe cleaning brush with a long handle to clean them out. Of course, you must disconnect the gas before attempting this job. Cleaning out these tubes is not always mentioned when the topic of how to clean an outdoor gas grill comes up, but it is an important step in maintaining your grill integrity and safety.

Don't neglect the outside of your grill, either, when thinking about how to clean an outdoor gas grill. If you have a stainless steel grill, you should know that cleaning actually prolongs the life of stainless steel. Keeping your stainless steel clean improves its resistance to corrosion and keeps your grill free from rust.