BBQ Care: Preparing Your Grill For The End of Summer

4/8 Previous Next

© Getty Images

Clean The Drip Pan Or Ash Catcher

If you have a gas grill, it's very important to clean the drip pan not only before storage but also pretty much every time you barbecue. Leaving this dirty can cause dangerous grease fires the next time you use your grill, and it could attract critters, such as mice, in the colder months. The best way to clean it is to pull it out and hold it over a garbage can. With a putty knife, carefully scrape the debris off and into the garbage. Afterward, scrub the tray with hot, soapy water using a super fine steel wool pad. For charcoal grills, you simply need to empty the ash catcher and use your grill brush or putty knife to scrape off any leftover grease or carbon residue.