Why Does My Grill Stink?

Dismantle the Grill

• Turn off the grill and disconnect the gas line. Locate the manual that came with the grill and refer to it as needed for dismantling directions for your particular type of grill. Remove all detachable parts, beginning with the warming rack and cooking grid. Move on to the flame guard above the gas burner and remove it, exposing the burner. Disconnect the burner and remove the briquettes. Carefully note how each part was dismantled.

Clean the Grill Parts

• Scrape the warming rack, cooking rack and flame guard free of stinky built-up residue with a stiff steel wire brush. Place the cooking racks and flame guard to soak in a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and hot soapy water. Scrub them with an abrasive scrub pad, rinse and allow them to air dry. Scrape the gas burner with the wire brush and use a toothpick to clean out the gas ports along the side of the burner. Do not use water on the burner.

Clean the Briquettes

• Gas grills typically use ceramic or lava rock briquettes to hold and distribute heat. Clean ceramic briquettes by brushing them with a thick-bristle brush to remove the buildup of stinky debris. Submerge them in white distilled vinegar for 15 minutes; rinse with boiling water and air dry. Lava briquettes are cleaned by simply brushing them thoroughly, without getting them wet, with a thick bristle brush; replace them each season.

Clean the Grill Body

• Wrap all exposed openings and connections tightly with aluminum foil to make them as waterproof as possible. Scrape the interior surface of the grill with the wire brush. Use a putty knife to dig into crevices and scrape out hardened grease. Scrub the interior surface with hot soapy water. Rinse interior surfaces with boiling water to wash away stinky grease buildup.

Reassemble the Barbecue Grill

• Remove the aluminum foil from the openings and connections and leave the parts and grill body to completely air-dry. Begin with the gas burner and reassemble the barbecue grill in the same order as you disassembled it. Replace the briquettes and connect the gas to the grill. Start the grill and observe its performance through each burner setting. Turn the grill off and cover it until the next cookout.