You can easily keep your grill clean with just a few outdoor electric grill cleaning tools. If you have an outdoor electric grill with good quality cooking grates (such as the porcelain-enameled, cast-iron ones on the Weber Q1400 and Q2400), you only need these three items (and a few paper towels) to keep it clean. Follow the Outdoor Electric Grill Cleaning instructions to clean it after each use and you’ll keep the effort to a minimum.
You do not want to destroy the coating on the cooking grates by scratching them with metal scrapers or scrubbing pads meant for metal pans. Scratching the cooking grate surface starts an endless cycle of food sticking more and then taking more effort to clean. Also, exposed metal scrapes are prone to rust.
Grill Cleaning Tools
Stainless Steel Grill Brush
A good quality stainless steel grill brush is the key to cleaning the grill. My current favorite is the Weber 18″ detail brush shown here. When choosing a brush, make sure the bristles are stiff and securely in place. When you clean the grates, watch for bristles that might come free. After a lot of use, the grill brush is bound to show signs of wear and will need to be replaced. With use, grease and debris will collect on the brush. You can occasionally clean the stainless steel brush by rinsing it under hot running water and letting it dry on a paper towel.
Plastic Putty Knife
A plastic putty knife is an essential tool in keeping your grill clean. One like the Ace Hardware 1-1/2” wide model can be used to remove cooked-on foods without causing damage to the grill. Use it to clean the bottom of the cooking grates (or even help with the top) and the lower grill bowl liner under the cooking elements.
Aluminum Foil Drip Pan Liner
Be sure to insert a disposable aluminum foil drip pan liner inside the drip pan under the lower grill bowl, like the pan for the Weber Q1400. It’s best if it fits well because it will sometimes need to hold hot liquid fat. The maker of your grill may have ones made to fit. I wipe out the disposable liner and wash and dry it after every use instead of throwing it away. By using a disposable liner, you are not scrubbing and putting wear on the drip pan itself.