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How To Clean A Grill Brush?

The best way to clean a dirty grill brush is warm soapy water. Knock the brush on the side of the grill to shake out large particles. Then fill a small bucket with warm water and some regular dish soap. Swirl the grill brush around until all the grime falls off. This is something I recommend doing after each time you clean the grill. If there are some bits that won’t come off the brush, use another bristle brush to scrub them with soapy water. Put your grill brush into the water and let it soak for a few minutes. Then scrub the bristles against each other for a few minutes with water and dish soap. This will break up any stuck on oil, grease, food and grime.

If warm soapy water doesn’t work, boil the brush to get it clean. I only recommend doing this is the brush has metal bristles with a wood or metal handle.

Put the brush into a pot of boiling water and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Boiling water will loosen the most stuck on grease and grime. Rinse the brush clean after it’s finished boiling or use hot soapy water to scrub it clean.

You can also use an oven cleaner and degreaser if your grill brush has metal bristles. Spray the grill brush bristles with oven cleaner and let it foam up. Rinse the brush and wash it thoroughly of all cleansers before using it on your grill again. Make sure to wear goggles and gloves and use a cleanser designed for steel.

The Best Way To Clean A Grill Brush

The best way to clean a grill brush is warm water and dish soap. Bang the brush on the side of the grill to shake off large particles. Then fill a bucket with warm to hot water and regular dish soap. Insert the brush and swirl it in the soapy water to break up stuck on grime, oils, grease and food particles. Then use another bristle brush to scrub the grill brush clean. Be gentle as you scrub the brushes together. Steel brush bristle are thin and easily damaged, bent or dislodged.

Ideally you should clean your grill brush after every use. When you clean grill grates, oils, food particles, sauces, grime and grease can get stuck in between the grill brush bristles. If left unclean, bacteria can grow inside the bristles which can then spread to the grill and other surfaces.

  • Oils and grease left on the bristles can cause them to rust prematurely.
  • Sugars from sauces and food particles can attract bugs.
  • Dirty grill brushes can grow and spread bacteria.

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Step 1. Fill A Bucket With Warm Soapy Water

Squirt some dish soap into a bucket and fill it with warm to hot water. Bang the brush on the side of your grill to loosen up and shake off large particles stuck in the bristles. Then put your wire grill brush into the soapy water and let it soak for a few minutes. Swirl the brush in the water or rub it against the side of the bucket to held dislodge stuck on grime.

Inspect the brush, if it needs more cleaning let it soak again followed by another scrub.

If you don’t have a bucket you can use this same cleaning method in a sink.

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Step 2. Scrub The Grill Brush Bristles

Use another bristle brush to scrub the grill brush. Rub both brushes together to dislodge any large food particles and stuck on grime or debris. Rub the brushes together with medium force so you don’t damage the bristles. It doesn’t take a lot of force to knock off stuck on food and sauces.

Make sure the bristles on both brushes are wet and soapy as you rub them together. The combination of warm water, soap and bristles will quickly clean a grill brush.

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Step 3. Rinse The Brush

Once the grill brush bristles are clean, rinse them thoroughly under some warm water to remove all the soap and residue.

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Step 4. Dry The Grill Brush & Store

After the brush is rinsed clean, dry it off and store it in a cool dry place like your other kitchen utensils. Storing your grill brush properly will help prevent rusted bristles.

The Best Ways To Clean A Grill Brush

There are a few very effective ways to clean a grill brush which include: soaking and scrubbing with warm soapy water, boiling and stainless steel degreasers. Soaking and scrubbing with warm soapy water is the overall best way to clean a grill brush and should be done after every use.

But if you’ve still got some stuck on grime that won’t come off, try soaking the brush in boiling water and then scrubbing it clean.

If boiling water isn’t enough, try a stainless steel degreaser that’s designed for kitchen use. Degreasers can break down oils and grease like soap, water, scrubbing and boiling water can’t.

I recommend cleaning your grill brush with warm soapy water after every use. If that doesn’t work try soaking in boiling water followed by a scrub. And if that doesn’t work, use a degreaser.

If a steel degreaser can’t get your grill brush clean, it’s time for a new brush.

Soak & Scrub In Warm Soapy Water

Warm soapy water is the best way to clean a dirty grill brush. Squirt some regular dish soap into a bucket and fill it with warm to hot water. Bang the brush on the side of your grill to loosen up and shake up large particles stuck in the bristles. Then place your grill brush into the water and let it soak for a few minutes. Swirl the brush around in the water and scrape it up and down on the side of the bucket. Then use another bristle brush to clean the grill brush bristle. Rub the bristles of both brushes together back and forth to loosen up stuck on grime, oils, grease and food particles.

Make sure both brushes are wet and soapy when you rub them together. Don’t use too much pressure. Stainless steel bristles are thin and easy to damage.

Once you’re done cleaning, rinse the brush off under running water to remove all the soap studs. Inspect the brush, if it needs more cleaning let it soak again followed by another scrub.

When you’re all done scrubbing, dry the brush and store it in a cool dry place with your other kitchen utensils. Storing your steel grill brush inside where its dry is very important because it prevents rust.

Pro Tip: Use a cleaning brush with the same bristles are your grill brush. For example, if you’ve got a steel bristle grill brush, use a steel bristle cleaning brush. If your grill brush has nylon bristles, use a nylon bristle cleaning brush. Scrubbing with the same bristle material helps prevent damaged bristles.

Boil Your Grill Brush Clean

If your grill brush won’t come clean with soap and water, try boiling water. Place your brush in a pot of boiling water and let it soak for about 15 minutes. I recommend using a pot you don’t use for cooking. When you remove the brush, place it into a bucket of warm soapy water. Scrub the brush with a bristle brush until it’s clean. Boiling water paired with soapy water and scrubbing should be enough to clean even the dirtiest grill brush.

Boiling water is very effective at removing grime, food particles, grease and oils from the brush. But it doesn’t always get all the substances stuck in between the bristles. This is what soaking in soapy water and scrubbing is for.

Once you’re done scrubbing, rinse the brush in water and let it dry. Then store it in a cool dry place with your other utensils.

Use A Stainless Steel Kitchen Degreaser

A stainless steel kitchen degreaser is the last and most effective way to clean a dirty steel grill brush. But you should only use this option once you’ve tried the other two and failed. Make sure to wear rubber gloves and eye protection. Blast the grill brush bristles with the degreaser and let it foam up. Place the brush, with the degreaser on, into a closed grill or oven and let it heat up. Heat is important for the degreaser to function properly.

Many kitchen steel degreasers are labeled as oven cleaners. Follow the directions on the can in respect to how high to heat the oven and for how long. Typically it’s about 350°F for 15 minutes.

Once you remove the brush from the oven, soak it in warm soapy water and give it a good scrub. This is very important because it removes all the chemicals used in the cleaner.

Dry the brush and store it in a cool dry place with your other utensils to prevent rusting.

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Inspect Your Grill Brush For Loose Steel Bristles

Steel wire grill brush bristles can be a health hazard if they fall off and end up in someones food. This is rare but possible and has resulted in people requiring surgery to remove them. Always check your grill brush for loose bristles and remove them before they can end up stuck on the grill grates. Before grilling, check the grill to make sure no bristles are stuck on the grates.

A nylon grill brush isn’t as effective as steel, but they’re a good alternative and you won’t have to worry about steel bristles falling off or rusting.

Can You Clean A Grill Brush In A Dishwasher?

Most grill brushes can be cleaned in a dishwasher if you place them on the top shelf. You can wash your grill brush along with your dishes, plates, bowls and utensils. They do not need a special wash and standard dish soap works fine. This is a good option if your brush isn’t very dirty and you’re doing a wash anyway. But it’s not great at getting food particles and grime from in between the bristles. If you still have stuff stuck in between your bristles after the wash, soak the brush in warm soapy water and scrub it with a cleaning bristle brush.

Before placing your dirty grill brush into the dishwasher, bang it on the side of your grill. This should loosen up and shake off large particles stuck between the bristles.

Are You Supposed To Clean A Grill Brush?

You should always keep your grill brush clean in between uses. Grease, oil, food particles and grime can get stuck in the bristles of a brush where they can grow bacteria or attract bugs. You can then scrub those substances back into then grill when clearing the grates. The whole purpose of cleaning grill grates is to prevent old substances like food and sauces from burning and effecting the flavor of your food. Cleaning the brush after every use prevents your newly grilling food from being tainted by your previous cook.

Ideally you always want to clean your grill grates with a clean brush. This means cleaning the brush after every use with warm soap and water, a cleanser or boiling water.

Cleaning your grill brush after each use sterilizes it and kills bacteria. This is very important because the brush touches your grill grates which then touch the food. A cool part of the grill may not get hot enough to kill bacteria so you could potentially contaminate food with a dirty brush.

In addition to bacterial growth and bugs, you should keep your grill brush clean because it’s better for the food. Old oils, grease and grime will get smeared onto your grill grates when you clean them. It then burns off as the grates heat up and enters your food. This can taint the taste of your food with a bitter, burnt flavor.

Another reason to keep your brush clean is to help it last longer. A stainless steel brush can last all season if you clean it after every use. Grease and oil can trap moisture in between the stainless steel bristles which can eventually corrode the metal and cause rust.

When Should You Clean A Grill Brush

You should clean a grill brush after every use. Even if it doesn’t look that dirty, it could have grease, oils, food particles and grime stuck between the bristles. These substances can then grow bacteria, attract bugs or prematurely rust the bristles.After every use, soak the brush in warm soapy water or give it a scrub with another bristle brush. For hard stuck grime, soak it in boiling water, use a stainless steel degrease or put it in an open flame and scrub the brush with soapy water.

Cleaning A Grill Brush Helps Prevent Cross Contamination

Cleaning your grill grates with a brush embeds grease, oils, food particles and grime into the bristles. These substances can then grow bacteria on the brush. When you clean your grill with a dirty brush, bacteria could potentially be transferred onto the grates. Cool areas of the grill may not get hot enough to kill all the bacteria which could cause contamination of your food.

It’s very important to clean your grill brush after every use to help prevent cross contamination of your food.

How Often Should You Replace Your Grill Brush?

You should replace your grill brushes at the beginning of every season. Make sure to clean the brush after every use to prevent contaminating the grill with bacteria and prevent rust. Before each use, check your brush for damage like loose or rusty bristles. If loose bristles or rust are found, discard and replace the brush.

Stainless steel is the best choice for grill brush bristles if you have steel or cast iron grill grates. They’re strong, durable, clean really well and long-lasting. But they can still get rusty over time and bristles can become loose. When that starts to happen it’s time for a new brush.

If you have porcelain coated grates, use a grill brush with composite bristles instead of steel. They’re less abrasive and won’t damage the porcelain coating as easily.

You should replace a grill brush when the bristles start to become loose, rusty, bent or the handle breaks.

Here are a few things you can do to extend the life of your grill brush:

  • Use less pressure when scrubbing the grill grates clean
  • Store the brush indoors and keep it dry with your other utensils to prevent rusting
  • Clean the brush after every use
  • Set the grill on high heat for a few minutes before cleaning to char food bits and sauces stuck on the grates

How Not To Clean A Grill Brush

One of the things you should never clean a grill brush with is automotive cleansers and degreasers. They contain chemicals that should never come in contact with food surfaces. Automotive cleansers can leave harmful chemicals on your brush and grill that can be harmful for your health.

Fire is another way you should not clean a grill brush. Don’t put your grill brush directly into a flame, hot coals or a burner to burn off grime and food particles from the bristles. The stainless steel bristles are thin and easily damaged by extremely high heat.

Industrial cleaners should never be used on grill bristles. They contain some of the same chemicals used in engine degreasers. These types of cleansers are not designed for food utensils or surfaces. Even if you wash the brush afterwards, some chemicals may remain which can be harmful for your health.

Avoid scrubbing your grill brush with bristle harder than the bristles on your brush. Grill brush bristles are very thin and easily damaged. Especially if they’re made from a material other than stainless steel. Cheaper brushes are often made by a composite material similar to spatulas. These composites are much easier to damage than steel.

Summary: How To Clean A Grill Brush?

The best way to clean a dirty grill brush is warm soapy water. Knock the brush on the side of the grill to shake out large particles. Then fill a small bucket with warm water and some regular dish soap. Swirl the grill brush around until all the grime falls off. This is something I recommend doing after each time you clean the grill. If there are some bits that won’t come off the brush, use another bristle brush to scrub them with soapy water. Put your grill brush into the water and let it soak for a few minutes. Then scrub the bristles against each other for a few minutes with water and dish soap. This will break up any stuck on oil, grease, food and grime.

If warm soapy water doesn’t work, boil the brush to get it clean. I only recommend doing this is the brush has metal bristles with a wood or metal handle.

Put the brush into a pot of boiling water and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Boiling water will loosen the most stuck on grease and grime. Rinse the brush clean after it’s finished boiling or use hot soapy water to scrub it clean.

You can also use an oven cleaner and degreaser if your grill brush has metal bristles. Spray the grill brush bristles with oven cleaner and let it foam up. Rinse the brush and wash it thoroughly of all cleansers before using it on your grill again. Make sure to wear goggles and gloves and use a cleanser designed for steel.

If you have any questions about how to clean a grill brush, email any time.

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