The secret to a successful cookout is a clean charcoal grill. Here's how to get your grill into tip top shape and keep it that way.
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Cleaning a Charcoal Grill in 5 Different Ways
Updated on May 21, 2025
A Hack for Cleaning a Charcoal Grill
Good news: You don’t need a grill brush or other special grilling tools to clean your charcoal grill. In fact, cleaning a charcoal grill can be as simple as using this handy grilling tip.
Simply use a balled up sheet of sturdy aluminum foil to scrub your grill grates clean. Once the grates are clean, sweep out any debris in the bottom of the grill. Empty the ash catcher if you have one. (Always check your ash catcher before you grill to make sure it’s not at capacity.) You can use a putty knife to dislodge any stubborn gunk.
The Traditional Way (With a Twist)
Few people think of using a Magic Eraser sponge for cleaning a charcoal grill, and that’s too bad. It has an abrasive surface that makes grates clean and shiny. Here’s how to use one to for cleaning a charcoal grill:
- Gather hot water, dish detergent and a heavy-duty Magic Eraser sponge.
- Mix the hot water and dish detergent.
- Dip the eraser sponge into the solution and use it to scrub the charcoal grill grates.
- Dip a towel into the soapy water solution and use it to clean off the rest of the grill.
The High-Tech Way
If you’re a fan of robot vacuums, then you’ll love the Grillbot Automatic Grill-Cleaning Robot. The battery-operated grill cleaner does all the work of cleaning a charcoal grill with a simple push of a button. This high-tech BBQ tool features three rotating brushes that scrape off the gunk on your grates.
You can set the robot’s cleaning time from a 10-minute speed clean to a 30-minute deep clean. It beeps when it’s done, but you’ll know because it’s pretty loud while it’s working.
The Deep Clean
Here’s how to deep-clean a grill in a few easy steps:
- Remove the grill grates and any ashes from the bottom of the grill and ash catcher.
- Spray oven cleaner on the grates and on the inside of the grill.
- While the cleaner penetrates, mix up some warm water and dish detergent. Use a rag or paper towel to clean the exterior of the grill.
- Use the same solution to clean off the grill grates and the inside of the grill.
- Use clean water to rinse off the entire grill before wiping everything dry.
Safety first. A charcoal grill can get out of control and pose a fire hazard if you let it. With a few tools and tricks, it’s easy to put out a charcoal grill at home.
Clean Your Charcoal Grill Before Use
Cleaning charcoal grill grates before each grilling session can help cut back on the number of deep cleans you’ll have to do each season.
- An easy way to do this is to run a high-quality grill brush along the grates each time before cooking.
- Next, make sure to preheat your grill—doing so will help prevent food from sticking to the grates.
- Another step that helps keep food from sticking to the grates is to oil the grates. Simply dip a wadded-up paper towel into cooking oil, then use tongs to slide it along the hot grates.
FAQ
Can I use oven cleaner on my charcoal grill?
No. Oven cleaners contain harsh chemicals that should not be in direct contact with food. If you want to use a spray, try a commercial grill cleaner like Easy-Off Grill Cleaner or Weber Grill Grate Cleaner.
What should I do with leftover charcoal or partially burned briquettes?
You can reuse partially burned charcoal. Just leave it in the grill until it has cooled down completely, then brush off the ash and store the partially burned charcoal or briquettes in a five-gallon bucket.
Ash from hardwood charcoal is a great garden fertilizer, supplying potassium, phosphorous and calcium. Don’t use the ash from charcoal briquets as fertilizer, though, because they binders used in briquets are toxic.
