How To Clean A Stove Top Grill

Cooking with a stove top grill is a great way to enjoy that real barbeque grilled taste without having to worry about the weather or pesky insects. But, while indoor grilling can be fun and convenient, cleaning up the mess afterward can be a nasty chore. But with just a few ordinary household items and a little elbow grease, you can banish the barbeque residue quickly and efficiently.

Items Needed:

•    Dish sponge
•    Grill brush
•    Dish soap
•    Hot water
•    Vinegar
•    Paper towels

Step 1 Remove the Grill
To make things as easy as possible, remove the grilling surface, drip pan and all other removable parts. If you are using a built-in stove top grill, leave the collection jar underneath for now. If you are using another type of grill, all the parts should be removable. 

Step 2 Scrub the Grill
Place the grilling surface in the sink and spray it down with hot water. Apply some dish soap to the grill brush, wet, then scrub using an up-and-down motion. Depending on how encrusted the grill is, you may need to use more or less elbow grease. If  the grease is really caked on, splash some vinegar on the grill and let it soak for about 30 minutes before scrubbing. Rinse with water and place on a clean, dry towel to air dry. Next, spray off the drip pan. Apply a small amount of dish soap to the pan then use the rough side of the dish sponge to scrub off any cooked on residue. Rinse off and place on the towel. If there are any other removable parts, clean them in the same manner. Go to step 3 if you use a built-in grill.

Step 3 Clean the Rest
For a built-in grill you will first need to remove all the chunky, flaky debris left behind by the grilling surface. You can use a paper towel to easily clean up the debris. Next, apply some dish soap or, if it has a really tough crust, use the vinegar again. Soak the dish sponge in hot water, then use the rough side to scrub the surface. Turn the sponge over and use the soft side to wipe off the remaining soot. When performing this step, you may have to empty the collection jar several times since debris will fall into as you scrub. Clean out the jar as you would any household utensil or put it in the dishwasher.

Step 4 Polish
After everything is clean and free of debris, polish it all up using a paper towel and some vinegar. Replace all the parts, making sure they are dry, and voila! Your stove top grill is good as new, ready to impress your guests the next time around.