BBQs get clean easily in 'minutes' with 2 common kitchen items
The season for BBQs is well and truly here in the UK and many Brits will be dusting off their grills and cleaning them to host friends and family this summer.
Thousands of Brits will be cleaning their BBQs over the coming weeks in a bid to get fully summer ready. Cleaning experts HG have shared their top tips for cleaning your BBQ ahead of the summer season - and one of them includes using two kitchen staples that you may not have thought of.
BBQs can build up quite a bit of dirt as juices and grease from meats and other things seep onto the racks, hardening over time and proving difficult to remove. Many Brits have likely spent hours with a sponge and dish soap trying to rub off this dirt, but there is one hack that they might not have tried. But according to cleaning experts, it is rather effective and straight-forward to do. This comes as TikTok users share viral cleaning "hacks", one of which these experts have warned against and suggested a cheap alternative instead.
READ MORE: Brits given £5,000 BBQ warning this summer
HG cleaning expert John Zentveld has warned that simply "burning off" old grease doesn’t clean your BBQ, as suggested in multiple viral TikTok clips. Instead, he says to use an onion and a lemon to get it properly cleaned.
Firstly, spray lemon juice and water onto the grill and let it sit before scrubbing. To get it extra clean, you can rub half an onion onto a hot grill. The natural acids in both of these foods will help lift off grease and residue from food.
"A clean BBQ isn’t just about appearances – it’s about protecting your health and improving the flavour of your food," Zentveld said. "Regular maintenance takes minutes, and with simple hacks or the right products, it’s easier than people think. Don’t leave it until the guests arrive – a little prep goes a long way.
"The risks aren’t always visible. Just because the grill looks hot and the flames are high doesn’t mean it’s clean or safe. Proper cleaning removes hidden dangers and ensures the food you're cooking is as healthy as it is delicious."
: Pulled pork is tastier and 'juicier' with 1 added ingredient
: Vegan family issues furious 'last warning' to neighbours after 'rude' BBQ
: 'Best burgers' will cook better on the BBQ when 1 common mistake is avoided
He also said that BBQ owners can clean their grills using an aluminum foil scrub. Simply crumple a piece of aluminium foil into a ball and rub it over the grill to remove stubborn burnt-on bits.
Additionally, you could place a cooled BBQ grill on your lawn overnight and let the dew loosen debris for an easy wipe-down. If this isn't an option for you, you could also wrap it in a damp newspaper instead.
TikTok users have shared their viral hack that shows them simply turning up the heat and letting big flames "burn off" the dirt, but cleaning experts say this doesn't do the job.
"People mistakenly believe that fire sterilises everything," Zentveld says. "But burnt-on grease doesn’t magically disappear – it just smokes. That’s not the same as cleaning."
