One of the best things about summer in Perth is being able to sit back, relax and enjoy the balmy summer evenings by your swimming pool or under your patio. This time of year is the best time for outdoor entertaining, so it is important to make sure that your outdoor entertaining area is ready to use!
Cleaning the Grill
- Although you may be tempted to take to the barbeque with a garden hose, there are much better ways to properly clean the barbie! Begin by heating the BBQ for a short period to ‘soften’ the built up oils and grease.
- Once cooled off, dismantle and take out all the individual parts. Do not remove the burners, as it is a safety issue if these are replaced incorrectly.
- Next, take a putty scraper and start scraping! You need to scrape off all the built-up grease and oil the best you can, getting into all the difficult spots.
- Using some steel wool, wash the grates with dishwashing liqueur and warm water in a sink. Be sure to remove all detergent residue from the grates; if this is left on the grates it can affect the taste of food. Once the excess grease and oil is removed you are almost done! (You don’t need to remove all of the black off them).
- When you are pleased that it is all clean, put everything back together, discard the oily sand/kitty litter from the drip tray, wipe clean, re-line with aluminium foil and fill with new sand/kitty litter.
- Close the hood, and allow to heat up for about 20-30 minutes. This will carbonise any remaining grease on the grill.
Cleaning Stainless Steel
It is important to never use harsh chemicals or rough cleaning cloths on stainless steel surfaces. A micro-fibre cloth is perfect for cleaning stainless steal, and is one of the best ways of minimising streaking. Spraying a small amount of water onto the surface, gently wipe over until stains are removed. Soda Water may also be used on stainless steel, for those tougher stains.
There are also a number of stainless steel cleaning products available around Perth which add a protective layer and make cleaning the surface much easier in the future.
Check Gas Bottles and Hoses
To check if your gas bottles and hoses are in good condition, make sure you check for any cracks, leaks or faulty connections. To check for this, put soapy water over all the gas fittings. Gas leaks will be visible, as the soap will start to bubble.
Remember that gas bottles can be dangerous if they are cracked or leaking, so it is important to replace faulty bottles as soon as possible.
Information on cleaning tips from Australian Outdoor Kitchens, Better Homes & Gardens and Shannon Lush from ABC Adelaide.
