5 Best Grill Cleaners to Get Rid of Dirt and Grease

By
Jeremy Bivens
Jeremy Bivens
Research Writer
Jeremy Bivens is a passionate writer and grilling enthusiast. He's been working as a freelance journalist for over 15 years now and has a particular interest in food writing read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
Expert Consultant
Claims that grilling is the art that he has been learning all his life long and is not planning to stop. Has been grilling for as long as he can remember. Author of numerous read more
Last updated: August 28, 2023
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Not all grill cleaners are as good as the manufacturer claims. It’s easy to make the wrong choice without any initial research. Luckily, we’ve done it for you in this article.

The first thing you should ask yourself: which factors must be considered in order to choose the ideal grill cleaner? Obviously, the formula matters: it should be effective against dirt and grease without making the product hard to wipe off when you’re done cleaning. Also, it should contain no harmful particles; otherwise, it might affect your future culinary creations and the grill itself. Pay attention to not only the product’s price, but also its volume to decide if the option is economical enough. Our top choice, the TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray, apart from possessing all the above-mentioned features, caught our attention by its convenient, easy-to-use sprayer and versatility since it can be used on both steel and enameled cast iron grates. To know more about this and other remarkable products, read our detailed reviews below.

Quick Summary

  • Editor’s Choice: TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray
    "This cleaner works wonders on your grill’s grates regardless of the material they are made of"
  • Best Biodegradable Cleaner : Citrusafe BBQ Grill Grate Cleaner
    "Meet a super-effective grill cleaner that has no harmful ingredients and will surprise you with a pleasant citrus fragrance"
  • Best Foaming Cleaner: CLR BBQ Grill Cleaner
    "A powerful cleaner suitable for all surfaces; boasts of a non-toxic, biodegradable formula"
  • "A spray that comes in a large-volume package at an affordable price; suitable for ovens as well"
  • "An all-in-one kit that includes not only cleaners for interior and exterior, but also a grate scrubber handle with extra pads"

Top 5 Grill Cleaners Review 2024

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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4088 people in the past 30 days
9.9
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.6
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.8
9.9
1
Editor’s Choice

TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray

Features
  • Recommended for: stainless steel and enameled cast iron grates
  • Manufacturer: USA
  • Volume: 18 oz.

More features: phosphate-free

The TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray is probably the best BBQ grill cleaner on the market. Not only does it take care of small messes, but it can also cut through grease and burnt-on food particles. You can use it on both stainless steel and enameled cast iron grill grates, plus it works on the other parts of the grill to get the whole internal area spotless and looking like new.

This 18-ounce bottle of grill cleaner is phosphate-free and doesn’t leave streaks on your grill’s surfaces. It is also easy to use. All you have to do is spray this cleaner liberally onto your grill grates and leave it to soak in for only a minute or two. Then use a scrub brush, a scrub pad, or any other grill tool that you have on hand to loosen up any sticky residue before rinsing it clean with water.

You can also use this spray on your other internal grill areas. Again, you just spray it on and leave it or a couple of minutes. Then you can wipe it away with a sponge or soft cloth. Rinse and dry the inside of the grill with a new clean cloth.

You can use this grill degreaser on all grill types, including natural gas, propane, or charcoal. It is gentle on all surfaces. Though it is only good for grill interiors, there is a TriNova stainless steel cleaner available for the exterior if needed.

    Why did it make our list?
  • Phosphate-free
  • Works with all accessories
  • Streak-free formula
  • Gentle
    What is not ideal about it?
  • Only for interior surfaces
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 9214 people in the past 30 days
9.6
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.4
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.1
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.5
9.6
2
Best Biodegradable Cleaner

Citrusafe BBQ Grill Grate Cleaner

Features
  • Recommended for: gas and charcoal grills
  • Manufacturer: USA
  • Volume: 23 oz.

More features: requires about 30 seconds before wiping off

Though the Citrusafe BBQ Grill Grate Cleaner is a bit pricier than some other brands, it is one of the safest grill degreaser product for your grill and the environment, so it may be well worth the extra cost. You can use this grill cleaner on both gas and charcoal grills as well, as well as your smoker, oven, microwave, and various other cookers for added convenience.

This product is citrus-based, which not only makes it a great cleaner that cuts through the grease, but it also has a lovely scent instead of the harsh chemical odor of other cleaners. It is biodegradable, so it won’t damage the environment, even if you drip some onto the grass beneath your grill, plus is non-toxic and phosphate-free.

Another feature that makes the Citrusafe one of the best grill cleaner sprays around is the fact that it is non-corrosive, so it won’t damage your grill while you’re cleaning it. It also isn’t flammable, which means it won’t burn if there is any residue left on your grill the next time you light it.

Most people hate the cleaning part of grilling, so they enjoy the fact that this cleaner is easy to use. All you do is spray it on, leave it for about 30 seconds, and then give the grill a quick scrub. This spray cuts through the grease, taking it and everything else on your grill off quickly with very little effort from you.

    What are our favorite features?
  • Works great
  • Multipurpose use
  • Biodegradable
  • Citrus scent
    What could be better?
  • A bit pricey
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 3208 people in the past 30 days
9.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.3
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.3
9.5
3
Best Foaming Cleaner

CLR BBQ Grill Cleaner

Features
  • Recommended for: stainless steel, steel, porcelain enamel grates
  • Manufacturer: USA
  • Volume: 26 oz.

More features: non-toxic, biodegradable formula

The CLR BBQ Grill Cleaner is one of the best BBQ cleaners around for a few reasons. It is strong, cutting through any built-up grease, burnt-on food, and splatter stains on your grill grates, burners, and everywhere else the mess has spread. It also works quickly, so you don’t need to wait around all day to clean your grill.

The CLR cleaner is water-based, with a powerful foaming action that works its way into the greasy messes and food particles, making it easier to clean them off, even if they’ve been left for a few days after grilling. It also has a non-toxic formula that won’t damage the surfaces, plus it is biodegradable, so it won’t harm any plants beneath your grill if it drips while you’re cleaning.

It takes very little time to clean your grill with the CLR BBQ Grill Cleaner. Just spray it on the greasy, messy areas and let it soak in for about 2-3 minutes. Then wipe it down, rubbing where needed, using a brush or cloth. Finally, rinse the grill with some cold water and let it dry before using it again.

You can use this product on your stainless steel, steel, or porcelain-enameled grates and other internal areas as needed. It won’t harm these surfaces, though it can be damaging to your skin and eyes if it comes in contact with them. It is recommended to use gloves to protect your skin.

    What makes it special?
  • Works fast
  • Non-toxic
  • Powerful foaming action
  • Biodegradable
    What cons did we find?
  • Gloves required
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7629 people in the past 30 days
9.4
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.2
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.0
9.4
Features
  • Recommended for: ovens, broilers, BBQ grills
  • Manufacturer: USA
  • Volume: 24 oz.

More features: starts working in 5 minutes

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get the best grill cleaner degreaser, as the Easy-Off Professional Oven & Grill Cleaner proves. This cleaner is heavy-duty, so it will cut through all the baked-on grease and food particles that are left on your grill, even if you aren’t cleaning it every time you use it. It is also less than $5 for a 24-ounce can, making it a great choice for the budget-conscious.

This product works quickly on both cold and warm grills, so you don’t have to wait hours for it to be completely cool to get started with your cleaning. You only need to spray it on, leave it for about 5 minutes, and then scrub or wipe the grill down, depending on how stuck on the food is.

As well as working great on a variety of grill parts, this grill cleaner can be used on your oven and broiler as well, so you don’t need to keep a bunch of different cleansers in stock in your home. It is formulated to cut through the grease in no time, so you have more time to spend doing the things you actually enjoy. You can even use it for spot cleaning whenever necessary.

The downside of this cleanser is that it is harsh on your skin and has a strong odor. It is recommended to use a mask and gloves when using it.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Heavy-duty use
  • Works fast
  • Easy to use
  • Great low price
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • Mask and gloves required
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2138 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.9
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.8
9.3
Features
  • What’s included: Stainless Steel Polish Spray, Grate Cleaner, Stubborn Stain Remover; grill grate scrubber handle with 15 pads
  • Volume: 12 oz. (stainless steel polish); 16 oz. (grate cleaner)

More features: effective on grill exteriors, outdoor kitchens, deep fryers, etc.

Weber is one of the most popular brands on the market when it comes to grills, so it’s no wonder that they also make a great grill cleaning kit to go with them. This kit has everything you need to get rid of the grease, stains, and dirt covering your grill on the inside and the outside.

There are multiple pieces included in this barbecue cleaner set. First, there is a bottle of Grate Grill Cleaner, which you can use on any type of grate without worrying about ruining any non-stick coatings. Since you only need to use a small amount each time, this 16-ounce bottle will last for quite a while.

There is also a 12-ounce bottle of Stubborn Stain Remover included, which you can use to remove any of those discolorations that ruin your grill’s appearance. The Stainless Steel Polish spray is 12 ounces. It polishes the stainless steel exterior of the grill, so it looks as good on the outside as it does on the inside.

To make cleaning your grill even easier, there is also a grill scrubber handle in the best barbecue cleaner kit. This comes with a plastic scrub pad attached, plus there are 15 extra scrubbing pads included to use when the first one wears out. These scrub pads aren’t great for stainless steel since they could scratch it but are perfect for cleaning the grates and other non-steel areas.

    What are its best features?
  • Multiple cleaners
  • All-in-one kit
  • Extra scrubbing pads included
  • Great for both interior and exterior
    What could be improved?
  • Plastic scrub pads are not ideal for stainless steel

Things to Consider

Cleaning your grill is a dirty, messy job but having the right tools can make it a bit easier. As well as brushes, sponges, and gloves, you also need the best grill cleaner to cut through the grease and burnt-on food particles. This way, you can do less scrubbing, which leaves you with more time to play with your kids, visit with your friends, or just relax in your backyard.

Features to consider when choosing a grill cleaner

5 Best Grill Cleaners to Get Rid of Dirt and Grease

There are a wide variety of grill degreaser options on the market, so it may be hard to choose which one is best for you. The following sections will help you figure out which features to look for to make this decision easier.

Volume

One of the first things to look at when choosing the best grill grate cleaner is the volume of the bottle. The more liquid there is in there, the more cleaning sessions you’re going to get out of it. For instance, the TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray has 18 ounces in it, while the CLR BBQ Grill Cleaner has 26 ounces of cleaner in the bottle. This means that the smaller bottle will be empty sooner than the larger one, even if you’re using the same amount of cleaner each time you start spraying. The TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray is also more expensive, so even though it’s a great cleaner, it costs more to use it than the larger bottle of CLR.

Manufacturer

Grilling is a huge part of summer barbecues, as well as tailgating at football games and other sporting events in the United States, so it’s no wonder that so many grills and accessories are manufactured there. Grill cleaners are no exception. Many of the U.S. grill brands are even making their own cleaners to go with their grills, so you always have the right product for the job. Of course, you don’t need to buy from a dedicated grill manufacturer to get a good cleaner. Easy-Off and CLR are known for their cleaning products and adding grill cleaners to the mix is a no-brainer for them. Be sure to look at who’s making the grill cleaner to be sure they know their stuff.

Non-toxic formula

A non-toxic formula is important in a grill cleaner for a few reasons. Some of these formulas can damage the materials used for your grill, leaving it looking worse than it did when you started to clean. Harmful ingredients can also be bad for the environment, so you won’t want to use them near your plants or shrubs to keep from killing them if the grill cleaner drips onto them.

Some products, like the Easy-Off Professional Oven & Grill Cleaner, even irritate if they come in contact with your skin, requiring you to use gloves and rinse immediately if they do splash onto your bare skin while you’re using it.

Non-toxic formulas, like the one used for the Citrusafe BBQ Grill Grate Cleaner, are safe for you, your children, your pets, and the environment, so are a better option for your grill cleaning needs.

 

What it’s recommended to use for

Buying a variety of cleaners, each of which has only one specific purpose, leads to a cupboard full of bottles. For instance, the best gas grill cleaner may not be right for your oven, smoker, or microwave, so it won’t get much use. Somme stainless steel grill cleaners can’t be used on other surfaces, so you need to buy a separate cleaner for the porcelain grill grates inside the unit. The more uses your cleaner has, the fewer cleaners you need to keep in stock. You can also get a kit, like the Weber Grill Cleaning Kit, which has a few cleaners and accessories, so you’re getting everything you need all at once.

Convenient sprayer

A sprayer nozzle on the bottle makes it easy to get the cleaner where you need it. All you do is point the nozzle and pull the trigger. These sprayers also have a wider spray then you would get with a foaming nozzle, plus they can be applied much quicker. The sooner the spray is on the grill grates and other cooking surfaces, the faster you can wipe them down and get back to enjoying yourself.

5 Best Grill Cleaners to Get Rid of Dirt and Grease

Shelf life

The shelf life of the best grill cleaner isn’t going to be much different than the rest of your household cleaners. Most of them last a year or two after opening but not much more than that. This is because the plastic containers can degrade after a while, altering the formula of the cleaner, making it less effective or possibly unsafe to use.

Though these products rarely have an expiry date like the food items in your cupboards, they are often stamped with a manufacturer date. You can use this to figure out how long your grill cleaner will still be good for. You can also write down the date you purchased these items and figure out the shelf life on your own from there. This will help you keep track of how long you’ve had your grill cleaner and how effective and safe it will be to use when you pull it out to give your grill a thorough cleaning.

Price

The price of grill cleaners can vary, depending on the size of the bottle, the formula used, and the brand you’re buying. For instance, Easy-Off Professional Oven & Grill Cleaner is extremely cheap at under $5 for a 24-ounce bottle, so even if you’re cleaning your grill with it a few times a week, it won’t cost you too much money if you have to buy several bottles throughout the season.

A more expensive bottle may seem like a cash-grab from the manufacturer but some of the pricier ones have some extra benefits. Citrusafe BBQ Grill Grate Cleaner is biodegradable and non-toxic, so it is much safer to use around your children and pets, plus it won’t kill any nearby plant-life when you’re using it. Though more expensive than some other cleaner, the safety factor may make it worth the extra cost.

How to clean your BBQ grill

Cleaning your barbecue grill can be a bit messy but it is a necessary job to ensure that there are no food particles on your grill when you’re ready to cook. The burnt-on food and sauces can alter the taste of future meals, plus any grease buildup can lead to dangerous flare-ups when you cook. The following steps can help you clean your grill to prevent these issues.

  • Turn off all the dials on the grill and disconnect the fuel tank.
  • Put on gloves to protect against chemicals, metal splinters, and old food.
  • Remove the grill grates and spray them with your chosen grill cleaner.
  • Let it soak in for the specified amount of time, then scrub with a brush or sponge.
  • Wipe them down to ensure they are completely dry.
  • Cover the heating elements with aluminum foil.
  • Use a wire brush to scrub the inside of the grill, then wipe it down with a damp cloth.
  • Replace the grill grates and close the grill.
  • Use stainless steel grill cleaner to clean and polish the grill’s exterior.
  • Reconnect the fuel.

FAQ

How often is it advisable to clean the BBQ grates?

You should scrape the grates with a brush after every grilling session to reduce the buildup of food, grease, and sauce residue. You should do a more thorough cleaning at least twice a season to get reduce the buildup of all of these things on the grates and the interior of the grill.

Can I start cleaning while the grates are still warm?

Yes, you can start cleaning the grates when they are still warm. You should use a wire brush to scrape each of the grates thoroughly when they are warm since the food particles will come off easier than after they have cooled down. Then, when you are ready to do a more thorough cleaning with one of the cleansers above, it will be easier to do this. Most cleansers need the grill to be cool, so don’t use them on a warm grill unless otherwise specified.

Which other accessories might I need for a thorough cleaning?

There are few other accessories that you might need for thorough cleaning. The first is a wire brush to scrub the grill grates. These should be used every time you cook. You may also need some scouring sponges and some cotton rags to scrub and clean the other areas of the grill. Stainless steel cleaner will help give the exterior a nice shine. Gloves are also a must to protect your hands from harsh cleansers.

Our verdict

The best grill cleaner can make short work of the otherwise messy job of cleaning your grill. With so many cleaner options on the market, it can be hard to choose the right one but we do have a few favorites.

Our top choice is the TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray. This 18-ounce bottle contains a phosphate-free formula that is gentle and easy to use. It works on both stainless steel and enameled cast iron grates on all types of grills, plus it won’t leave any unsightly streaks behind when you’re done cleaning.

The CLR BBQ Grill Cleaner is one of the best foaming options on the market. It’s powerful and able to cut through any built-up grease, burnt-on food, and splatter stains on your grill grates, burners, and all other locations where the mess has spread. It also works quickly so you won’t have to wait all day to clean your barbecue.

The Citrusafe BBQ Grill Grate Cleaner is great for gas and charcoal grills, plus it works in only 30 seconds. This citrus-based cleaner is biodegradable, non-toxic, phosphate-free, non-corrosive, and non-flammable as well for added peace of mind when using it.

9,9
Total Score
TriNova Grill Cleaner Spray - Editor’s Choice
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