Author: shiningoven

Summer is approaching fast – we can practically smell the barbecue already! Soon we will be enjoying tasty burgers, a few drinks and good company.

But wait!

Is your barbecue actually ready to do its job?

If the answer is no and you’ve found your grill to be covered in grease and grime, worry not! In this post, we will show you how to clean barbecue grates correctly, because, trust us, there is a wrong way to do it.

So, if you:

• Have abandoned your greasy barbecue in the garage;
• Are wondering how often you should clean the thing;
• Are asking yourself when exactly you should wash the BBQ – before or after use,

Then look no further! We have the answers.

Why should you clean the barbecue grill grates?

Let’s get one thing straight – well-seasoned grill grates can make your steak taste amazing. However, we can’t say the same for food prepared on a dirty and greasy barbecue. You see, if you don’t clean your grill, the food you cook on it will start to taste, well, just bad. Not only that, but leaving your barbecue in a poor condition can affect its performance.

There are two approaches when it comes to cleaning barbecue grill grates:

• The fast and easy way;
• The “Why, oh why, didn’t I clean the grill when I had the chance last year?”.

The first method is easy – it’s just a matter of turning your grill on and heating it up to 120°C for 10-15 minutes. After that, grab a brush and scrub the grates clean. Do this after each use of the barbecue to keep it in good shape.

The second scenario involves some elbow grease and plenty of patience. You’ll need to follow the steps described above and use some additional detergents.

If you don’t feel like spending the whole day scrubbing, clean the BBQ grill after every use. This will prevent dirt and grease build-up.

How to clean a BBQ grill

Before you attack the built-up grime, you need to know the proper approach. The cleaning method depends highly on the type of grill grate you own. The most popular materials are stainless steel, cast iron and porcelain.

So, here is how to clean barbecue grill grates:

How to clean a cast iron grill

Cast iron is one of the best materials for grilling. It heats up evenly and retains the temperature for a good period of time. Cast iron is very durable, but it has one big weakness – water damage. If you expose the material to any sort of moisture, you are condemning it to rust.

Here is how to clean cast iron BBQ grates:

Time needed: 30 minutes.

1. Scrub.Take a wire brush and gently remove all leftover food bits from the grate.
2. Prepare a cleaning solution.Mix four parts water and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle.
3. Spray.Thoroughly spray the grill with the solution.
4. Wipe.Wipe the grill grates with a paper towel.
5. Repeat.Keep spraying and scrubbing until all food particles are gone.
6. Wash.Using a sponge and some mild soap, wipe any grease off the grill grates.
7. Rinse.Remove any soap residue from the barbecue with some warm water.
8. Dry.As we mentioned earlier, cast iron hates water. So, remember to dry the grates thoroughly. If you skip this step, you’ll end up with a rusty grill.

How to clean a stainless steel barbecue grill

Like cast iron, stainless steel also handles higher temperatures well. However, it has one additional quality: it doesn’t rust. Similar to how you clean oven racks, it’s quite simple.

So, here’s how to clean stainless steel BBQ grates:

1. Create a cleaning solution.
   Mix two parts white vinegar and one part baking soda in a plain rubbish bag.
2. Put in the grill grates.
   Place the grill grates inside the bag and secure it with a rubber band.
3. Let them sit.
   Leave the grates in the bad overnight.
4. Wash.
   Get the grates out in the morning and wash them with some water. If you see any food bits still stuck on, gently scrub them away with a brush.
5. Rinse.
   Rinse the grates with some cool water.
6. Dry.
   Dry the grill grates thoroughly with a towel.

How to clean porcelain grill grates

Porcelain grills come with a number of benefits, like the fact that they don’t need oil seasoning and hold heat pretty well. However, when it comes to maintenance, this type of grill grate is quite capricious.

So, how do you clean porcelain grill grates?

1. Heat.
   Warm up the grill grates to make cleaning them easier. Burn off the leftover food bits, turn off the grill and let it cool before proceeding.
2. Scrub.
   Gently scrub the grates clean with a plastic soft-bristle brush. Metal or wire brushes can chip the porcelain, exposing the metal underneath.
3. Scrub hard to reach areas.
   Get an old toothbrush and clean the hard to reach areas in between the grates.
4. Flip and repeat.
   Flip the grate over and repeat.

And voila! Your porcelain grill grates are now shiny and clean.

How to season grill grates

Every passionate cook out there knows that cast iron grates perform best if seasoned regularly with oil. You’ve probably noticed yourself that with every use of the grill, the food tends to stick less and less to it.

However, we aren’t saying you should never clean your barbecue again.

After you wash your cast iron or stainless steel grill, smear a small amount of plant-based oil on the grates to protect them from rust.

1. Clean.
   Clean the grill grates using one of the methods described above.
2. Oil.
   Apply a bit of vegetable oil to the grates with a paper towel.
3. Heat.
   Heat up the barbecue and let the oil burn away.
4. Repeat.
   Keep oiling and heating up the grates several times.

Great! You have now revived your grill.

Does every grill type require seasoning?

The answer is no. If you have a porcelain grill, you don’t need to season it with oil. The same goes for porcelain-enamelled cast iron and stainless steel grill grates. The layer of porcelain protects the grates from rust, which eliminates the need for oil.

When you use any of these grill models, just heat up the appliance 15 minutes before you start cooking and apply some oil to your food.

No time to clean your barbecue?

Cleaning your grill requires quite a lot of elbow grease, literally. It’s messy, sticky, time-consuming and overall just not a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. So, why not call someone to clean the thing for you?

We here at Shining Oven offer barbecue and grill cleaning. It doesn’t matter if you own a charcoal grill, hooded grill, smoker, or spit roasters – we can take care of the greasy situation. The experts we work with can thoroughly inspect your appliance, wash all of its removable parts in a special dip tank, filled with an effective cleaning solution, and put your appliance back together in no time.

The oven is probably the one thing in everybody’s home which is mostly ignored when cleaning time comes. Usually, you have to wait until the cleaning solution does its job and then scrub gunk for hours. Even then, you might have to do the whole process again and spend a day cleaning the oven.

Is this all worth it when you can hire someone to do it for you? To help you form an opinion, we created this professional oven cleaning cost guide.

We’ll go over all pricing factors and answer the most frequently asked questions about oven cleaning. 

So, if you:

• Are thinking of having your unit professionally cleaned;
• Want to know how much does oven cleaning actually cost;
• Are wondering what factors influence the price;

Then read on! This cost guide is just for you.

Pricing factors

While we do have a specific set of prices, there are some factors that come into play when forming the final price. Each of these factors is equally important both for calculating your price correctly and estimating how much time the job will take.

The cost of oven cleaning is determined by:

• Unit type – First we take into consideration your oven type. It might be a single or a double unit. It might also be a range cooker or an AGA. This part is important because the technicians always take apart ovens to clean their parts separately. Knowing the type of oven in advance will help us prepare.
• Unit size – Then come sizes. Single ovens are usually 60cm in width, sometimes wider. Range cookers, on the other hand, can be between 90 and 100 centimetres. AGA cookers are a whole different class, having 2 or 4 oven compartments and additional modules. And by the way, always turn down your AGA at least twelve hours before the specialists arrive.
• Address – Your location is also important. If you live inside the congestion zone, then the congestion fee will be included in your price. Parking space is also a factor to keep in mind – if it’s paid, you’ll need to cover the expenses, and if it requires a permit, then you’ll need to provide us with such.
• Addition kitchen items – After you’ve specified the type of oven, you can include an extractor, splashback, electric or gas hob to your order.
• Extra – And speaking of extra stuff, you can also have your refrigerator, washing machine, microwave, dishwasher and tumble dryer cleaned professionally as part of the service. After all, why bother wasting your time on these, when you can have someone right there, ready to handle it for you?
• Combinations – Since Shining Oven offers a wide variety of cleaning services, you can add those to your oven job. In addition to restoring your range cooker to its former shine, we can also clean your kitchen or appliances as part of a combined service.

How much does oven cleaning cost

On average, a basic oven cleaning for a single oven in the Ireland will cost you around €70. Note that, there are a couple of factors, such as the type and size of your unit, that contribute to the final price of each professional oven cleaning service. You can view all our price list services

Looking to hire a professional oven cleaner?

Shining Oven got you covered! We offer professional oven cleaning with disassembly, using the so-called dip-tank method. The specialists, we work with, use strong detergents which not only kill bacteria but also harmful carbon residue. And what’s more, you can start using your cooker right away, after the service!

Frequently asked questions

There’s more to oven cleaning prices than meets the eye. People have a lot of additional questions when booking over the phone. We’ve done our best to place those questions here, to make things easier for you.

Q: Why hire professionals if the oven has a self-cleaning option?

The self-cleaning feature is great for burning old food splatters which you can later scrub off easily. However, the problem is you can clean only what you see. The self-cleaning option won’t take care of the vent filters, door glass, or the fan. Eventually, these parts will get dirty and you’d either have to clean them yourself or call in the pros.

Q: How long does a self-cleaning cycle take?

One to three hours depending on the amount of grime accumulated. Keep in mind, the oven will get very hot to burn off all the fat and grease inside and a slight odour may be detected as a result. Keep pets away from the kitchen during the self-cleaning cycle. Do not use any commercial cleaning products, the self-cleaning cycle will do the job on its own.

Q: How long does your oven cleaning service take?

Usually, between an hour and two depending on the condition and size of the kitchen appliance. We take everything apart and place the removable parts in a dip tank filled with a strong cleansing solution. In the meantime, we clean the inside of the oven manually by applying cleaning products and scraping off the grime. Later on, when all the parts such as racks, trays, back panel and fan are cleaned, we put everything back together and check to see if the oven works properly. For more information, visit our professional oven cleaning page.

Q: How often should my oven be cleaned?

While there is no specific time period, it is recommended to clean it every 3 to 6 months. Of course, that depends a great deal on how much you use the cooker. If you cook on a regular basis, chances are that you should have it cleaned more often.

Q: Can you clean between the door glass?

Yes. We disassemble the unit including the oven door. When the door is dismantled, we clean the two glass panels with a special detergent. Although there is a way to clean between oven glass without disassembling the door, we always go the extra mile to achieve the best possible results. Mind you, we are unable to clean sealed oven doors.

Q: How soon can I use my oven after the service?

Right away. The detergents we use are eco-friendly and biodegradable so no toxic fumes will come out of your oven when you switch it on. Still, we advise you to turn it on for 10-15 minutes before putting food inside. This will remove the excess moisture.

Q: Do you do AGA cleaning?

Yes, we clean all cooker types. Whether it has two or four ovens, runs on gas, oil, or electricity, we can clean it.

Q: Do you protect the kitchen floor from dripping and splatters?

Yes. We cover the floor with protective sheets so no accidental leakages or spills will ruin your floor or carpet. The Shining Oven technicians also put on overshoes upon entering your property.

Q: Do you clean the oven roof/ceiling

Yes. We unscrew the grill, to gain access to the ceiling and then clean it along with the rest of the oven interior.

Q: Can you clean range cookers?

Yes. Our technicians are trained and certified to clean range masters of any size and maker.

So, now you know how much professional oven cleaning costs. Feeling ready to book professional oven cleaning? Book a service