It’s Time for a Mid-Season Clean Up
Is your next pool party right around the corner? Are you inviting friends over for a backyard barbecue? If you’re looking to spruce up your backyard before your next gathering, you’ll find tips inside for a mid-season clean up!
You’ll find tips for cleaning your grill, patio furniture and pool toys.
Cleaning the Grill
By now you’ve probably cooked more than a few meals on your grill. You may find stuck on food and drippings that will certainly affect the flavor of your food.
Here are a few tips for taking care of your grill.
Charcoal Grill
After every use, you want to clean the grate while it is still warm. Scrub it with a metal grill brush. This gets rids of the nasty left-over food bits.
Once the grill is cool, take the grate off and scoop out the ash.
Wipe down your grill inside and out with a damp cloth, and then replace the grate.
If you’ve got a particularly dirty grate, you can put it in a tub of hot water and a few drops of dish soap. Let it soak for about 30 minutes and scrub again. Be sure to rinse completely and dry with a cloth.
Gas Grill
Like the charcoal grill, you want to clean a gas grill after every use and while it’s still warm. Scrub it in the manner mentioned above.
Once the grill is cool, wipe the exterior with a damp cloth.
You can also clean the grate in the same way you would a charcoal grill.
Pay special attention to any smoke and grease buildup on the hood, dials and other metal surfaces.
Big Green Egg
If you own a Big Green Egg, following these cleaning directions:
NEVER use water to clean the inside of your EGG. Your EGG is designed to be virtually self-cleaning. The ceramics are porous and will absorb the water.
Simply close the lid and both vents after a cook, and the remaining heat will allow food residue to burn off. At the beginning of your next cook, you can easily remove any remnants on the cooking grid with the Big Green Egg Grid Cleaner or the Stainless Steel Mesh Grill Scrubber.
Periodically INSPECT all fasteners for tightness. The metal bands on your EGG are designed to keep the dome of your EGG secure, as are the nuts and bolts on the EGG hardware, casters, Nest or Nest Handler, and EGG Mates. Checking the tightness of these fittings after the first few uses is highly recommended, along with a rechecking at least twice a year. In particular, the band and hinge hardware should be checked regularly for proper operation and tightness.
Cleaning Patio Furniture
Mid-season and before a party it’s a good idea to clean your patio furniture cushions.
Be sure and read manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before beginning.
Remove them and clean them with a solution of 1 quart warm water with a drop or two of dish soap. Scrub completely, rinse and let dry in the sun.
You can also clean your hard surfaces with an outdoor cleaner or a mild solution of water and dish soap and soft cloth.
If you have wood furniture, look into wood care products that clean, repel water and protect the finish.
Cleaning Pool Toys
If it’s about time for your next pool party, get out your toys and inflatables and look them over.
If any of them leak or have cracks, toss them. Once that’s done, it’s time to clean the remainder of your toys and get rid of any moldy smells.
Lay the toys and floats out on your patio. Spritz them with a cleaning solution made up of the following:
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cut water
- Use a 16 oz. spray bottle
Once you’ve sprayed them, you can scrub any areas you see that have mold on them. Then, rinse completely and let dry in the sun.
After every use, squeeze out all toys, and make sure the water is out of them.
Then, rinse them with your hose and let them dry in the sun.
