How to get your BBQ in shape for Summer

How do you get a barbecue clean after winter, and which BBQ Tough product should you use?

After a winter under a cover, most barbecues come out with a layer of accumulated grease and grime. Selleys makes three BBQ Tough products, and choosing between them is simply a question of how bad the grill is: BBQ Tough Wipes for a quick clean-up, BBQ Tough Grease & Grime Cleaner for regular de-greasing, and BBQ Tough Clean for a grill you have let go.

One safety point before anything else, because it changes how you plan the job: BBQ Tough Clean is an extremely flammable aerosol and must only be applied to a cold barbecue. If you were planning to warm the plate up to loosen the grease first, do not — that is the one approach this product cannot tolerate.

Why regular grill maintenance matters

Keeping a barbecue clean does more than make it look better. It keeps the cooking equipment in good condition, supports food safety, improves the flavour of what you cook, and extends the life of the barbecue. Grease and grime build-up also attracts pests, which is a food safety issue in its own right. Cleaning regularly is far less work than removing layers of accumulated build-up once a year.

BBQ Tough Wipes — quick and convenient cleaning

The wipes are the go-to when you want a fast, effective clean. They handle cold or slightly warm hotplates, grills, racks, the hood and utensils, and they are useful for public barbecues — before and after use.

They come in 12, 25 and 30 packs. Each wipe measures 250 mm × 275 mm and is a white cloth with black nodules that do the scrubbing.

1. Open the resealable lid and slowly peel back the resealable sticker to pull out a wipe.
2. With the nodule side down, wipe over plates, grills and other dirty surfaces to scrub clean and absorb the grease and grime.
3. Reseal the sticker and close the lid so the remaining wipes stay fresh.
4. There is no need to wipe dry — heat the barbecue up and start cooking.
5. Put the used wipe in the rubbish bin.

BBQ Tough Grease & Grime Cleaner — the regular maintenance option

If you keep on top of your barbecue, this 500 mL trigger spray is what you use for routine de-greasing of the hotplate and grill. It is fast-acting and cuts through grease.

1. Spray directly onto a slightly warm hotplate or grill.
2. Leave for 2–3 minutes to let the formula work on the grease and grime.
3. Wipe clean with a damp Selleys Super Cloth or a BBQ Tough Wipe.
4. Wipe again with a clean cloth to remove any residue.

Note the difference from BBQ Tough Clean: this product is used on a slightly warm plate, and the aerosol is used on a cold one. They are not interchangeable in that respect.

BBQ Tough Clean — for a grill you have neglected

When the cleaning routine has slipped, BBQ Tough Clean is the heavy option. It is a 400 gram non-caustic aerosol formulated to tackle stubborn grease, grime, fat and charred material on stainless steel and cast-iron racks, grills and hotplates.

Directions, in the order the safety data sheet gives them

1. Apply to a COLD barbecue only. The product may ignite on exposure to heat or flame.
2. Wearing rubber gloves, remove the grills, racks and plates you intend to clean and place them on a suitable surface before applying the product.
3. Scrape or wipe off the excess grease, grime and charred material.
4. Shake the can well and spray liberally, holding the can upright.
5. Allow at least 10 minutes before wiping with a damp cloth. This dwell time is what does the work — wiping straight away wastes the product.
6. Rinse thoroughly with water, then wipe dry with a clean cloth.
7. If the hotplate or grill cannot be removed, wait for flammable gases to disperse before using the barbecue — approximately 1 hour.

Safety — read this before you buy it

BBQ Tough Clean is classified as an Aerosols Category 1 hazard. It is extremely flammable (H222), it is a pressurised container that may burst if heated (H229), and it causes severe skin burns and eye damage (H314). Poison schedule S5.

• Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces. No smoking.
• Do not spray on an open flame or other ignition source.
• Do not pierce or burn the can, even after use.
• Wear rubber gloves, protective gloves and clothing, and eye or face protection.
• Do not breathe the vapour or spray.
• Store locked up, protected from sunlight, and do not expose to temperatures above 50°C.
• If medical advice is needed, have the product container or label to hand. Poisons Information: 1800 220 770 (Australia), 0800 220 770 (New Zealand).

Limitations — where BBQ Tough Clean must not be sprayed

This is the section most people miss, and it is the one that prevents damage. Avoid spraying BBQ Tough Clean on brass and aluminium fittings, painted surfaces, or any surfaces other than hotplates, grills and racks. Do not allow any overspray to dry or stand.

That rules the product out for the job many people reach for it to do — cleaning the outside of the barbecue. For BBQ surfaces other than hotplates, grills and racks, Selleys directs you to BBQ Exterior Clean & Shine instead.

Why the exterior matters too

Cleaning tends to focus on the cooking surfaces, but the exterior is worth maintaining as well. A clean, well-kept exterior improves the look of the barbecue and the outdoor cooking area, and looking after the exterior components can extend the barbecue's life by protecting the materials from corrosion, rust and other environmental factors. Keeping grease and grime off the outside also makes future cleaning easier — maintaining cleanliness is far less work than removing built-up layers — and it reduces the pest attraction that comes with accumulated grease.

Just do not use BBQ Tough Clean to do it, for the reasons above.

Common questions about cleaning a barbecue

Which product do I need?

Wipes for a quick clean before or after cooking; the Grease & Grime trigger spray for regular de-greasing of the plate and grill; BBQ Tough Clean for stubborn baked-on grease, fat and charred material you have let build up.

Can I spray BBQ Tough Clean on a warm barbecue?

No. Apply it to a cold barbecue only — the product may ignite on exposure to heat or flame.

How long do I leave BBQ Tough Clean on?

At least 10 minutes before wiping with a damp cloth, then rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a clean cloth.

Do I have to take the grills out?

The directions ask you to remove the grills, racks and plates and place them on a suitable surface. If they cannot be removed, wait about an hour for flammable gases to disperse before using the barbecue.

Can I use it on the painted body or the lid?

No. Avoid spraying it on brass and aluminium fittings, painted surfaces, or anything other than hotplates, grills and racks.

What can I use on a slightly warm plate?

BBQ Tough Grease & Grime Cleaner. Spray it directly onto the slightly warm hotplate or grill and leave 2–3 minutes before wiping.

Do I need to rinse after using the wipes?

No. There is no need to wipe dry — heat the barbecue and start cooking.

What size are the wipes and how many come in a pack?

Each wipe is 250 mm × 275 mm, in 12, 25 and 30 packs.

Will BBQ Tough Clean work on cast iron?

Yes — it is formulated for stainless steel and cast-iron racks, grills and hotplates.

What protective gear do I need?

Rubber gloves at minimum, plus protective clothing and eye or face protection. The product causes severe skin burns and eye damage.

How should I store the can?

Locked up, protected from sunlight, away from heat, sparks, flames and hot surfaces, and never above 50°C. Do not pierce or burn it, even when empty.

How often should I clean the barbecue?

Often enough that you stay on the wipes and trigger spray rather than the aerosol. Maintaining cleanliness is much less effort than removing built-up layers, and it keeps the equipment in better condition.