17 hours ago
I Was Petrified to Clean My Grill — Until I Discovered This 'Game-Changing' Trick
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A couple weeks ago, it was a perfect, sunny 80 degrees in the San Francisco Bay Area. I knew it wouldn't last, but all I could think about was having a grilled hot dog — the smoky, blistered char, the toasty buns, the ice-cold beer to go along with it. I could practically taste summer! The only problem? I was petrified to open my grill.
I love cooking outside because it minimizes the mess in my kitchen, but I'm a bit too low-key when it comes to cleaning up outside. I'll usually scrape up any big food bits before shutting the grill off and calling it a night. Then before I cook my next meal on the grill, I'll give it another quick clean. I don't know the last thing I grilled last summer — all I know is I definitely forgot to properly clean my grill afterward. I was totally panicked by what could be waiting for me under the grill hood, but the hot dog craving was just too strong. Plus, Senior Lifestyle Editor Quinn Fish introduced me to these game-changing grill wipes she found, and I was eager to give those a try.
If you have kids (or know someone who has kids), you'll quickly notice that the packaging looks like baby wipes. And honestly, the concept is not too dissimilar. These are premoistened cloths meant to clean up messes called Crocodile Cloth Grill Cleaning Wipes.
Home Depot
$21
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These large, heavy-duty wipes are touted as being able to effectively remove things like grease, ash, rust, fire residue, and sauces. Beyond cleaning grill grates, they can be used on drip pans, grill accessories, burners, the grill exterior, coolers, outdoor furniture, and even your hands. They're unscented and are infused with aloe and vitamin E, making them gentle on your skin but tough on grease. Plus, at only $20.99 for an 80-pack, they're only about a quarter a piece — which is a steal of a deal, and will last for years to come. I couldn't wait to put them to the test!
These wipes make cleaning the grill infinitely easier. After months of no use (and no thorough cleaning), my grill was indeed pretty gnarly. I still needed to use a grill scraper for some stubborn bits initially, but I wiped down everything afterward (even below the grates!) with the Crocodile wipes and was impressed by how strong they were. Even when I used firm pressure to remove gunky or greasy bits, they never ripped, like a paper towel would, and they're nondrying so they stay wet for up to an hour. They're also huge — 10×15 inches, about three to four times the size of your standard household or industrial wipe. With tons of surface area and an ultra-tough nonwoven texture, I could use one wipe for several tasks.
What's especially great about them is that because they're alcohol-free and totally food-safe, you don't even have to wash and dry the grill after you use them (which is a total pain). That's right, just wipe and cook! It saves so much time, energy, and effort when you're getting ready to BBQ.
Hopefully you've taken better care of your grill, and you only need to use these wipes for a light cleaning after each time you grill this summer. I'll definitely be using them whenever I grill moving forward! Next up, I want to try the brand's all-purpose, biodegradable version and the powerSCRUB option.
Buy: , $20.99
This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: I Was Petrified to Open My Grill — Until I Discovered This 'Game-Changing' Trick
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