The best BBQ cleaner: restore your BBQ to its former glory

If you’re on the hunt for the best BBQ cleaner, you’ve come to the right place. Cleaning a BBQ is nowhere near as enjoyable a task as cooking on a BBQ, but it’s essential nonetheless. Aside from helping you keep your barbecue in prime condition this summer, you’ll thank yourself next year if you commit to giving it a thorough clean once the season is out.

Our pick of the best grill cleaners are not only affordable and easy to use, they can also help prolong the life of your barbecue and help it perform at its best – great news if you’ve invested in a quality grill and want to see it last for years to come.

Take a look at our best BBQ buying guide for our top picks for alfresco cooking.

The best BBQ cleaners 2021

Given that it was designed by BBQ experts Weber, it’s no surprise that the Weber Q & Pulse Cleaner is our top-rated BBQ cleaner. Not only is this grill cleaner suitable for polishing up all aspects of your BBQ, but it’s also a non-toxic and biodegradable solution, which is great news if you’re concerned about the environmental impact of your cleaning materials.

Simply spray a fine mist onto your barbecue and use a brush with firm bristles to remove any built-up grease and grime. Job done. 

• Shop the Weber Q & Pulse Cleaner

If you’re looking for a heavy-duty BBQ cleaner that promises to cut through grease and grime with minimal effort, the HG oven, grill & barbecue cleaner is the one for you. This is especially useful for the best gas BBQs, which often get grease buildup cooked onto the grates. 

Suitable for a variety of styles of BBQ, this hardcore cleaner is capable of removing stuck-on grime, which is great news if you’ve got your BBQ out of the shed, only to discover that you didn’t get round to cleaning it properly before putting it away last BBQ season. We’ve all been there.

• Shop the HG oven, grill & barbecue cleaner

Given its super budget-friendly price point, the Jeyes Barbecue Spray Cleaner is an impressively effective BBQ cleaner. Thanks to its easy-to-use spray mechanism, this handy BBQ cleaner makes it quick and easy to keep your grill in top condition.

Whether you’re working with burnt-on food, a thick layer of grease (or both) rest assured that this handy BBQ cleaner is capable of cutting through grease and germs with minimal effort. Plus, it’s effective in killing E.coli, salmonella and other forms of bacteria, which is great news if you’re particularly concerned about food hygiene.

• Shop the Jeyes Barbecue Spray Cleaner

If you’re looking for a BBQ cleaner specifically designed to tackle the grill section of your BBQ, the Method Stainless Steel Cleaner is for you. Much like other products from Method, this stainless-steel cleaner is plant-based and eco-friendly, all while effectively tackling stuck-on grease and grime. 

Plus, its gorgeous vanilla orchid, peach nectar and apple blossom scent is a pleasure to work with. A great option if you’re on the hunt for an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical cleaners.

• Shop the Method Stainless Steel Cleaner

The Oven Mate Just For Racks Cleaning Gel Kit is our go-to option for deep cleaning the BBQ grills – perhaps before packing it away at the end of the summer. And the best news about it is that it requires next to no elbow grease. 

Simply place your grill racks in the cleaning bags, along with the accompanying cleaning solution, and leave it to do its work. Then, take a clean cloth and watch as built-on grease and grime lifts away with minimal effort.

• Shop the Oven Mate Just For Racks Cleaning Gel Kit

How to buy the best BBQ cleaner

When it comes to buying the best BBQ cleaner, there are a few factors worth considering if you’re set on ensuring you have the best solution available to you. Here’s everything you need to know:

Type of solution

Almost all of the BBQ cleaners we’ve included in this round-up come in easy-to-use spray bottles. However, there is also the option to place your grills in a chemical bag and let the cleaning solution do the work, with minimal elbow grease required. If you find cleaning a challenge, for whatever reason, this is a great alternative to traditional sprays.

Is your BBQ cleaner suitable for the entire BBQ?

Some BBQ cleaners will be best suited to removing baked-on food, as well as hard-to-remove grease and grime from your BBQs stainless-steel grills, while others are capable of returning both the inside and outside of your BBQ to its former glory. The option you choose will likely depend on whether you’re spot-treating your BBQ or are looking to give the entire grill some TLC.

Do you want to use harsh chemicals?

If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of chemicals, you may wish to opt for a plant-based, or non-toxic, BBQ cleaner that will do minimal damage to the planet, all while bringing your BBQ up to scratch. The majority of these options are also biodegradable.

More BBQ advice:

• Cook up a storm with our top BBQ recipes 
• Can't decide between a gas or charcoal BBQ? Our advice will help you choose