During summer months, many homeowners enjoy cooking for and entertaining with guests amidst the fresh air and sunshine. Having an outdoor kitchen is an investment these homeowners make to extend their living space into their backyard.
In this guide, you will learn how to clean your outdoor kitchen which will include tips on cleaning your appliances, and countertops.
Maintaining Your Outdoor Kitchen
Your outdoor kitchen is exposed to more dirt, debris, inclement weather, and ultraviolet rays than your indoor kitchen, which is why it is important to maintain this area. This means doing regular maintenance on your appliances such as stovetop, fridge, grill, and more.
When mowing the lawn direct the clippings away from the kitchen. If you live in a cold climate, make sure to shut down all appliances and the utilities connected to the appliances, and drain any supply lines to water sources, this eliminates the risk of pipes freezing or bursting.
Cleaning Your Outdoor Kitchen Appliances
Regular cleaning of your outdoor kitchen appliances will increase the efficiency and longevity of the appliance. Most of your appliances can be cleaned with a microfiber rag, hot water, and soap. If you have tough stains or grease that’s hard to remove, make a paste out baking soda and water. Let it sit for a few hours and wipe with a clean cloth.
Before cooking in your outdoor kitchen, grab a soft cloth with a bucket of soap and water to wipe down all surfaces before use. This will remove the dirt and debris that accumulates during the day.
BBQ & Grill
Cleaning your BBQ & grill after each use as well as before and after the start of each grilling season will reduce the buildup of carbon deposits which can affect the temperature of your grill, how evenly the grill cooks your meat, and encourages bacteria growth.
Take a wire brush and scrub the grill plates after each use. Depending on how often you use your grill, you should do a thorough cleaning every couple of months. When cleaning your BBQ grill plates, make a solution out of dishwashing soap, vinegar, baking soda, and water. Make sure to invest in a grill cover to protect your grill when not in use.
Don’t forget to perform routine maintenance on your grill machine, inspecting the burners, hoses, and valves. You want to keep an eye on the fuel valve pressure and grill hoses to make sure they don’t need to be replaced or attended to. You can also consider an electric Weston meat grinder as well.
Stovetop
When cleaning your BBQ grill stovetop or burners, you want to use a stiff brush to help remove the grease and buildup. Don’t use steel or wool to scrub your stovetop, this can cause it to scratch the surface. Always remove food particles before you wash the stovetop in soap and water and always clean up spills right away to avoid the spill staining your stovetop. Read here for experts’ tips on how to choose the best built in grill.
Fridge
Your fridge is more than likely stainless steel, which means it is durable and designed for the outdoors. However, you still need to properly care for your appliance. If you live in an area that experiences temperatures of less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the cold months you need to store your fridge indoors. During grilling season wipe the outside of the fridge using a soft rag and soapy water.
The inside of the fridge should be cleaned and rinsed in the same manner that you would use with your indoor fridge. When cleaning your fridge you want to make sure that you take everything out of the fridge and wait until it is thoroughly dry before putting items back in the fridge.
Cleaning Outdoor Stone Countertops
For granite or stone countertops, you should be careful of what you use to clean it, and make sure to clean after each use. A soft rag and soapy water should suffice, or use a baking soda and water paste. If your countertops are sealed avoid using acidic cleaners such as vinegar, lemon juice, or ammonia. This will strip the sealant and possibly stain the countertop.
*Note- It is also recommended that you have your granite and stone countertops sealed every 3-5 yrs. This will help with cleaning and add a protective coating against stains.
As an expansion of the home, an outdoor kitchen needs to be cleaned and maintained to be able to enjoy for years to come. This ultimate guide to cleaning your outdoor kitchen should have provided you with all the information that you need to maintain your outdoor kitchen.
Cleaning your outdoor kitchen furniture
Most outdoor kitchen furniture is made from wood-based material like wicker. Regular maintenance is required to keep your outdoor kitchen furniture looking and feeling brand new.
Proper outdoor furniture maintenance requires regular wipe downs with an organic based disinfectant like distilled vinegar, baking soda, and or a multi-purpose spray.
For outdoor furniture made of glass or other fragile material, make sure to check the directions of the manufacturer for type of surface you are looking to clean.
Always be sure to keep excessive debris and dirt away from your outdoor furniture. The old idiom that prevention is better than a cure rings true for keeping your outdoor furniture clean. Try to make sure your outdoor chairs, tables, sofas and cushions are kept under cover and away from the elements as much as practically possible.
Lastly
There you have it, if you’ve followed our guide, your outdoor kitchen should be sparkling and free from excess dirt and grime. As always, regular cleaning is required to make sure the appearance of your outdoor kitchen and outdoor kitchen appliances stay new for as long as possible.