Keeping Your Outdoor Kitchen Clean
Outdoor kitchens are a great addition to any home or community clubhouse. They create a fun, versatile space to entertain outdoors. In South Florida, we have more beautiful days than we know what to do with. A good barbecue is always a satisfying way to spend an afternoon with friends and family.
But it would be silly to ignore the fact that things outside get dirty. It is simply unavoidable. And when we are talking about a kitchen, you want it as clean as possible. Many of the cleaning habits you have for your indoor kitchen are the same for outdoors. But there are special considerations you should keep in mind. The Outdoor Appliance Store is here for your maintenance and cleaning questions. It is important you know the proper technique and products to use. The wrong product can erode the exterior of your appliance.
Maintaining Your Floor
In your indoor kitchen, you likely sweep and mop often. In an outdoor kitchen, you also need to sweep regularly. Especially if your outdoor kitchen does not have a cover, you can speed this up by using a leaf blower. A leaf blower is also good for removing hard to reach spider webs in covered kitchens.
After you remove loose debris from your kitchen, you need occasional wet washing. Wet washing removes surface dirt that gets ground in. You can wet wash easily with a garden hose and a good nozzle. You do not need a ton of pressure. But the more pressure from your hose, the less likely you are to scrub up the dirt. Once you finish wet washing, you can break out the leaf blower again. Flip it on to blow off excess water. A lot of outdoor kitchen flooring gets slippery when wet. The last thing you need is to slip when cooking.
Always keep your floor material in mind when cleaning. Grease and food stains are bound to happen. But some grease cleaners are acidic. You can not use acidic cleaners on natural stone or concrete floors. For tough stains, use a pressure washer instead.
How to Clean Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel is a common material used for outdoor appliances. It is beautiful and durable. It is perfect for outdoor use. The bad news is that it shows every fingerprint and dust fleck. But do not worry! It is actually pretty easy to clean with the right product and cloth. We recommend using microfiber cloths to wipe down your stainless steel. The real trick is wiping in one direction and using less cleaner than you think you need.
There are a lot of options when it comes to cleaning products for stainless steel. We recommend using cleaners made specifically for stainless steel. These products are often polish based. Use them sparingly. Too much polish will lead to dirt and grime sticking to your appliances. You can remove too much polish with water, dish soap, and a soft cloth or sponge. Rinse with clean water and dry to avoid water spots.
Cleaning Your Grill
Cleaning your grill is a multi-step process. The best way to clean a grill is from top to bottom. Cleaning your grill is more than just scraping off the grates. Different types of grills need different levels of cleaning.
Charcoal grill grates tend to get grimier. They may need more scraping than gas or electric grills. Before scraping, heat up your grill to the max heat and close the lid. Allow the heat to run for about 15 minutes. This loosens the grease and makes cleaning easier. Scrape with a grill brush or even a bit of rolled up tin foil. This process is the same for all types of grills. Make sure to let the grates cool for a few minutes before trying to handle them.
Gas grills have many parts beneath the grates that need attention. The internal parts of your grill need cleaning at least once a month. You can space these cleanings out if you only use your grill occasionally. But it is a good idea to open things up and take a peek at least once a month anyway. This way, you can avoid any massive internal issues.
Under your grates are the flame tamers. These look like long, metal pyramids. Remove them from the grill and scrape with a stainless steel grill brush. You may also use water and dish soap.
Once the grates and the flame tamers are out, the inside walls need an inspection. Look for signs of corrosion and grease build-up. Scrub the inside of your grill with the same grill brush from before. Again, use water and dish soap for stubborn grease. Avoid getting the actual burners wet.
Finally, you need to check your grease trap. At the end of the cleaning, it is probably pretty full. This is why we clean from top to bottom. Empty the grease trap. Make sure all your grill parts are completely dry before replacing them.
Keeping the outside of your grill clean is the easy part. Wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove dust, dirt, or other debris. We also recommend using a grill cover to protect your grill from the elements.
Cleaning Products to Avoid
Avoid chlorine and bleach around stainless steel. Both chlorine and bleach will damage stainless steel. Black staining may occur from bleach or chlorine exposure. This is especially relevant if your outdoor kitchen is near a pool. Keep this in mind when designing your outdoor retreat.
Bar Keeper’s Friend is a good product to keep around if your outdoor kitchen is near a pool. In some cases, it fixes damage from chlorine, bleach, or other chemicals.
Bleach is a good product to avoid altogether for your outdoor kitchen. It will also damage your grill. The damage from bleach is often worse than built-up grime, grease, or even rust. Heavy-duty acidic cleaners are also not recommended for tough build-up. Follow the above protocol for tough messes.
The Outdoor Appliance Store loves to help you build a beautiful outdoor kitchen. We have a large selection of appliances and grills available. Making sure you have the knowledge to keep your outdoor kitchen looking great is important to us. We hope this blog was a helpful teaching tool. But if you still have more questions, call us toll-free at (844) 305-0125. Our team is available for all your outdoor kitchen needs and questions. Our specialty is outdoor kitchen design and appliances. But our knowledge of maintenance and upkeep is a high priority.
We offer free design help on our website. Our free design services include several amazing perks. You get professional advice, colored 3D renderings, and a custom layout and plan. We are also completely transparent about costs. Our design service also gives you an itemized quote. Your quote details every element of your design.
For all your outdoor kitchen needs, contact us, The Outdoor Appliance Store. We are also available 24/7 via live chat on our website!