Dish Covered Polish

1 Jan, 2008 in art pottery by admin

Dish Covered Polish

Winterize Your Outdoor Grill For Storage

Winterizing Your Outdoor Grill For Winter Storage

Living in the Southeast, we grill all year long. But in the northern climates, fall and winter signal the end of the grilling season as the days are shorter and the nights are a little more than crisp. But that doesn't mean just walk away and let it sit through the winter. Whether it's charcoal or gas, preparing your grill for winter storage will make it last longer and save you trouble in the spring.

While some maintenance and cleaning is specific to the type of outdoor grill you own (gas, electric, charcoal or smoke barbecue grill), the majority of maintenance that should be carried on does not change from grill to grill. However, always refer to the instructions contained in the grill's manual for more detailed instructions on how to clean your particular grill.

Items You'll need for Proper Grill Winterizing

You will need some common household items on hand when it comes time to winterize your outdoor barbeque grill.

Hardwood Handle Grill Brush
Steel wool pads, preferably that contains soap already.
Bucket of mild dish soap and Hot Water
Ammonia or oven cleaner
Old sponge or dishcloth
Non Aerosol Spritzer (for oil)or PAM
Vegetable Oil
Dry baking soda
Aluminum foil
Small paint scraper
Heavy Duty plastic garbage bags

Winterizing Instructions

Step 1- Clean the Racks

Using the wire brush, scrub off any loose debris from the racks before removing them from the grill.

Step 2- Soak The Racks

Remove the racks from the grill. With the bucket of hot water and ammonia, (ammonia is great for removing grease) start washing the racks, let them soak for awhile if possible. If the racks are really dirty, a neat trick is to spray the racks with ammonia or oven cleaner and place them in a plastic garbage bag, seal it and let soak in the sun for several hours. Then, scrub using the soapy steel wool pads. Be sure to completely rinse off all soap and residue before cooking on these racks again. Wipe or spray the grates with Vegetable Oil.

Step 3 - (Charcoal Grills Only) Clean Out Ash Pan

Empty out the ash pan under the coal grate. Scrub with hot water and dish soap, set aside to dry.

Step 4 - Clean out Drip pans

Remove and empty out all catch/drip pans. These little gems get full of grease and cause a real mess when they start to overflow from neglect. Dogs also love to drink this stuff. So it is a good idea to keep them clean. If it's disposable, toss it out and replace. Otherwise, scrub it down with the hot water and dish soap.

Step 5 - Clean out the inside

Using the paint scraper, scrape out any debris and accumulated grease from inside the grill body. Wipe down the interior with th hot water and dish soap. Rinse and allow to dry. Use the steel wool pads on areas that are not sensitive to scratching (avoid using on stainless steel). If you have a gas grill, remove the burner shields and clean the same way you cleaned the racks. Use care around the burners and igniter, not to cause any damage or clog the burners.

Step 6- Thoroughly clean the outside

Using the hot water and dish soap, wipe down all exterior surfaces and thoroughly dry. Be sure not to leave any soap residue that can be subjected to the high heat of your grill, causing discoloration. Use the steel wool pads on areas that are not sensitive to scratching (avoid using on stainless steel). Once you have removed any extra debris and buildup, lightly scrubbing your barbeque grill with baking soda will give it that extra shine, baking soda is a very nice cleaning and polishing agent. Aluminum foil can also be used to keep your grill looking nice. Gently rub the aluminum foil on your grill, and you will notice that it removes grime and buildup. This is a cheap and inexpensive way to clean your grill.

Step 7- Reassemble

Replace the ash pan, catch pans, burner shields and racks. If you have a propane tank on your gas grill, completely turn off the valve and remove the propane tank. A word of caution: Never store an LP tank indoors, in case there is ever a leak.

Step 8- Cover & Store

If possible, store your grill out of the elements, in a shed, garage or even the basement. This will at least keep any moisture out of it. Be sure to cover your grill. Without a doubt, a grill cover has to be the single most effective way to take care of your grill. If you don't do anything else, purchase a good quality, heat resistant grill cover to protect your investment.

A special note about caring for stainless steel

When it comes to cleaning stainless steel grills, remember that this material will scratch easily. So, never use steel wool or metal brushes to clean stainless. You also need to avoid using abrasive cleaning agents, such as cleanser. Clean your grill with a soft cloth and a good quality non-abrasive cleaner. I have found GrillPro Stainless steel cleaner works well, removes grease and is designed for high heat. Other stainless steel polishes can discolor under intense heat and make your grill look worse, not better. Anything that leaves behind a film or finish will be subjected to the heat of your grill, including soap residue that is not washed off.

About the Author

Anthony Robert is a contributing editor to How To Winterize Your Outdoor Grill in the GrillingGuide.net Online Articles Directory. He has written and published numerous how to grill articles for the beginner,casual and expert griller.

Will permanent marker covered in clear nail polish come off of a Nalgene if I put it in the dishwasher?

It is VERY important that it does not come off! I usually hand wash it with one of those sponges on a handle with hot hot water and dish soap, but it just seems grimy. When there's water in the bottle, it sticks to the sides of the bottle and like doesn't move, making me think the inside is filthy!

There is writing on the bottle in permanent marker, then covered with nail polish. I probably wrote over it and covered it again twice. But if it comes off completely, I cannot rewrite it. Long story.

Can I put the bottle in the dishwasher without the writing coming off?

I think the dishwasher would be fine. Its not scrubbing the bottle, just washing it in hotter water. You can also hand wash it with very hot water and vinegar or a mild kitchen cleaner. That should remove the grime inside.

8 Polish Dishes