Do your Memorial Day plans include a cookout? Before you fire up your natural gas grill, be sure it’s up to the task.

If your gas grill hasn’t been cleaned since last fall, chances are those fire-roasted treats you’re envisioning won’t be nearly as good as you imagine. Accumulated residue can make food stick to the grates, contribute to flare-ups and even lead to grease fires.

Don’t get caught with your tongs down! Before the season heats up, give your barbecue a spring cleaning and tune up. A little time and elbow grease is all it takes to get your grill running and looking like new after the long winter.

To help, Walton Gas shares these grill cleaning tips provided by Home Depot:

1. Pre-heat the grill for 15 minutes on high heat then turn it off.
2. Turn the gas off at the gas line. Important: For safety’s sake, DO NOT skip this step. 
3. Clean the hot grill grates using a stiff wire brush dipped in water. Do not lean over the grill while cleaning, as this should create plenty of steam. Hint: For tough grease spots, add dish soap to the water or use a product designated for grill cleaning. 
4. Once the surface has cooled, wipe the grate with a damp cloth to remove remaining residue.
5. Remove burners from the gas supply line and remove blockages to each burner’s gas ports using a dry wire brush. Clean the ports by brushing side-to-side instead of up-and-down, as the vertical motion may push debris into the ports. A toothpick, pipe cleaner or paper clip can also be used to de-clog any build-up in your gas ports.
6. Clean the burner valve with soapy water and run water through the inside of the valve. 
7. Clean the inside of the grill using a wire brush and warm soapy water and rinse with water. Towel dry the burners and reinstall. 
8. When washing the outside of a stainless steel grill, use a specially formulated stainless steel barbecue grill cleaner and micro fiber cloth. Ceramic, porcelain and painted steel surfaces can be cleaned using soap and water.
9. After cleaning and reassembly is complete, turn on gas at the gas line.

Although washing your grill can be a messy chore, it is an important one. Maintaining the cleanliness of your gas grill can extend its life for several years.

Grillmasters: Share your hacks

Know a shortcut for cleaning a hot grill? Have a tip for making a better burger? Have a go-to barbecue tool? What’s your secret for grilling up the best meats and vegetables? Walton Gas customers are invited to share your know-how at waltongas.com/submission. Then, be on the lookout for a list of favorite hacks shared by customers, which will be published in June just ahead of National Grilling Month (July).