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Our #1 pick works while you sleep!
We updated this article in May 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab. We also removed a pick that is no longer available for purchase and added a new pick for best grill cleaner wipes.
Using your backyard grill means less mess in your kitchen, but scrubbing charred and grimy grates after a big cookout can be a beast of a chore. If you skip the job altogether, you risk dangerous flare-ups from dripping grease and lingering flavors that can ruin your next batch of food — and that's not to mention the embarrassment that comes when friends and family see their meal being prepared on a dirty grill. And while a great grill brush is an essential BBQ tool, a brush can only do so much. You also need a great cleaner to help restore and thoroughly clean the cooking grates.
From our last test of 23 grill cleaners, we found several of the top performers here. Our list was compiled based on the product's ability to clean burnt-on layers of barbeque sauce (counting the exact number of swipes necessary to clean the grill); we also rated how long it took to clean and how well the grill was cleaned. We made note of how easy each product was to apply and how simple the directions were to follow, and we reviewed the safety information on the label. Throughout the year, we continue to test grill cleaners both in the lab and at home to update the picks on this list as new products are available to purchase. These are the grill cleaners we recommend to clean your grill and remove grease, charred-on food and sticky sauces quickly and easily.
Carbona's 2-in-1 Oven Rack and Grill Cleaner was the top performer in our Lab tests. It works overnight for a virtually no-scrub cleaning job. The kit contains a large zip-top plastic bag, a bottle of cleaning solution and some disposable plastic gloves. Just quickly brush any big chunks of grime off the grates, and place them in the bag. Pour in the solution, seal the bag, swish it around so the grates are covered with cleaner — like a marinade — and head to bed. In the morning, remove the grates and wipe or lightly scrub them clean. The dirty solution can be rinsed down the drain and the bag disposed of in the trash. Make sure to place the soaking bag out of reach of children and animals.
Originally formulated to clean restaurant grills, Zep Oven and Grill Cleaner was a powerhouse in our tests. We let this foam cleaner sit for the required 10 minutes, and it took the fewest number of swipes — after the Carbona — with a damp sponge to take our burnt-on messes right off. Because it's a foam, it clings to vertical surfaces better than liquids, making it a great cleaning option for other parts of the grill, like inside the lid. It's strong, so make sure to protect any surrounding surfaces before spraying it.
This launch from Dawn is not just for dishes: Just as it eliminates messy soaking of cookware and casseroles, it makes cleaning indoor grills and grill pans a breeze. For grill pans and appliances with removable hand-washable grill plates, simply place the grate in the sink, spray on this Dawn and let it sit a few minutes, then wipe clean and rinse. For non-removable plates, spray them carefully in place and wipe and rinse clean with a cloth.
In our testing, Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray dissolved hamburger grease burned onto a skillet with ease. That's why it earned our Good Housekeeping Seal. Though it doesn't claim to clean outdoor grills, we tried it in our testing, and it worked like a charm! And once you have the sprayer, all you need is a refill.
In our tests, Easy-Off BBQ Grill Cleaner performed well at dissolving burned-on grease on both stainless steel and porcelain grates. The spray foam clings to all sides of the grates to better penetrate messes. Just make sure you let the formula sit for the full recommended 40 minutes before wiping or scrubbing, and protect any surrounding surfaces with newspaper before spraying.
In our tests, Parker & Bailey loosened tough, sticky, baked-on barbecue sauce after sitting for only two minutes. Then, it took only a swipe with a brush to scrub off the caramelized mess and a quick rinse with water to finish it off. The cleaner can be used on other grill surfaces, countertops, grilling tools, microwaves and more. One in-home consumer tester raved about how quickly it cleaned a grill's stainless steel exterior without streaking.
Goo Gone Grill and Grate Cleaner foam loosened our charred-on test soil and took only a few minutes to work on tough, sticky messes. The biodegradable formula uses the power of citrus oils to cut through grease. Testers found that the comfortable trigger spray dispenser makes it easy to target the foam into every nitty-gritty corner and spot.
A winner in our 2021 Cleaning Awards, this all-in-one scrubber, scraper and wipe from the Proud Grill Company is a triple-threat cleaner for your outdoor grill. An innovative way to tackle a messy job, it almost eliminates the need for any other cleaning tools. When we finished, we simply threw away the wipe and attached a new one for the next test. It performed well for our pros, and one tester who reported being fussy about keeping his grill clean was impressed at how easy it made scraping and wiping away charred barbeque sauce after cooking ribs.
A Good Housekeeping Seal star, Weiman Stainless Steel Wipes are one of our faves. Use them to quickly clean and shine the outside of your grill for a neater and more convenient substitute for traditional sprays or aerosols. In our tests, they worked well at removing soil without streaking and helped resist fingerprints. The easy-to-store canister means they'll always be nearby when you need them.
We tested 23 grill cleaners in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. We brushed and broiled several layers of a sticky BBQ sauce mix onto stainless steel and enameled grill grates until they were well coated and resembled what you might see on your outdoor grill. Once the grates cooled, we used each product according to the label directions, noting how well and how quickly it dissolved the sticky mess and counting each scrubbing stroke required (we did 1,143 in all!) to get the grates clean. As with all cleaning products, we reviewed the labels to assess the completeness of the directions and checked for any required safety precautions based on the product's ingredients.
We also headed over to our GH Test Kitchen to clean the indoor grills they use to develop the grill recipes we publish in the magazine and online. Finally, the products were sent home with consumer testers to clean their backyard gas and charcoal grills for a firsthand in-home experience.
Shopping for the best grill cleaner shouldn't be a complicated chore. There are just two things to consider when picking the best grill cleaner for your home:
✔️Cleaner form: Most grill cleaners are sold as a sprayable foam or liquid, but some brands (like two of our picks on this list) make wipes if you're looking for the simplest product to tackle this daunting chore. Grill cleaners have a reputation for strong, uncomfortable fumes, but choosing a formula that doesn't have to be sprayed on, like our top pick from Carbona or our Cleaning Award–winning wipes from Proud Grill Company, can minimize your exposure to any fumes.
✔️Surface type: As we noted in a few of our picks, some grill cleaners should not be used on aluminum or faux stainless steel grates. Others are formulated specifically to handle cleaning outdoor grills like pellet grills, while others are better suited for indoor grills and your indoor oven racks. If your grill cleaner doesn't state that it can be used to clean the exterior of your grill, don't use it there! The strong cleaning agents that get the burnt-on food off your grill grates can permanently damage the exterior shine of your grill. Instead, opt for a stainless steel cleaner that you would use on your inside appliances to keep your grill exteriors as good as new.
Carolyn Forté has over 40 years of experience researching, testing and writing about appliances like washers, dryers and vacuum cleaners, cleaning products such as detergents and polishes and the tricks and tips needed to keep a home clean and organized.