Do you like grilling? Surely, you do! Spending a warm summer evening outdoors in the yard or on the deck, frilling delicious food and chatting with your friends – what could be better? The trouble comes when you notice that the bottom of your grill is rusted.
What shall you do in this case, should you find a rusted grill bottom? Is grill bottom replacement the only solution?
Hold on, don’t stress out, and read on! In this article, we will explain what you have to do in order to fix a rusty grill yourself.
With the detailed and complete guide, we are going to share with you, you will know all about removing rust from the grill.
And in addition, we will provide you with a few reasons why the bottom of your grill is rusted out.
With all that in mind, you will be able to not only fix your grill in case it needs a repair but also, you will be able to use and maintain your grill correctly. As a result, rust and other issues will hardly worry you again.
What to Do If the Bottom Of Your Grill Rusted?
This is definitely the scenario that none of the grill owners would like to experience: you check your grill before cooking, and the very first thing you notice is the rust on the bottom! Or, as an option, you might notice the problem in the middle of the cooking process.
Actually, it doesn’t matter when you notice that, the question is, how to fix it (if it is possible to fix it at all).
Well, the good news is that you can fix a rusty grill. And you may not even need to hire a professional to do that. On the other hand, you need to take into consideration that you will have to get all the necessary tools and cleaning products ready before you start.
Like that, you can be sure that the cleaning procedure will be very effective.
Below, you can check out the list of things you will need to fix the rust in your grill. They are required if you want to fix the rust off your grill at home.
- Wire Brush
- Dish cleaning soap
- Water
- Vinegar/Cooking Oil
And now, we suggest you read on to learn a detailed guide on how to fix a rusted grill bottom. You can follow the instruction provided below in order to clean not only the rusted grill bottom. These steps can be successfully used for removing the rust from the whole body of your grilling appliance.
Go through the steps carefully and apply them to your grill.
Step 1
To get rid of the rust on the bottom of your grill, start with opening your grill. Do it in a wide-open place and inspect the rust build-up carefully.
See if the rust is too heavy or moderate. If you realize that the rust is generally possible to clean and it is not fragile, you can start working.
To begin with, take a wire brush that you have previously prepared and brush off as much of the rust and flakes as possible. After you clean that off, remove the waste from the grill surface. This can be done by washing it away with water. Once this step is done, proceed to the next one.
Step 2
Now you need to prepare a cleaning solution. For this purpose, you need to combine some dish soap and water to create a cleaning mixture.
After your DIY cleaning remedy is ready, wash the grill with a sponge using this soap water. At this point, you need to remember to use mild dishwashing soap!
See, if you use a harsh detergent or chemicals, they can ruin the metal surface of the grill.
Once you complete washing your grill with a soapy mixture, rinse away the soap residue properly with water. After your grill is cleaned and rinsed properly, let it dry for one day. Then you can move on to the next step.
Step 3
When the grill you have washed is finally dried up, it is time to move on to the next product on your rust-removal list. Yes, we mean white vinegar! After you make sure that the grill is fully dry, spray some vinegar mixture over the body of the grill.
If your appliance has spots where the rust is building more deeply, don’t hesitate to spray more vinegar there!
Is it hard to prepare a vinegar solution? Not at all!
You can make this rust-removing mixture in a bottle. Add a quarter of water and three-quarters of vinegar to the bottle (but you should also consider the bottle’s capacity!). Shake well, and voila, your vinegar mixture will be ready to use.
After applying the solution, let the surface dry well for another day. It will also let the vinegar scent vanish.
Step 4
After you apply the vinegar spray and let the grill dry, apply some cooking oil on the grill as well. After that, fire it up with wood.
Remember that it is important to set up a fire after applying the cooking oil! That’s because the molecules of oil need to polymerize joined together.
Only under these circumstances will the oil create an unbreakable and invincible coating to prevent future rust building. Let the fire burn up for a few hours, and the procedures are done.
Step 5
This step is actually optional. See, all the above steps that we described will be handy if you need to clean up moderate rust from the grill bottom and/or the whole grill body. But you may not need to do all that if the rust is not so heavy!
If your grill doesn’t have much rust on its bottom or other parts, you can just scrape off the excessive rust and flakes!
Then, simply spray the cooking oil inside and outside the surface. After that, lit fire in the firebox, and the oil will create the rust prevention coating.
So, now you know what should be done in order to remove rust from the bottom (or other parts) of your grill.
The guide we have shared with you will mostly be handy for those of you who have their grills being moderately rusted.
Of course, if there is a hole in the bottom of your grill that is caused by the rust, the only solution will be the bottom replacement! Nevertheless, with the tips we gave you, this will hardly ever happen!
Why Does My Gas Grill Rust Out?
Have you ever wondered what makes your grill rust?
Most people assume that the rust can’t get to their grills because, according to what these people think, grills are made so that they are initially rust-proof. However, this is not like that!
Even if you take preventive measures, rust can still form on your grill over time. This is why it is essential to understand why it happens, why and how it appears, and what can cause rusting. Like this, you will be able to avoid rusty problems from happening.
Water
As you surely know, moisture is the main culprit for causing rust on grills and other metal surfaces and objects. This is why it would be best if you protect the outdoor grill from any wet weather, such as rain and snow.
By the way, heavy fogs can also cause damage! As a rust-preventive measure, always remember to oil your grill after cleaning with water.
Saltwater
If you live in an area close to an ocean or sea, salt and humidity in the air will sooner or later start to corrode the metal surface of your grill, including stainless steel grills. This is why it is recommended to store your grill in a garage or a shed should you live in such an area!
And of course, it has to be additionally covered with a special cover!
Food Residue
We mostly cook oily and fat foods on our grills.
Meat steaks with all the meat juices and oil we use for cooking tend to leave quite a lot of residue. When food particles stay on the grill for so long, they rot and become acidic.
As a result, it causes rust to form on your grill surfaces.
Chemicals
Quite many people use harsh chemicals like concentrated bleach and cleaners containing chlorine to clean their stainless steel grill.
They believe that such strong products will destroy any signs of not only dirt or grease but also rust. However, such cleaning solutions will also form rust on the surfaces!
So, if you want your grill to remain rust-free longer, we recommend you adhere to our tips and avoid using harsh chemical cleaning products on your grill, as well as store and maintain the appliance correctly. All this will allow you to extend its lifespan and your grill will serve you much longer.
What Products Can Be Used For Removing Rust From a Grill?
Since harsh chemical cleaners are not welcome, you might ask in return: what am I supposed to use then?
Well, from the guide provided above, you know that white vinegar can be a good option. However, we can suggest you a few more solutions that are natural and effective.
Vinegar And Baking Soda
The acid in the vinegar will lift the rust easily while the baking soda reacts with the acid and foam.
This will allow the acid to go into cracks and crevices. To use this solution, you need to undergo a few simple steps:
- Mix some white vinegar and baking soda (the ratio you need is 1:2) in a spray bottle
- Spray it on the surfaces in a generous layer
- Allow the solution to soak for a couple of minutes
- Scrub off any remaining rust stains
- Wipe it dry with a clean rag
By the way, for scrubbing your grill, we recommend you use a brush that has soft bristles. Why is that?
See, if you use a brush that has harsh bristles, chances are high that they will leave scratches on the metal surface of your grill which can lead to rust in the future!
Soda
You might not be aware of it, but soda has pretty high levels of phosphoric acid, particularly Coke, which allows these drinks to lift rust from metallic surfaces effortlessly. For removing the rust, just do the following:
- Pour a decent amount of soda into your grill’s bottom
- After half an hour of soaking, scrub the surface with steel wool
- Rinse and dry the surface with a clean cloth
Citric Acid
The citric acid that can be found in lemons and limes is a great substitute for vinegar (in particular, thanks to a more pleasant scent). The mild acid in lemons and limes dissolves rust from metal surfaces with ease!
You can mix this with salt, dishwashing soap, or baking soda.
However, note that cleaning with citric acid may take more time than vinegar. Therefore, you should just soak the grill bottom overnight for better results.
- Make enough of the citric acid mixture into a thick paste
- Coat the grill bottom generously
- Let it sit overnight to loosen the rust particles
- Scrub off any remaining rust stains using steel wool
- Rinse and repeat the process if necessary
Like that, now you know a lot more about cleaning your grill and about removing the rust from its bottom in particular.
We want to remind you once again that it is essential to give your grill a thorough and detailed check regularly. Like this, you will be able to notice the earliest signs of rusting and fix them.
Frequently Asked Questions
⭐Can you fix a rusted grill?
Yes, you can fix it. You can either do it yourself or you can call on some professional to deal with it. If the rust isn’t removable, you can replace the part by cutting and welding it with new metal sheets.
⭐Why did the bottom of my grill rust out?
It happened most likely because all of the food residue, juice, and oil drips got stuch to the bottom surface. So, rust can build up there quickly when sat behind.
⭐Is it possible to remove the rust from my grill myself? Or is it better to call for a professional?
You can fix the rust on the grill yourself, however, it will take some time and effort. If you don’t want to spend your time on rust removal, it’s better to hire a professional indeed.
