By The BBQ Island Team

When something is brand new, we all take extra care to make sure that it stays looking nice for as long as possible. It’s no different when we get a brand-new grill or decide to create a custom outdoor kitchen of our own.

Here’s the deal: your outdoor island will get some battle scars somewhere down the line, and we’re here to let you know that it’s okay! The issue is that no one talks about the maintenance and what the best practices are to increase the lifespan of your grill and outdoor kitchen components…until now!

Your first major tip of the day
Covers, Covers, Covers. Does the brand you purchased have covers that are specific to their products? If so, get them! And don’t cheap out on a knock off brand. Vinyl is the preferred material you want to look for. They are waterproof and tend to hold up better in the heat.

Second tip of the day
Get the right type of cleaner. What we mean by this is make sure your cleaner is food safe and has natural based ingredients. The last thing we want is people to spray the inside of their grills and refrigerators with chemicals that could be harmful. We sell an amazing cleaner made from cactus enzymes that is not only safe, but it also cleans the toughest grease stains!

Know why and how you clean!
If you have a built-in Pellet smoker, you’ll want to vacuum out the ash pot every three to four cooks. This helps with the functionality of the pellet smoker as well. During the monsoon season or if you live by a shoreline, you’ll want to clean the grill more frequently. If water blends with the old food particles and residue, it creates acidity that can damage stainless steel and can also build up bacteria faster. By the shoreline, there is more salt in the air which can damage any stainless steel, especially if it is not full grade 304, so make sure to also wipe down the hood!

Bonus Tip: Did you know if you have porcelain grates you should only use brass bristle brushes? Stainless steel type brushes can be too rough and scrap off the porcelain.

Overall Tune-Ups by the Pros
We always recommend that you have a professional come out at least once a year to give your outdoor kitchen the love and attention it needs. Since they’re more familiar with gas lines, installation, and refurbishing, they are more qualified to check those gas lines, inside the island, and all the inner workings.

Have fun and hopefully these tips will keep you grilling for many more years!

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