Why Summer Is the Best Time to Get Your BBQ Professionally Cleaned

There's nothing quite like a British summer barbecue. But if your grill has been sitting in the shed since last year, it could be hiding layers of grease, carbon, and bacteria that will affect both the taste of your food and the safety of your cooking.

The Problem With a Dirty BBQ

When you cook on a grill that hasn't been properly cleaned, old grease and carbon deposits transfer onto your food. This doesn't just affect the flavour — it can also produce harmful compounds when heated to high temperatures.

A dirty barbecue also performs worse. Grease build-up on burners causes uneven flames, hot spots, and flare-ups that can burn the outside of your food while the inside stays raw.

Why DIY Isn't Always Enough

Most people give their BBQ a quick scrub with a wire brush before the first cookout of the year. But this only removes surface-level debris. The real build-up is on:

• The underside of grates — where fat drips and bakes on
• Flavouriser bars and heat tents — which collect greasy residue
• Burner tubes — which can get blocked by debris
• Grease management systems — which need emptying and degreasing
• The lid interior — where carbon builds up from smoke

Getting into all these areas requires specialist degreasers and the right tools. It's a messy, time-consuming job that most people put off.

What a Professional Clean Includes

At Fordwell, our professional BBQ cleaning service covers:

• All grates and burners deep cleaned
• Flavouriser bars and heat tents degreased
• Grease tray emptied and cleaned
• Full exterior restored and polished
• Stainless steel brought back to a shine

We use non-caustic, food-safe products so your barbecue is ready to cook on as soon as we leave.

How Often Should You Clean Your BBQ?

For regular barbecuers, a professional clean at the start of the season and a mid-summer refresh keeps everything in top condition. If you only barbecue occasionally, once at the start of summer is usually enough.

Book Before Your Next Cookout

Don't let a dirty grill ruin your summer gatherings. Book a professional BBQ clean with Fordwell — prices start from £80 for a small BBQ, £100 for a medium, and £120 for a large. We cover Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, Essex, and West Sussex.