Maintaining exterior grill while living on the Coast.
05 Jul 2021
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If your grill is located in a coastal, humid area, or if chlorine is present in your environment additional maintenance will be needed to prevent rust and keep up the appearance of the exterior stainless-steel parts.
The question always comes up "Why does my Gas Grill rust out?"
Moisture is the biggest culprit that will rust your grill and reduce its lifespan. Watch out for humidity as well! It is recommended to use a grill cover to protect your grill from outside toxins. However, moisture and humidity can get trapped under the cover if you keep it on for too long. It is essential to expose your grill to natural air couple times a month. You can use our Monument Grill Cover (find it here).
Stainless steel is an alloy made up of iron and at least 10.5% chromium as well as lesser amounts of other elements such as carbon, silicon, or manganese. It is the chromium that resists corrosion, making the steel “stainless.” There are over 150 recognized grades of stainless steel, and each has different properties and rust resistance. Some are better at resisting rust than others, but all can rust.
Not all barbecue grill exteriors are the same. Most popular gas grill models have a corrosion-resistant stainless-steel exterior however they are still prone to rust and scratch easily. Stainless steel is durable, but it’s not indestructible – without regular cleaning, it may rust.
The water-and-rip-resistant grill cover will protect your grill
- Water: Moisture is the main culprit for causing rust on grills. It would be best if you protected outdoor grills from wet weather and snow. And always oil your grill after cleaning with water.
- Saltwater: Salt and humidity in the air, especially in places in the ocean, corrodes metal, including stainless steel grills.
- Food residue: When food particles stay on the grill for so long, they rot and become acidic, causing rust to form on your grill surfaces.
- Chemicals: Using concentrated bleach and cleaners containing chlorine to clean your stainless-steel grill will form rust on the surfaces.
Below are a couple of helpful tips:
1. At the first sign of staining, discoloration, or surface rust we recommend cleaning with a stainless-steel cleaner that contains oxalic acid and citric acid. The best cleaner out there is Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray + Foam. You can use that to clean your grill’s exterior. Remember to wipe lightly in the direction of the steel grain with a damp sponge or nylon scrub pad. Rinse thoroughly within a minute of application, and wipe dry. Once you have cleaned off all rust you will need to protect your grill and, in this case, we suggest using Bar Keeper's Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish.
You can find all of Bar Keeper's Friend products on Amazon:
MORE Spray + Foam: https://amzn.to/3anvHha
Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish: https://amzn.to/3DpyAKS
2. At least once a week, we will recommend you to wipe off the grill by using a wet towel or a piece of rag. Make sure you dry it thoroughly. This will help you remove all the chemicals or harmful salt from the grill’s exterior side.
3. We suggest only covering your grill in the event of inclement weather. (Rain, snow, etc) Also make sure to check your grill once every 2-3 weeks to prevent moisture build up
