MEMORIAL DAY CHECKLIST

May 23, 2006
Show #447

Memorial Day is just about here and a lot of us can barely wait for the official start of the summer season...even though it's still springtime. No matter. Summer begins when you switch to shorts, throw away your jackets and start cooking on the grill. Which brings us to the subject of our show today: getting the grill ready for six more months of service. And Jerry is a Grill-Meister if there ever was one.

1. General cleaning of the grill: wash the exterior with soapy water, and spray off with a hose. Dry thoroughly. With both propane and charcoal types, remove grill racks and any other removable equipment (like burners). Clean interior with a wire brush, and use a shop vac to clean up.
2. On a propane grill, thoroughly clean the burners with a wire brush. Make sure each tiny burner hole is clear. A sewing needle works well. If the burners are beyond redemption, you can buy replacements now at the major home improvement stores.
3. Replace last year's propane tank regardless of fill level. When you hook it up for the first time, dab soapy water on all joints and check for leaks.
4. For a charcoal grill, you can clean the grill rack with an oven cleaning product like Easy Off. Just put the grill rack on some newspaper, spray on the cleaning agent, let it do its thing, and then rinse off thoroughly. Replacement grill racks are also available at the store.
5. For rusty grill kettles, scrape off the rust, then paint with a matching Rustoleum spray paint.
6. If you don't have a grill cover, buy one. But always allow the grill to cool down before covering. Not only can it melt, but it can trap moisture which will condense in the heat and hasten rust.

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