Weber Spirit Cleaning & Maintenance Tidy Barbecue, Tasty Meals

Your Weber Spirit Gas Barbecue can handle a lot. From midweek meals to weekend feasts, it’s always ready to perform. But just like anything that gets a good workout, it needs a proper clean every now and then to keep it running smoothly. Here’s a simple guide to help you clean your Spirit, inside and out. 

Aim to give your barbecue a thorough clean at least twice a year, or quarterly if you’re cooking frequently. Always start with the barbecue off, disconnected from the gas, and completely cool. Then work from the top down. 

If you’ve ever spotted flaky black bits on the inside of your lid, don’t worry, it’s not paint – it’s just carbon build-up from smoke and grease. It’s harmless, but it can flake off onto your food, so it’s worth brushing it away now and then. Use a stainless steel grill brush (like the Weber Grill Brush) to give the inside of the lid a good scrub. A quick wipe with a paper towel while the lid’s still warm (but not hot) after each cook can help keep slow the build-up. 

Clean cooking grills mean better sear marks and less sticking – always a win! While they’re still in place, give them a good scrub with your grill brush to remove any leftover bits. Then lift them out and set aside. If they’re looking particularly dirty, soak them in warm soapy water and give them a scrub before putting them back. 

Flavorizer bars do more than just sit under the grills. They catch drippings to create smoky flavour, they protect the burners from grease build-up, and they also funnel excess drippings away, helping to prevent flare-ups. 

To clean them, scrape off any build-up with a plastic Cookbox Scraper. If they need a bit more attention, a quick scrub with your grill brush will do the trick. Once they’re clean, take them out and put them aside for later. 

The burners are key to even, consistent heat, so it’s important to give them a bit of care too. Focus on two areas: the burner ports (the small holes along the top) and the spider screens (on the ends). 

1. Burner Ports: start by brushing across (not along) the top of the burner ports using a clean stainless steel grill brush. Be gentle around the ignition electrode - brush around it carefully to avoid damage. 
2. Spider Screens: underneath the control panel, you’ll find small mesh screens where the burners meet the valves. These are spider screens, and yes, spiders love to nest there! A soft brush will keep those mesh screens clean and the airflow clear. 

The heat deflector sits just under the burners and helps spread heat across the cookbox. It can collect a fair bit of grease and grime, so give it a scrape with your cookbox scraper, then give it a light brush if needed. Once clean, take it out while you finish the rest, and pop it back in the right way round once you're done. 

Down the bottom is the cookbox, where all the drips and bits collect. Too much build-up here can lead to flare-ups, so it’s important to clean it out regularly. Use your cookbox scraper to scrape the debris from the sides and bottom into the opening that leads to the slide-out grease tray. It’s a quick job that makes a big difference. 

The grease tray and catch pan are designed to make cleaning easy. Slide them out, scrape down the slanted grease tray, discard the old drip pan, and give everything a wash in warm soapy water. Dry them off, replace the drip pan, and slot them back in place. Easy as that. 

Stainless steel: 

Use a non-toxic, non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner designed for outdoor appliances. Wipe with a microfibre cloth, following the grain, and avoid paper towels or pastes, which can scratch the surface. The Weber Stainless steel and metal protectant is a handy product to keep your Spirit looking like new. 

Painted, porcelain-enamelled, and plastic parts: 

Use warm soapy water and a soft cloth or paper towel to wipe everything down. Rinse everything off and dry it well. 

If your barbecue lives in a coastal spot, near a pool, or somewhere with heavy rain, it might need a bit more frequent TLC. Salt, chlorine, and moisture can speed up rust and wear. In those cases, give the outside a quick clean with warm soapy water more often, rinse it well and dry it thoroughly. A Weber Premium Barbecue Cover will keep your Spirit 3-Burner or Spirit 4-Burner looking great. 

Cleaning your Weber Spirit a few times a year doesn’t take long, but it helps it cook better and keeps it safe to use. It also means your barbecue is always ready for whatever’s next on the menu.