Outdoor Kitchen Cleaning Strategies

An outdoor kitchen is the perfect solution for anyone who likes to spend time outside and enjoys good barbeque. This kitchen, which you set up in your backyard or on the patio by the pool, is a great place to prepare elaborate meals for guests or just for your own family. If you hate to be cooped up indoors cooking during beautiful weather, you would probably love an outdoor kitchen set-up.

One worry you might have about outdoor kitchens is how to clean them. Because they vary from regular indoor kitchens, there are a few different methods you can use to get every part of your outdoor cooking area clean. Since the kitchen is outside, this alone means that you can expect more dirt and grime to build up on appliances and counter space. Don't worry, though: there are some ideas for cleaning your outdoor kitchen that can be quite effective.

• Outdoor Grill. Many outdoor kitchens are equipped with an outdoor grill that allows you to barbeque. You may have a gas, propane, electric, wood or charcoal grill in your kitchen. Generally, to clean your grill you will want to make sure the grill is cool and then scrub the grill grates with a special wire brush. Wipe off residue with soapy water and a cloth and then rinse.
• Counters. Counters in an outdoor kitchen can be made of various materials. How to get the surfaces at their cleanest may depend on the material they are made of, but as a general rule you can wipe them off with water and dry them with a rag. You may need to buy a special cleaner for particular surfaces to make sure they are cleaned safely.
• Floor. Since the kitchen is set up outside, you can do something to clean the floor that you couldn't do inside: hose it off with water. If the flooring in the outdoor kitchen area is safe to get wet, you can spray with a hose or a pressure washer to get stubborn dirt or spills off. You can also mop and sweep as you would a regular kitchen floor. You will probably encounter more dirt build-up because the kitchen is outside and more exposed to the elements.
• Other Areas. You may have cabinets and appliances, such as a refrigerator, in your outdoor kitchen. It should be safe to use an all-purpose cleaner on these parts of your kitchen. Wipe off the surface of the refrigerator and cabinets with some cleaner and a rag. Make sure to get in the corners of surfaces where dirt can build up.

By keeping your outdoor kitchen clean, you can enjoy meals outdoors in a beautiful atmosphere. Make sure to wipe up spills when they happen and sweep on a regular basis to prevent build-up of dirt.