Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Wagner. All opinions, images and love of easy cleaning methods are 100% mine.
At pilates yesterday, a girl said she was tempted to head home and do yard work after class since it was so nice out.
Yep in the middle of February in Wisconsin, someone said that!
Yard work is probably getting a bit ahead of ourselves since we’re all sure there will be more snow before spring, but starting on the outdoor spring cleaning list? Totally acceptable!
We took advantage of the warm weather last weekend and cleaned our grill with our new FURNO 750 heat gun from Wagner.
Do you remember when I worked with Wagner back in the fall (November!) to use their paint sprayer OUTSIDE in the gorgeous, warm fall we were having here in Wisconsin?
Well I might just have to keep busting out Wagner products during the cold winter months because every time I work with them, the weather is soooo warm.
It’s like winter is just a quick month or two and then gone for good. I love winter and snow for a while, but I’ll take more of these warm, sunny days, no problem.
Especially when it means we can enjoy grilled burgers in the middle of winter! All it took was learning how to use a heat gun to clean the grill, which, by the way, is easy.
The heat gun is so cool. No pun intended.
I love trying new projects, and I I have my eye on a few other heat gun project ideas, like stripping paint from furniture and crackling a paint finish. I just have to find a piece of painted furniture I want to strip … I’m usually going the other way with furniture.
There are other projects – like tinting car windows or stretching a belt – that you can do with the heat gun, too.
The possibilities are seriously endless.
But today we’re celebrating this beautiful warm February and the fact that we got to check ‘clean the grill’ off our spring cleaning list before it’s even spring!
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click the link and buy something, I may receive a small percentage of sales at no extra cost to you.
Supply list for cleaning a grill:
- Wagner heat gun, FURNO 750 (also available here)
- Heat resistant gloves
- Paper towels
- Vegetable oil
- Extension cord (optional)
How to use a heat gun to clean a grill:
Obviously the grill should be off for this project.
1. Select the correct attachment.
We used the concentrator (the one you can tell is used in this picture), but you could leave the heat gun open, too.
You might need an extension cord so you can move around easier.
2. Remove the grates and heat plates from your grill.
Depending on how your grill is set up, this may vary slightly.
3. Put on heat resistance gloves before you turn on the heat gun.
4. Turn on the heat gun and set the correct temperature.
Press the power button in the upper left.
The heat gun will automatically start at the default temperature, 650F. You can hold the ‘+’ button down for the temperature to increase faster.
We set the heat gun to 1150F to clean the grill.
The manual that comes with the heat gun lists out several uses for the gun and the recommended heat settings for each, so it’s easy to figure out what temperature to set your gun at.
If you’re debating between two temperature settings, start lower and work your way up.
5. Use the grill brush and the heat gun to clean the grates.
Use the heat gun to loosen all the debris and the brush to scrape it off. Clean the top of the grates, then flip them over and clean the bottom.
Keep the heat gun moving the entire time you’re using it. Don’t focus on just one spot.
If you take a break, turn the gun off so it cools down.
Then turn the gun on again when you’re ready to resume your project.
6. Clean the bottom of the inside of the grill using the heat gun and a chisel.
With the heat the gun is giving off, it’s really easy to clean the grill. Again, keep the heat gun moving while you’re working.
Once the debris cools, pick it up with a paper towel and discard.
7. Use vegetable oil to pick up the soot.
Pour some vegetable oil on a paper towel and clean out the bottom of the inside of the grill. Who knew vegetable oil would work so well for this?!
8. Let the heat gun cool.
Press the power button and stand the heat gun with the attachment pointing up. The gun fits perfectly in that slot on top of its case.
Don’t remove the attachment you used or put the heat gun away until the heat gun and attachment have cooled down.
9. Let the grill dry with the grill cover open.
Doesn’t the grill look so much better?
Now that the grill’s clean, I’m just about ready to get the outdoor couch and table out on the patio for some summer BBQs!
Remember this shot from last summer?
Too bad it will probably snow again this year before that can happen … there’s actually a slight chance of that happening next weekend.
How’s your weather? Have you started spring cleaning yet? Or are you pushing that aside to start a new project now that you know how to use a heat gun? (I’d go for the second.)
You might want to see these projects, too:
- How to remove cigarette smell from a garage
- DIY picture frames with a burned wood finish
- How to crackle paint with a heat gun
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Emily says
Our grill is pretty dirty (it may have sat unused for 2 entire summers because we found a live mouse inside…hahaha!). I had no idea you could use a heat gun to clean the grates!
GreenWithDecor says
Haha oh my gosh! Hopefully the mouse is gone!
April R - Uncookie Cutter says
Oh my gosh, this is a great idea!! I’m pinning!
GreenWithDecor says
It works so well! Thanks, April!
Celeste says
This is such a great use for a heat gun! Now I have a gift idea for my husband who loves to grill. Of course it doesn’t hurt that I’ll get to play with it too. 😉
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Celeste! Haha, the best kind of gift! It’s so fun, you should definitely get one!