Unlike 2020’s best non-toxic grill cleaners, many regular options on the market are made with harsh chemicals… which you may not want on your food surfaces! In fact, according to the Toxic Free Future, the most acutely dangerous cleaning products are corrosive drain cleaners, acidic toilet bowl cleaners, and oven cleaners. Grill and oven cleaners share many common ingredients, which are notorious for increasing the risk of an array of health issues (but more on that later).
But if you have no idea how to clean your grill the non-toxic way, don’t fret. We have some tried and true natural grill cleaner recipes and plenty of non-toxic BBQ cleaner options for you here.
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First: What Chemicals Are Typically Used In Grill Cleaners?
Conventional grill cleaning products are often packed with strong chemicals. A few of the common ones include:
- Sodium hydroxide, which is corrosive and can cause chemical burns, tissue damage, and irritation to the eyes, nose, or respiratory system. It also goes by names like “lye”, “caustic soda”, “soda lye”, and “sodium hydrate”.
- Ammonia is also commonly used in household and industrial cleaning products, along with things like refrigeration systems and fertilizers. It can also cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation, including coughing, wheezing, and even difficulty breathing. It’s not something you want to use regularly, as prolonged exposure to high concentrations of ammonia can lead to severe lung damage, bronchitis, and pneumonia (although this is more of a risk for industrial workers).
- Petroleum distillates can also cause acute health effects, including skin, eye, and respiratory irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
- Ethanolamines are used as emulsifiers and fragrances (not only in grill cleaners but also in personal care products like shampoo), but the IARC and NTP list them as probable carcinogens. Some of them have also been found to cause damage to reproductive health and certain other organs.
- Of course, mystery ingredients are not uncommon, either. This can include undisclosed fragrance ingredients (which may or may not contain endocrine disruptors or carcinogens) and unspecific “cleaning agents.”
So, How Do You Clean Grill Grates Without Toxic Chemicals?
You may prefer to make your own homemade grill cleaner with simple, natural ingredients, or you may want to buy a pre-made non-toxic grill cleaner from a safer brand. We’ve got both options for you!
4 Non-Toxic Homemade Grill Cleaner Recipes:
Below are four different homemade grill cleaner recipes you can make using simple ingredients (which you probably already have in your home).
The steps are very similar for each recipe. You’ll want to grab a mixing bowl or storage container, a few rags or paper towels, and a grill cleaning brush if you have one.
Recipe #1: Baking soda and water paste
Just 2 easy ingredients: baking soda and water!
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Water
- Bowl or small storage container
- Rag, paper towel, or basting brush
- Grill brush/scraper or aluminum foil
- Towel to dry
What to do:
1. Mix equal parts baking soda and water to create a thick paste.
You can do this in whatever bowl or container works for you. You may want to use a food storage container with a lid so that you can save the extra and use it again another day.
2. Wait until the grill is totally cooled, then spread the paste over the grill grates.
Make sure it covers the entire surface. You can do this with a rag or paper towel, a basting brush, or even just your hands.
3. Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
This will allow the baking soda to penetrate and loosen any stuck-on debris or grime.
4. Use a brush or aluminum foil to scrub the grates clean.
Make sure to apply enough pressure to remove all the debris.
5. Rinse with water and dry with a towel.
Recipe #2: Baking soda and vinegar solution
Vinegar has acetic acid, which can help dissolve tough grime and grease.
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Empty spray bottle
- Grill brush/scraper or aluminum foil
- Towel for drying
What to do:
- Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution onto the grill grates.
- Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Use a brush or aluminum foil to scrub the grates clean.
- Rinse with water and dry with a clean towel.
Recipe #3: Baking soda and lemon juice solution
The acidity in the lemon juice helps to dissolve grime or grease, while the baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive to help lift away dirt and grime.
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
- Bowl or small storage container
- Rag, paper towel, or basting brush
- Grill brush/scraper or aluminum foil
- Towel to dry
What to do:
- Mix an equal amount of baking soda and fresh lemon juice in a bowl or storage container.
- Mix them until the ingredients turn into a paste.
- Spread it on the grill using a rag, paper towel, or basting brush.
- Wait about 15 minutes.
- Scrub with a grill cleaning brush, rag, or aluminum foil it until the grime is deserved.
- Rinse with water and dry with a clean towel.
Recipe #4: Baking soda and olive oil paste
Olive oil nourishes surfaces and loosens stains, grease, and grime.
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Olive oil
- Bowl or small storage container
- Rag, paper towel, or basting brush
- Grill brush/scraper or aluminum foil
- Towel to dry
What to do:
- Mix both ingredients together (equal parts) in your bowl or storage container.
- Spread the paste on your BBQ using your basting brush, paper towel, or even your fingers.
- Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Use your grill cleaning brush to wipe all dirt.
- Rinse with water.
- Dry using a clean towel.
Best Non-Toxic BBQ And Grill Cleaners for 2023
Honestly, the homemade grill cleaner solutions listed above are probably the easiest and safest bet for cleaning your grill the all-natural (and cheap!) way.
That being said, I know DIY just might not be your thing, and you might want to buy a pre-made non-toxic grill cleaner from a trusted brand. Here are some good brands to check out:
1. Branch Basics (Best Multi-Purpose, Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solution)
Branch Basics is on a mission to help you “toss the toxins” and swap your chemical-laden formulas with safer cleaning products that actually work.
Granted, it’s not a grill cleaner per se, but rather a multi-purpose, eco-friendly cleaning solution that can be used for just about any cleaning job—including the grill! Our Editor, Abbie, uses Branch Basics for all kinds of things around the house, from the countertops to the laundry, the bathroom, and more.
The Starter Kits come with a bottle of the Concentrate and several different bottles (you can choose between plastic or glass). Each bottle has a fill line on the side to help you make cleaning sprays of different solutions (one for the bathroom, an all-purpose one, a streak-free one, etc.).
All you have to do is pick a bottle and fill it to the “water” line on the label, add the concentrate to the “soap” line, shake gently, and start cleaning!
I would recommend using either the All-Purpose or the Bathroom formulation for your grill, but if you want or need something even stronger, you can technically make your own formulation! The more Concentrate and the less water you use, the stronger it will be.
And if you need even extra help, you can sprinkle some of the Oxygen Boost powder on your grill grates along with the cleaning spray. Letting them both sit for a few minutes and then scrubbing it with a brush should clean your grill pretty easily.
You can check out our full review of Branch Basics right here.
Price: From $67 (for the Cleaning Essentials Kit)
Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Glucoside, Organic Chamomile Flower Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Phytate
Shop Branch Basics and use the code THEFILTERY for 15% off your Starter Kit
2. Simple Green (Best Heavy-Duty BBQ Cleaning Spray)
This option is probably the most similar to the more “conventional” grill cleaners that you might be used to.
According to dozens of natural-living aficionados, the Simple Green formula is the best non-toxic grill cleaner for removing grease build-up and baked-on foods… especially when other solutions might not be working for you.
This heavy-duty BBQ & grill cleaner is ideal for tacking carbon deposits on grates, stainless steel parts, smokers, BBQ covers, and more. It’s an easy-to-rinse solution that doesn’t leave harsh chemicals behind on cooking surfaces, and it’s safe to use on steel, aluminum, plastic, and other surfaces.
Just spray it on the surface, allow a few minutes for the cleaner to penetrate, and then scrub your grill with a non-abrasive sponge, scrubber, or brush. Let it dry completely before the next use.
Go for the non-aerosol spray if you can, as aerosol spray products tend to be contaminated with benzene, a carcinogen.
Price: $8-14
Ingredients: Water, C9-11 Ethoxylated Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carbonate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid
Buy at Walmart, Home Depot, or Simple Green
3. AFM (Best Heavy-Duty All-Purpose Surfactant)
The AFM Super Clean All-Purpose Surfactant is a heavy-duty non-toxic degreaser for grills that require some tough love.
Safe, odor-free, dye-free, and biodegradable, this formula contains no phosphates, alkalines, acids, ammonia, butyl ethers, chlorine bleach, or chemical scents. This means that it’s ideal for anyone with sensitive skin, MCS, or other chemical sensitivities. Yet, it’s able to tackle even industrial-strength cleaning chores with ease.
It’s not just for the grill, either. You can use it to treat everything from stainless steel and fiberglass to porcelain, ceramic tile, chrome, and painted surfaces. But note that it’s not recommended for aluminum. because it can cause a brushed reaction.
It comes in three different sizes: quart, gallon, and 5-gallon pail.
Price: from $15.02
Ingredients: Water, two non-ionic plant surfactants, water softener, two plant-based emulsifiers, phosphoric acid
Shop AFM Super Clean All-Purpose Surfactant
4. AspenClean (Best Non-Toxic Liquid Dish Soap)
The last option for a non-toxic grill cleaner is just your favorite dish soap! AspenClean is one of my personal favorites, but you can also find some other good options here.
AspenClean’s home cleaning products work to deliver the same results as conventional formulas but without any of the harsh chemicals. This liquid dish soap in particular can double as one of the best non-toxic grill cleaners that stands strong against food, dirt, and grease.
They have an unscented formula as well as Lavender & Lemongrass or Eucalyptus & Rosemary (both of which are scented using essential oils). They’re all baby-safe, pet-friendly, hypoallergenic, and vegan. They’re also certified by EWG, Ecocert, and Leaping Bunny.
Price: $11.99
Ingredients: Water, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl Glucoside (sustainable Coconut, Palm Kernel Oil derived), Coco Glucoside (sustainable Coconut, Palm, Palm Kernel Oil derived), Organic Glycerine (Vegetables derived), Citric Acid, Populus Tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract
Now that you have a pretty good idea of how to clean your grill the non-toxic way, it’s time to start sending out those BBQ invitations! We hope this article gave you all the inspiration you needed to DIY your own natural grill cleaner recipes, but in case you want to leave it to the pros, there are plenty of the best non-toxic grill cleaner solutions available at your disposal.
