How do I clean a rusty BBQ?

Gironde_Gal

I am so pleased - I won a barbecue on ebay today for 1 euro! That included loads of charcoal, firelighters etc. Trouble is, it has been left outside in the rain all winter and is rather rusty. Does anyone have a clue how I can clean it without resorting to buying posh rust remover stuff which will be expensive? Is it going to be a wire brush and elbow grease do you think?

chuckles1066

Gironde_Gal wrote: »

I am so pleased - I won a barbecue on ebay today for 1 euro! That included loads of charcoal, firelighters etc. Trouble is, it has been left outside in the rain all winter and is rather rusty. Does anyone have a clue how I can clean it without resorting to buying posh rust remover stuff which will be expensive? Is it going to be a wire brush and elbow grease do you think?

Drop it in a solution of caustic soda for a bit, that'll do the trick.

(Wash it thoroughly afterwards though)

hank_freid_2

Easiest system going, quickly dissolves rust with no harm to intact metal.

purplepatch

Barbecue rack was left out over the winter and has rusted, only mildly, but I wanted to soak it in vinegar for a couple of days as I've read that will get rid of it.

However, being circular with a diameter of 40cm, I don't seem to have anything big enough to soak it in, bowls, buckets, sinks are all too small. The only thing I can think of is to put it in the bath, but I don't have enough vinegar for that and of course I'll need to use the bath in the meantime anyway!

Has anyone got any bright ideas?

Thanks.

sparklygirl1

maybe soaked kitchen roll in vinegar and put on the rack???? I don't know just a guess really.

she_grinch

Do you have an outside dustbin? You could use the upturned bin lid.

Penelope_Penguin

purplepatch wrote: »

Barbecue rack was left out over the winter and has rusted, only mildly, but I wanted to soak it in vinegar for a couple of days as I've read that will get rid of it.

I really don't think this will work. The acid in the vinegar will react with the metal (not the rust) making the problem worse

I'd put on old clothes, and take a big piece of wire wool, and possibly some cream cleaner, to the rack to scrub off the rust

Penny. x

Mutantk

I agree with PP - not sure it will help anyway - but if you do feel the need to try - when I do my oven shelves etc with soda crystals (best thing to clean them with) I use a small kids paddling pool that I picked up in the pound shop - the kind that's just big enough for a toddler to sit it - works a treat.

purplepatch

Certainly can't be bothered to go to trouble of buying something if it isn't likely to work anyway :rotfl:

I wondered whether it is possible to buy replacement racks but after googling and looking on ebay, I haven't been able to find much. It would probably work out cheaper to buy a whole new bbq anyway :rolleyes:

Or am I being a bit precious about it anyway? My friend has a bbq in their garden that they built themselves and the rack is black with gunge, rust etc and they use it like that all the time. I don't suppose a little bit of rust is going to kill anyone is it, other than that it's clean.

mymatebob

For years I used to religiously clean mine but for the past couple of seasons I have just fired it up and when the rack is hot used a wire brush over it which seems to clean it up just fine.

Haven't poisoned anyone - yet.

[Deleted User]

How about those oven-cleaner sacks that you put oven racks in overnight to clean I can't remember the name of them off hand but I'm sure it may be worth it rather than getting rust on your burgers