Cleaning Your Traeger Pellet Grill

Consistently cleaning your grill is the most crucial step to having a well-functioning grill. Here you will find all the info needed to keep your grill in the best running condition. 

How often should I clean my grill?

The schedule outlined here is a recommended schedule; however, you may need to adjust according to your cooking habits such as cook duration or food type (i.e. cooking high-fat foods like pork belly or brisket will require cleaning sooner than veggies or breads).

Recommended Cleaning Products & Tools

• Disposable cloths or heavy-duty paper towels
  • Using disposable/compostable cloths or towels means you aren't putting grease in your washing machine.
• Grate scraper or a grill brush with nylon bristles 
  
  • Never use wire brushes on your grill grates as the wire bristles can break off and end up in your food.
  • Try one of Traeger's options:
    • Traeger BBQ Cleaning Brush
    • Traeger Wooden Grill Grate Scraper
• Grill cleaner/degreaser
  • Use an all-natural degreaser free of harsh chemicals.
  • Try Traeger's All-Natural Grill Cleaner

Household Items You Can Use to Clean Your Grill

The following household items are great options to use to clean your grill if you don't have degreaser at home.

• Distilled white vinegar
• Onion
• Lemon
• Baking soda & vinegar
• Dish soap 
  
  

Pro Tips to Make Cleaning Easier

• Electrical Safety: Turn off the grill and disconnect the power cord before initiating any maintenance.
• Grease Removal: Accumulated grease is easier to clean off when the grill is still warm—not hot. Be careful not to burn yourself. Heat-protective gloves are recommended. Wipe down with Traeger Grill cleaner after short, fatty cooks (bacon, burgers, etc.)
• Fire Safety: Make sure that the grill is COLD and ashes are extinguished and COLD before checking the grease + ash keg.
• Dedicated Cleaning Tools: A dedicated vacuum cleaner is the best way to remove ashes from the firepot, but this must be done with extreme care to avoid the risk of fire. Again, cleaning the ash from in and around the firepot should be done only when the grill is COLD.
• Grate Cleaning: Cleaning the grill grates works best while they are still warm. Be careful not to burn yourself. Heat-protective gloves are recommended. We recommend keeping a long-handled cleaning brush near the grill. After removing your food, give the grill grate a quick brushing. It takes only a minute and it will be ready the next time you want to use the grill.
  
  

How to Clean Your AC or D2 WiFIRE Grill

Traeger has two helpful videos for AC & D2 grills on our YouTube channel that can help walk through the cleaning process:

1. Cleaning a grill with a chimney

2. Cleaning a grill without a chimney

Let's walk through the steps on how to clean your grill properly:

1. Spray the grill grate and inside the chimney with an all-natural degreaser/cleaner.
2. Remove and clean both sides of the grill grates using a cleaning cloth or heavy-duty paper towels. Avoid using wire brushes, which can damage the grates.
3. Dispose of old foil or drip tray liners.
4. Remove and wipe down the drip tray and the heat baffle.
   • If the grill has a lower heat shield, be sure to remove the heat shield and clean underneath it.
5. Vacuum the inside of the grill and the firepot thoroughly.
6. Empty the hopper and vacuum out any sawdust from the hopper and the auger tube.
7. Scrub the inside of the chimney (or the backpack/downdraft if the grill doesn't have a chimney) and the grease chute using a cleaning cloth or heavy-duty paper towels to remove soot and grease buildup.
   • Pro Tip: Use tongs or a stick to help guide the paper towel through spaces where your hand can't fit.
8. Spray the inside and outside of the grill with an all-natural degreaser/cleaner and allow to soak for several minutes before wiping clean with a paper towel or cleaning cloth.
   • Do NOT clean the Thermocouple or RTD unless there is a visual build-up on it that needs to be removed.
9. Re-insert all components, including the heat baffle, drip try, new drip tray liners/foil, new bucket liners, and the grill grates, and you are set!

How to Clean New Timberline & Ironwood Grills

Before Each Cook

1. If needed, remove grill grates and scrape debris into the Grease & Ash Keg.
2. Remove the Grease Governor (cap).
3. Use a stiff, non-metallic tool to scrape the drip tray and scrape excess buildup into the Grease Tube.
   
   • Good options include a plastic putty knife, plastic scraper, or a wooden spatula or grill scraper
4. Check the Grease & Ash Keg, and empty if needed.
5. Replace grill grates.

After Each Cook

1. Scrape excess food from the grates while still warm.
2. Wipe down any spills.

Deep Clean

1. Scrape any food off the grill grates.
2. Remove the grill grates and the grease governor (cap).
3. Use a brush or cloth to clean ash buildup off the grill's walls and backsplash.
4. Sweep any loose ash and debris into the grease tube. Follow by using a stiff, non-metallic tool to scrape the EZ Clean Drip Tray and scrape excess buildup into the Grease Tube.
5. Remove the EZ Clean Drip Tray and the Evenflow Heat Shield.
6. Brush ash into the Grease & Ash Keg.
7. Remove the firepot and dump any ash into the Grease & Ash Keg.
8. Empty your pellets from the hopper.
9. Use a shop vac to remove residual sawdust and ash from the barrel, underneath the firepot and from the bottom of the hopper.
10. Wipe down the grill's cavity surfaces with Traeger Cleaner.
11. Wipe down the Evenflow Heat Shield, EZ Clean Drip Tray, Grease Tube, Grease Governor and grill grates with Traeger Cleaner.
12. Clean out the grease chute, removing any grease and ash buildup.
13. Empty the Grease & Ash keg and replace the keg liner with a new one.
14. Reinstall the grill's components.
    • When putting the firepot back into the firepot cavity, make sure the firepot lip does not get caught on the auger tube. The lip should sit flush with the grill cavity.
15. Wipe down the grill's exterior, including the downdraft vents on the back of the grill.
16. Refill your hopper with pellets.
    
    

Cleaning Drip Trays on New Timberlines & Ironwoods

The new EZ Clean Drip Tray is designed to be just that--easy to clean.

To clean the drip tray, use a non-chemical degreaser like our Traeger All-Natural Grill Cleaner or a mixture of dish soap and vinegar.

For a cleaning tool, use a nylon brush or a silicone/rubber putty knife to remove cooked-on residue rather than any abrasive or metal products like steel wool or steel brushes, which can scratch the drip tray and potentially cause rust.

Liners & Foil

WARNING: These models conduct heat more than other models, so liners or even foil can be detrimental to grilling success, causing the grill to cook food at a higher temperature than desired.

Side Effects of not Cleaning Your Grill

While improper grill maintenance can affect almost all aspects of the grill's performance, the list below includes some of the main consequences of not keeping your grill clean. This list is not comprehensive and proper troubleshooting will need to be done for each specific issue.