Basic Clean is our maintenance-tier service — the right call if your grill gets used regularly and hasn't gone more than a few months without attention. It's not a full teardown; it's a thorough surface-level clean that keeps grease from becoming a problem before it starts.

Merced BBQ Cleaning technician wiping down the stainless steel exterior of a BBQ grill during a Basic Clean

Tools we use

  • Commercial portable steam cleaner — our primary tool. High-temperature, chemical-free steam loosens grease and carbon on grates and interior surfaces without scrubbing it in with a chemical spray first.
  • Bristle-free brush — coil or nylon, used after steaming to lift what's been loosened; safe on porcelain and stainless grates, no risk of wire bristles.
  • Microfiber cloths — for exterior panels and stainless steel, wiped with the grain to avoid streaking.
  • Shop vacuum — for loose ash and debris in the firebox.

Our process

  1. Grates — steamed to loosen grease and light carbon, then brushed clean front and back while cool.
  2. Interior surfaces — the firebox floor, lid interior, and heat shields get steamed and wiped down where accessible, without full disassembly.
  3. Grease tray — emptied and wiped clean.
  4. Exterior — panels, handle, and control knobs cleaned with a stainless-safe cloth.
  5. Quick burner check — a visual check for obviously clogged ports or uneven flame, flagged to you if something needs deeper attention.

Because steam does the heavy lifting instead of a chemical degreaser, there's no residue to rinse and nothing left on the grates that could affect the taste of your next cook.

What we don't do at this tier: disassemble burners, treat rust, or degrease deep into the firebox where grease has baked on over a long period. If we get there and find more than a Basic Clean can handle, we'll tell you before doing extra work — not after.

How to stretch the time between cleanings

  • Brush the grates while they're still warm after each cook — it's the single easiest habit that matters most.
  • Empty the grease tray once it's more than half full, not once it's overflowing.
  • Use a properly fitted grill cover between uses — see our top 5 grill covers.

Stay on top of those three things and a Basic Clean every few months is usually all a well-used grill needs. Skip them for a season and you're looking at our Deep Clean tier instead.

Ready for a Basic Clean?

$129 depending on grill size — mobile service across Merced, Atwater, Turlock, Livingston, Winton, Delhi, Chowchilla, and Madera.

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