By Lisa Hardy
Physical and Environmental Planner

Tailgate parties bring the excitement of the game to your grill, but they can still mean a greasy mess to clean up.  Keep the fats, oils and grease out of both your sanitary sewer and the storm drain system by following these quick tips to make clean-up a breeze!

• NEVER hose down grill parts in your yard or driveway!  This sends a greasy mess straight to area waterways via the storm drain system.
• Keep your grill clean and well oiled to prevent food from sticking.  Clean the grill after each use to minimize greasy food build-up by scraping or wiping down components and throwing the wipes in the trash.
• A wire or brass brush is indispensable in clearing stuck-on food bits from the cooking surface. To maximize grease removal, clean when the grill is hot by dipping a long-handled wire brush in water then scrubbing the grill carefully, allowing the steam and agitation of the bristles to remove greasy soils.
• If grill grates are beyond elbow grease, lay them on newspaper and spray with oven cleaner to get rid of baked on, caked on messes.  Rinse thoroughly before grilling and discard of newspapers in the trash.  Be sure to wear rubber gloves to protect your skin against the harsh chemicals.
• Scrape any residue off the insides of the grill body once it cools completely. The inside surfaces of most gas grills are smooth, so it’s easy to scrape away accumulated fats and foods with a putty knife or similar metal tool.  Discard residue in the trash.

Make your fall sizzle by firing up the grill and using these expert tips for surefire success and fat free drains!