Quick Cookout Clean Up

COOKOUT CLEAN UP TIPS

Planning ahead makes clean up after your cookout a whole lot easier. Here are a few tips to help.

CLEANING IT UP

YOU’LL NEED

DE-GREASING THE GRILL

• For hot grills scrape the grates on your grill with a crumpled ball of aluminum foil or wire grill brush. If the grill is no longer hot, save it for the next time you heat up your grill.
• Make sure to clean any spills or splatters on the side tables, etc., with a wet cloth.
• Gas grills require closing the tank’s valve.
• Cover the grill.

TABLETOP CLEAN UP

Your first thought might be to start cleaning off the serving table by taking everything inside. Resist this way thinking because you’ll just make the kitchen your next mess to clean. Instead try grabbing a large tray to to carry out some clean up items like a large trash bag, a bag for recycling, foil or plastic wrap, and a damp cloth.

• Toss into the trash bag any dirty disposables such as plates, cups, utensils that can’t be recycled.
• Fill the recycling bag with empty cans and bottles.
• Be safe and discard any foods that have been out for more than two hours (one hour if the temperature was over 90°F).
• Cover or wrap any of the leftovers you’re keeping; place them on the tray, along with any clean dishes and utensils.

Now you’re ready to make that trip to the kitchen. Start by putting the foods into the fridge that need refrigeration and the rest on the counter for later. Head back out with your tray empty. Use it for loading any soiled serving platters and set it off to the side.

• Ball up paper tablecloths and toss them. Fabric tablecloths can be folded up and put by your tray.
• Take your damp cloth to wipe the table and to sop up any spills that may have soaked through. Plastic tablecloths can be wiped down and left to air-dry.
• Pull the plug on your drink cooler if it has one to let out any melted ice water or close the lid and deal with it later.
• Take the tray and cloths indoor. Place soiled items into the dishwasher, or to soak in the sink. Rinse out the cloth.

TIDY UP THE TRASH

Night-time critters will have their own party if you leave the trash out overnight. Before you close up trash bags or trash can, check and remove any visible recyclables that ended up in there by mistake. Sprinkling a few tablespoons of ammonia into the trash may help to mask food odors and keep pests away. Seal the bags and put them and the recycling in the garage or at the curb in tightly covered trash barrels if they are staying out.

PLAN AHEAD

• Keeping container of cleaning wipes next to the grill makes it easy to clean up messes as they happen.
• Shower curtain liners (cheap ones are fine) works great to keep spills from soaking through under a paper or fabric tablecloth.