Your gas grill has been a trusty companion these last few months, the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen and a way to relax outside. But now that winter’s here, if you’re not planning any more outdoor cooking, it’s important to winterize your gas grill before the snow starts flying. Think of it like winterizing your lawn mower, another step to preserve your stuff.

There’s a little more to winterizing your grill than just throwing a cover on it and stowing in the shed for the next four months. If you don’t take the proper steps, you might find yourself buying a new grill. Fortunately, it’s not difficult. Just follow the steps below and your grill will be ready when you need it in the spring.

Shut Off the Gas

Shut off the gas at the LP tank, unfasten the burner and slip the gas tubes off the gas lines. (Check your owner’s manual for how to do this on your model.) Then lift out the unit as a whole.

Clean Your Grill

The first step is deep cleaning your gas grill. It’s essential to get ALL the gunk off it. Germs can live on the dried bits of food, and that charred stuff on your grates can be carcinogenic. Cleaning your grill also helps prevent corrosion.

After scraping it clean and degreasing it, inspect and clean the igniters. If you grill has a catch pan, grease tray, lower cabinet, etc., don’t forget to clean those as well.

For the last step, polish the outside of your grill to give it an extra layer of protection.