With the long weekend ahead, we're all getting ready to venture out into the garden and enjoy some well-deserved downtime. One of the first tasks to tackle will be prepping the BBQ, and thanks to Lynsey Crombie's genius newspaper hack, giving it a clean will take no time at all – and very little effort.
We thought we had all the natural cleaning methods covered in our comprehensive guide to cleaning the BBQ, until we spotted that This Morning's resident home expert and TV presenter Lynsey Crombie has an even quicker remedy to 'steam' clean the grill to make it shiny like new.
In a perfectly timed video shared on her Instagram @lynsey_queenofclean, she gives followers an easy-to-follow demonstration of the steaming process, along with 4 other natural cleaning methods...
Try Lynsey Crombie's newspaper trick to steam a BBQ
Hopefully, as it's the start of BBQ season, your grill will emerge this weekend needing only a quick steam to spruce it up and be ready to cook, and for that, Lynsey's savvy newspaper hack is just the thing.
In her social media video, she explains how to do it with ease, explaining, "Place damp newspaper over warm grates, close the lid and let it steam. After 10 minutes, grime wipes away easily."
Aside from a sheet of used newspaper, all you need is a brush or BBQ cleaning tool to wipe it down post-steam.
This best-selling basic 12 Inch brush is perfect to get the job done with ease. The stainless steel wire brush is support by a comfortable moulded handle.
This 18 Inch BBQ grill cleaning brush kit comes with the addition of a scraper to tackle more burnt on food scraps that will make the cleaning process even easier. But fear not, the wire scrubber is safe and universal for all grates and grills.
If you really want minimal effort cleaning there's this cordless, electric BBQ brush with a scraper. The rechargeable 68w motor does all the hard work for you.
In addition to her steam-cleaning trick, Lynsey shares four alternative, all-natural cleaning methods to ensure your food remains chemical-free.
After cutting an onion in half, she suggests rubbing it onto "Hot grates using a fork (so not to burn your hands), the natural juices help break down burnt-on residue and add antibacterial benefits."
To clean with baking soda, Lynsey instructs: "Mix with a little water to form a paste, apply to grills and trays. Leave to sit, then scrub off stubborn grease."
Rather humourously, she suggests using beer: "Pour a little over warm grill grates, the acidity helps loosen grease, then scrub with a brush or cloth."
And lastly, she suggests cleaning with lemons. "Cut in half and rub over warm grills to cut through grease and leave everything smelling fresh."
In addition to being a regular presenter on This Morning Lynsey is a published author, her best-selling book 'The 15 Minute Clean' is available to buy from Amazon – so you need never miss another savvy cleaning tip to make life a little easier.
If you are firing up the BBQ this weekend, it's worth sorting the garden out first to ensure your plot is ready to host in style.
You might also appreciate our food editor's recommended BBQ dishes for the Bank holiday – from prawns to panna cotta, this four-dish grill menu proves alfresco entertaining doesn't have to be complicated.
