BBQ Cleaning and Maintenance

You likely cleaned the BBQ the first time you fired it up this grilling season. Depending on how often you use your BBQ, this shouldn't be the only deep clean it gets this season. If you've been using it frequently this summer, now is the time for another good cleaning.

The Right Tools
It doesn't matter if you're cleaning a propane, electric or briquette grill - you need the right tools to do the job correctly.

One of the most important tools you need is a stiff-bristle wire brush for heavy duty cleaning. Do not use
a steel brush, as steel can actually scratch and damage the porcelain or ceramic on your grill. The only
brush to use is a brass bristle brush and you can find them at your local hardware store. Look for a
brush that has a scraper at the end, or be sure to get
a separate scraper.

You'll require a different brush for
cleaning the burner and the gas inlet –
a venturi brush. Think of them as a
sturdier pipe cleaner. These can
also be found at your local
hardware store.

The BBQ dealer might try to
sell you on special
cleaners, but liquid dish
soap and water, or water
and vinegar will do the
job perfectly.

Important:
Do not use bleach or
chlorine-based products
because they are
dangerous around flames.

Do not use abrasive cleaners or steel wool
because they scratch and lead to rusting.

Tip: when the brush looks worn,
bristle are starting to go missing
or clogged with grease and
debris - get rid of it.

Roll Up Your Sleeves
Always start with a cool BBQ and disconnect all fuel sources. Next, remove the interior components: the warming rack, cooking grills, flame tamers, and burners. Place them aside on a work surface covered in newspapers.

If you've been using your BBQ a lot already this season then the inside of the lid is going to be covered in layers of sooty carbon. Start by loosening up this layer of greasy build-up. You can then scoop it out with a spatula.

Wash the inside of the unit with a mild soap and water solution. Be thorough and rinse with clean water. After it is reasonably clean, you'll want to dry the inside with a towel to help remove standing water, which could lead to rusting.

Tip: after all the cleaning and re-assembly is complete, you can always fire up your BBQ for a few minutes and this will dry the inside and all the parts completely.

Brush off the burners, making sure that the tiny gas holes are clear. You can use a toothpick or paper clip to gently poke holes that may be clogged.

Using the venturi brush, clean out the inside of the burner and the gas inlet.

Flame tamers are typically the bent metal plates, coated in ceramic that protect the burners from drippings. Brush away loose debris and wash with soap and water, then dry thoroughly. This helps to prevent flare-ups and flames.

If you are using briquettes or lava rocks, these should be replace each year, but take a look at them mid-season because they may need replacing depending on how much you are grilling.

The warming rack and grill should be brushed clean and washed with the soap and water solution and then dried. You can always apply a non-stick spray or wipe with cooking oil to help prevent sticking.

Re-assemble your grill, making sure that all the connections are secure. Remember you can always fire your grill up now and make sure everything is good and dry.

All of us here at Capital Direct hope you and your family make the most of the rest of the summer.

Summer Food Fantastic

There's nothing quite like a refreshing salad. Salads are such a great way to get a healthy dose of vegetables and August is a great month because of the abundance of fresh vegetables and produce. With a little creativity, there's really no limit to the kinds of salads you can come up with.

When possible, try to consume organic vegetables. One of the benefits of eating organic is that the produce has significantly lower levels of pesticide residue compared to non-organic.

Here's a great recipe that is sure to delight the family.

Summer Pasta Salad with Fresh Basil
This delicious salad of fresh basil, cherry tomatoes and penne is easy to make.

What you need:

12 ounce package of penne pasta
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1 bunch of green onion
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 cup of quartered cherry tomatoes
5 ounces of mozzarella or feta cheese, diced
½ cup of Parmesan cheese
4 ounces of fresh basil, chopped
12 large black olives

How to prepare:
Boil the pasta, drain and set aside to cool.
Heat the olive oil on medium and add the onions and garlic, 2 - 3 minutes. At the pasta, tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste and cook on low until warm, 3 - 4 minutes. Add the cheese and basil, stir all well and serve immediately.

A Solution That Fits

George S., of Vancouver says “I was looking for a way to manage my finances more comfortably,” he continues “We also wanted to have the funds to do some home renovations.”

Capital Direct was able to find that solution in a home equity loan. “The process was so straight forward and our consultant was excellent,” George concludes.

Every month, Capital Direct helps Canadians just like you to realize
their dreams. What about you? Your home equity is something
you've worked hard to build, so why not 'let your house
lend a hand'© when you need it most!
Contact a Capital Direct mortgage
specialist to discover your options.

“We needed a solution
that fit with our
financial situation.”

Summer Sudoku

		3
8
	2	4


3
	6

9	4
	6	2

9
		1
3

8	7

	5	1

		1
3
		6


2	3
	6	7

	4
		9

6	5
		7
2

Click here to view the solution

Request our new booklet: Borrowing for Success

How to Borrow What You Need to Succeed Guide

Learn how you can use your home equity to your greatest advantage.
To receive your FREE copy of this informative new booklet, email us at [email protected] with the subject line: “New Guide Request”. Please include your full name and postal address, and we'll send you a copy via Canada Post.