We cook a lot on our Traeger Grills and now the time has come to do some cleaning.  The key to a long-lasting grill is regular cleaning and maintenance.

How To Clean Your Traeger

This keeps the grill free from ash, and grease and allows you to keep an eye on the condition of your grill from top to bottom.  Today’s focus will be on the Traeger Ironwood with a quick overview of the Pro Series.

Cleaning Tips:

1. When to clean your grill

   1. I clean mine every 3-5 cooks, more often if I’m cooking higher fat foods

2. Steps to clean your Traeger Ironwood 885

   1. Make sure grill is cool and unplugged

   2. Open Pellet hopper lid, place 5 gallon bucket under the back pellet door and drain pellets into a bucket. Save for re-use

   3. Open Traeger lid and using a grill brush scrub the top of the grates

      1. Turn grates over and scrub the underside (which is now the top) of the grates

      2. Be careful not to hit the temperature probe with the grates while turning them over

   4. Remove the grates and set aside

   5. Assess the amount of soot or particulate on the inside of the barrel

      1. Lightly scrape with the paint tool

      2. Use the paint tool to get around the edges of the grill and into the corners

• Push all crumbs into the bottom of the barrel

1. Remove the drip tray, remove the foil or foil liners, and asses for any stuck-on food/debris

2. Brush off the heat shield and remove

3. Brush off the lower heat shield and remove *(only if very deep cleaning, will need a screwdriver)*

4. Check all edges and corners of the grill for debris and scrape into the lower barrel

5. Check the drip trough for any debris and scrape into the grease bucket

   1. Re-line drip tray with new liners or foil

6. Once all cleaning from top to bottom has been done, plug in the Vacuum

7. Vacuum out the entire inside of the grill including the ledges and corners

8. Vacuum out the fire pot and a little bit into the auger

9. Vacuum out the hopper to remove any excess sawdust, and vacuum out down into the auger as well

10. Verify that the inside barrel is clean all parts/bolts are tight and everything is in working order

11. Rebuild the grill from the bottom up starting with the lower heat shield, upper heat shield, drip tray with fresh liners or foil, bottom grate and top grate

12. Refill pellet hopper with pellets

13. Using the Traeger Grill cleaner, spray all sides as heavy as needed, allow to soak for 1 minute, and wipe down the grill from top to bottom. Spot clean again if heavier cleaning is needed.  I wipe down the sides of the grill and legs as well

14. Remove the grease bucket change out the foil liner and clean the bucket if needed

15. Plug the grill in (good time to check the cord), Turn on the grill, turn to 200 degrees, and ignite. Once the grill reaches 200 degrees, verify operation and place the grill back into shutdown mode

    1. You can skip this part and wait until your next cook to do it

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions before using any product.

Grills / Grill Gear Used:

• GrillMark Grill Brush Ace SKU – 8533739

• Ace Hardware 6-1 Paint Tool Ace SKU – 1204973

• Craftsman 2.5 gal Shop Vac Ace SKU – 2305696

• Traeger Ironwood 885 drip tray liner Ace SKU – 8023037

• Traeger Grill cleaner spray             Ace SKU – 8687048

• HD Shop Towels                                     Ace SKU – 1206994