The first thing you will want to do is clean your grill. Don’t put your grill away with food debris sitting on your grates. Deep clean your grill grates. Coat them with a high heat oil. This will protect them from rusting over an extended period of time. If your grill has a grease cup, make sure you empty it before storing your grill. Go ahead and remove the ignition battery from your electric starter, if your grill has one, so as to prevent battery corrosion.

Before storing your grill for the winter, you need to make sure that you have properly winterized your grill to protect it from any pests that might call it home. Clean any venturi and tube burner your grill might have. Wrap them in plastic to prevent insects from entering. Check your control knobs and coupling nut of your regulator for any unwanted pests. Look underneath all grates and drip pans as well. Inspect your grill for cracks, scratches or damaged parts. If any parts aren’t working, replace them now so you can get grilling when springtime rolls around. When you are ready to store your grill, select a properly sized grill cover to protect your grill from the elements and pests.

Once your grill is clean, dry and covered, store it in a cool, dry place, preferably sheltered from rain and snow. Make sure that when storing a gas grill, you disconnect and remove the propane tank. Store your grill in a garage or storage shed, but leave the propane tank outside. The propane tank can withstand temperatures of -50 degrees Fahrenheit. Pay your grill an occasional visit during the winter months—just to make sure no pests have made a winter home.