I left my greasy June barbecue grill grates soaking inside a sealed black trash bag filled with household ammonia for 3 days.

Upon opening the bag after three days, I was immediately hit by a strong ammonia odor, even though I was outdoors. It’s essential to be cautious and ensure proper ventilation when handling ammonia. The grates looked somewhat unchanged at first glance, but upon closer inspection, I noticed that the grime appeared softer and slightly discolored, as if it had started to dissolve.

The bag itself had collected some condensation, and the ammonia smell was quite potent, confirming that the fumes had been effectively trapped inside. The visual evidence suggested that the ammonia had begun to work its magic, but the true test would be in how easily the grime would come off with minimal effort.

Before the ammonia soak, the grill grates were covered in a thick layer of blackened grease and charred food remnants. After three days in the bag, the grates showed signs of improvement. The most noticeable change was the texture of the grime; it had become more pliable and less adhesive, suggesting that the ammonia had indeed started to break it down.

While some areas showed significant improvement, with parts of the metal shining through, other sections still had stubborn patches of residue. It was clear that while the ammonia had made a difference, it hadn’t completely dissolved all the grease as I had hoped.

Armed with a sponge and a bucket of hot, soapy water, I set about scrubbing the grates. The areas where the grease had softened came off relatively easily with gentle scrubbing, revealing clean metal beneath. However, some tougher spots required more elbow grease and the use of a wire brush to remove completely.

Overall, while the ammonia soak had significantly reduced the amount of scrubbing needed, it wasn’t a magic solution. The process did save time and effort compared to the initial state, but it wasn’t entirely scrub-free.

After cleaning, I inspected the grates for any signs of damage. Thankfully, the ammonia did not seem to have harmed the metal or any non-stick coating that was present. The grates appeared intact and, in some places, looked almost new.

This outcome was a relief, as one of my main concerns was that the ammonia fumes might corrode or dull the metal. However, it seems that the short exposure time and the method of using fumes rather than direct contact with liquid ammonia helped avoid any significant damage.