PSA - don't buy cheap grill brushes...

Maccool · August 2014

My afternoon yesterday was spent dealing with this perforation of the small intestine. Initial thought from the CT scan was that it was a fishbone (the patient is a big outdoor grill fanatic) but in surgery I found that it was a steel bristle that had come loose from her grill brush, got into her food and she swallowed it. Perforated the last part of the duodenum and caused a pretty good sized abscess. The operation took a couple of hours. She's going to be here awhile recovering. Nasty business.

Moral of the story....don't buy cheap stainless steel grill brushes and wipe the grill down after you brush it.

lousubcap · August 2014

Welcome and thanks for the reminder. Periodically this topic arises but it has been a while. First time I have seen an "action shot" so that adds to the impact. With all the NEO's it is a good reminder to use an alternative to the wire brush.

minniemoh · August 2014

Yikes!!! I hope she makes a full recovery. I think we all become a bit complacent about things like this from time to time. A reminder is good. Thank you!

fljoemon · August 2014

Good advice on wiping the grill down after using any of these brushes .. even the good kind.

Smokinpig · August 2014

Good advice thanks. Can anyone suggest a good alternative to grill brushes? Anyone have any experience with a grill stone?

Acn · August 2014

Smokinpig said:

Good advice thanks. Can anyone suggest a good alternative to grill brushes?

Balled up aluminum foil and tongs.

SoCalTim · August 2014

I am soo glad you posted this. I was @ Walmart a couple days ago, they had their grill brushes on sale for a dollar each. I almost bought a bunch.

I'm glad I didn't.

DaveRichardson · August 2014

Love my wadded up aluminum foil!!!!

MeTed · August 2014

Great info, thanks!

RRP · August 2014

I hear you and I heed the warning...OTOH I have been using one of these high quality wire brushes for years- in fact I am only now on to my second one in 14 years.

Metalmaker · August 2014

I have found wire bristles on the grate even after brushing with a "good" grill brush. Now I use a Grill Wizard.

yellowdogbbq · August 2014

Thanks for the post, I'll be doing things differently from now on.

apfroggy0408 · August 2014

Use an onion!

SkinnyV · August 2014

First hand knowledge, I pulled a piece of wire from my pops gum after an egg cook.
Lucky it could have been worse, or one of my little ones.
Man was I squeamish pulling that thing.out.

NervousDad · August 2014

I've heard many terrible stories like this, which is why I only use a stone. Glad everything ended up ok for them.

fishlessman · August 2014

just one more reason not to clean the grill

)

Carolina Q · August 2014

fishlessman said:

just one more reason not to clean the grill
)

AMEN bro...

)

TigerTony · August 2014

I don't think my grill brush is a cheap one. But it still looses some of it's wires.
I hate to get rid of it, my daughter was so proud to give it to me for father's day.
But better safe then sorry.

travisstrick · August 2014

fishlessman said:
just one more reason not to clean the grill
)

Yep. The only thing I use is the end of my grid lifter.

NibbleMeThis · August 2014

A painters "5 in 1" tool works as a fantastic grate cleaner.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_350004-995-3490189C_0__?productId=3364384

Botch · August 2014

I wouldn't even use an "expensive" grill brush, everything breaks eventually.

But here's a question: what about a brass bristle brush? Would brass dissolve in gastric juices, or stay whole like stainless? Any biochemists here?

JethroVA · August 2014

Clean?

THEBuckeye · August 2014

Do NOT buy the BGE grill brush. Spend less on Steel Wool.

The BGE one is worthless.

henapple · August 2014

+5 on the aluminum foil. If you clean when the grill is hot, easy peasy. Why take the chance?

bettysnephew · August 2014

I use one very similar to RRP. It has never lost a bristle but I do replace every couple of years as they can get kind of nasty even with cleaning in soap and water. Mine has stainless bristles that are about 2/3 the thickness of a pin used for sewing. I have not even seen one get bent let alone being close to breaking off. I certainly can understand the fine wire ones being a problem though.

minniemoh · August 2014

I want one like @Mickey uses. Combination grid lifter and grid scraper. Where did you get that one @Mickey? I know you've shared your source in the past but I can't remember.

Mickey · August 2014

minniemoh said:

I want one like @Mickey uses. Combination grid lifter and grid scraper. Where did you get that one @Mickey? I know you've shared your source in the past but I can't remember.

Send LawnRanger a note. gridlifter@gmail.com It's called a Gridlifter and he makes them.

pgprescott · August 2014

THEBuckeye said:

Do NOT buy the BGE grill brush. Spend less on Steel Wool.

The BGE one is worthless.

cannot disagree more. I love mine. Used to use the bristle kind made by weber, but switched to the new Brillo pad type of BGE brush and haven't looked back. The loose bristles are why BGE no longer offers a bristle type grid cleaner. To each there own I guess.

bboulier · August 2014

I generally go over mine with the end of a stick to knock off the crusty bits, put the grill in a sink with water and soap and let it soak, and then wipe with plastic scrubber.

SteveWPBFL · August 2014

Bye bye grill brush . . . .

Maccool · August 2014

Anybody ever put their grill in their home oven and turn it onto "self-clean"? Or do a long hot Egg burn with the grill in place?

I tried using a pumice rock "griddle cleaner" for awhile but found that it left a kind of funky residue on the grill. Currently, I mostly use a scotchbrite griddle cleaner

PSA - don't buy cheap grill brushes...

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