Putting all costs aside, a clean grill cooks better food. Just as you clean your kitchen utensils after every use, cleaning your grill grates after each use is a best practice to avoid cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses. Nobody wants to taste Friday's salmon dinner on Sunday's chicken kebabs, or open up their grill to find a science experiment growing on their grates after a few weeks of neglect.

Cleaning up your grill is probably the last thing on your mind once you've finished cooking your meal, but skipping this step will cost you. Grill grate replacements can come with a hefty price tag, and you'll likely need to replace multiple grates. The grease and grime build-up can damage even the best top-of-the-line equipment when left unaddressed.