Mice and rats prefer to build their nests in places that are quiet, dark, and out of the way. In addition to providing a watertight and safe breeding environment for vermin such as mice and rats, gas barbecue grills also provide the added benefit of leftover food scraps on which they can chew. Take a few hours out of your day to guarantee that your gas grill does not become a magnet for any of these undesirable visitors.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

Remove any nesting material that may have accumulated on the grill. Wearing gloves and a face mask will help to keep you safe from being exposed to rodent excrement. To eliminate the rodent pheromones and any remaining particles of food, rat droppings, and urine from the gas grill, thoroughly clean it with a stiff brush. Scrape burnt chunks of food away from the grill with a metal grill brush or spatula. Next, using an abrasive sponge, clean all cooking surfaces with a solution of 1 tablespoon dish detergent to 1 quart of water, followed by a final rinse. Wash away the soapy water and either dry the grill in the sun or with an old towel to prevent it from becoming rusty.

Disinfect all of the tools that were used in the cleaning process. To avoid spreading bacteria or viruses to other people or animals, you should keep rats in a closed environment. Prevent bacteria growth by disinfecting the sponge, grill brush and spatula with a solution of 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water. Your washing machine should be set to a hot wash cycle to clean the towel.

If there are any rusty parts or holes in the grill kettle, you can attach a piece of sheet metal to the grill to plug the holes and close the apertures. To do this, self-tapping sheet metal screws should be used. Steel wool should never be used in a gas grill because the steel will burn and melt. After each usage, make sure to replace the grill lid. Make an investment in a zippered grill cover to keep the barbecue covered while not in use. These procedures will ensure that rodents will not be able to gain access to your gas grill again.