Brush the cooking grates with a dry wire brush or grill stone routinely to prevent food and bacteria buildup. Make sure the brush or stone is appropriate for the grates.
* Gas Grills: Turn the burners off before cleaning. If you're using a grill stone, no water is required because the stone will
remove residue. After you've cleaned the cooking grates, spray them with cooking oil.
* Charcoal Grills: Clean surfaces when the grill is still hot. Use a grill brush that dispenses water to steam-clean the grates.
If your brush doesn't have that feature, a little water sprinkled onto the brush produces the same effect.