Fall is in the air. And, so is the season to prepare your outdoor kitchen for the turning of the weather and winterizing it until Spring.

It is hard to believe that our beautiful summer weather will soon be coming to an end. With grilling season and entertaining outside also winding down for the season, it is time to start preparing your outdoor kitchen for the colder weather to keep it ready to use once Spring arrives.

Below are a few helpful tips to keep your outdoor kitchen in good shape through these colder months ahead…

Preparing The Grill

Your grill is the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen. To keep it working year to year follow these steps…

Light It up

Start by turning on your grill to its maximum heat, Let it get as hot as possible — wait 15 to 20 minutes — and then use a wire brush to scrape off any stuck-on food.

Give It A Good Cleaning On The Inside

Deep clean your grill grates (consult your owner’s manual for any specific instructions). Coat the grates with a high heat oil. This will protect them from rusting over an extended period of time. If your grill has a grease cup, make sure you empty it before storing your grill. If you discover serious damage to any of your grill’s parts during cleaning, you may need to call in a grill repair professional.

And Then Clean The Outside

Use a rag and hot, soapy water to clean the outside of the grill including burner knobs, handle, hood cover as well as the propane tank. In addition, open the grill and clean the underside of the hood. This may require more effort since you’ll likely find a large build-up of carbon, which looks like thin, black paint. Also make sure to get down around the burners and remove any food, grease or dirt.

Test It

Turn your grill on and make sure all the burners work, and run the grill for 10 minutes to make sure it’s entirely dry. Turn off the grill, let it cool.

Store It

If you’re storing your grill outside during the winter, keep the propane take connected (but shut off). If you are storing your grill inside, disconnect the tank (do not store the tank inside). Remove the ignition battery from your electric starter, if your grill has one, to prevent battery corrosion. Cover your grill with a properly sized grill cover to protect your grill from the elements and pests.

Preparing The Fridge & Ice Maker

Your outdoor refrigerator and ice maker will also need some end of season attention. Follow these winterizing steps…

Remove The Food & Ice

empty all food items out of the fridge and empty all ice out of the ice maker.

Clean Around The Outside

If you can get to the back of the refrigerator, remove all leaves and debris that may have gathered around the condenser.

Give The Inside A Bath

Gently clean the inside of your fridge and ice maker with soap and water. Once clean, wipe down the inside of your refrigerator, freezer and ice-maker with a dry towel. Be mindful of any places where water might rest, and make sure it’s completely dry.

Don’t Forget The Water Lines

Shut off the water supply and drain the water lines to prevent them from freezing (or bursting) in the cold weather.

Turn Them Off

Most outdoor refrigerators don’t need to be moved indoors for the winter, but they do need to be turned off. You will also want to turn the power off to your ice maker.