Grilling brings the fun of summer, and the ease of outdoor cooking (aka: no dishes) with it. In a survey by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), 70 percent of respondents said they find “a lot” of pleasure in having few or no pots and pans to clean up when grilling as opposed to indoor cooking.

To ensure that outdoor grilling clean-up is even easier, HPBA offers the following tips:

Apply non-stick cooking spray to the grates before lighting the grill. This will help prevent foods from sticking.

For charcoal grills, line the bowl with aluminum foil. After grilling, and once the grill and coals are cool, discard the foil with the coals and ash, then wash and reline with foil for cookout.

Use a wire brush or even crumbled aluminum foil to scrub away buildup on the grates once the grill has cooled.

Apply grease-cutting dishwashing detergent on the grill and grates (once cool). Scrub with brush or abrasive pad, then rinse. A repeat may be necessary.

Don't forget to place a grill pad or splatter mat beneath your grill before cooking. These naturally heat resistant pads will protect your deck or patio from any grease that misses the drip pan and will make it a lot easier to keep your outdoor living area clean and looking like new.