Skip to Content

Can Grill Mats Go In The Dishwasher?

Can Grill Mats Go In The Dishwasher?

Done with a delicious meal and now want to clean your grill mat thoroughly? But how do you do that? Should you put it directly in the dishwasher, or wash it manually? Which detergent is the best for grill mats? 

If you have all these questions buzzing in your head, you’ve come to the right place! People have always avoided buying grill mats because of the assumption that they cannot be washed in the dishwasher. 

Grill mats are usually dishwasher safe, but their compatibility with the machine depends mainly on their material of construction. For example, if your grill mat is made up of fiberglass cloth and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), you can toss it in the dishwasher without any worries.

If you have a dishwasher already, it’s important that you buy your grill mats carefully. Look for the dishwasher safe label so that you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing later. 

Still, looking for some answers regarding grill mats? This guide will take you through all the information you need:

What Makes A Grill Mat Dishwasher Safe?

It will be a great disappointment if you purchase a grill mat only to find out later that its cleaning process can potentially take up hours.

To avoid buying the wrong kind of grill mats, make sure you check what material it’s made of. 

Most grill mats have their compositions explained in a tiny box in a corner or as a listing on the box. Fiberglass cloth is what you need to look for when searching for a dishwasher-safe option.

When you’re on your way to buy a new grill mat, always remember to check its safety label. A grill mat that is safe for machine washing will usually have a stamp or a tag to indicate that it’s dishwasher-safe. 

Customer reviews and ratings can also help you understand the quality of your grill mat and whether it’s safe to put in the dishwasher.

How To Clean Grill Mats?

Cleaning grill mats is not rocket science, but the intensity depends on your usage. If you use a recipe that has a very thick, grimy residue, you’d have to use a different type of detergent to get it off completely.

Remember to also check for the dishwasher label on your grill mat.

Once you’re sure that your grill mat is perfectly safe to wash in the dishwasher, here are some steps you can follow for thorough cleaning:

  • Let the mat stay idle for a file so that it gets back to room temperature. Don’t start washing a hot grill mat right away because it won’t be very effective. 
  • Gently scrape off all the leftover food with a piece of cloth.
  • Put the grill mat in a tub of soapy water so that all the particles that are stuck to the surface can get loose.
  • If the residue is a lot and refuses to come off, take a scrubber and try to get rid of as much grime as you can manually.
  • Toss your grill mat in the dishwasher, and remember to always put it only on the top rack.
  • A little more detergent than usual can do wonders, so make sure you don’t hold back.
  • When the grill mat comes out of the dishwasher, allow it to dry completely before reuse. 
man grills using grill mats

Why Is Scrubbing Necessary?

Giving your grill mat a quick wash before putting it in the dishwasher is always beneficial. It can help get rid of stubborn residue, which lessens the burden on your dishwasher.

If you don’t have a major usage, though, or if your grill mat does not tend to get too dirty, you can always skip this part and put it directly in the dishwasher. 

Are Grill Mats Worth the Investment?

If you tend to use your grilling station many times in a month, grilling mats can be a very good investment for you.

Small-scale grilling always turns out to be a mess because the food keeps dropping to the bottom of the grill because of the spaces in between.

Grill mats prevent this from happening because they provide a smooth surface to place your food. You can heat up even a leftover burger and get those awesome chars at the same time!

Final Thoughts on Washing Grill Mats

If you’ve been using a grill mat for a long time, there’s a high chance that you feel reluctant to put it into the dishwasher every time. 

You may choose to scrub it manually in case of less cooking but when you repeatedly use the mat, washing it in a dishwasher becomes extremely important because of sanitation.

For your grill mat to last a long while, make sure you’re using proper cleaning methods!

Lindsay Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of ProjectPerfectHome.com! I created this website to be a resource for everyone who wants to make the best home possible.