Nothing captures the spirit of warm weather like the aroma of food sizzling on the grill. But before you fire yours up, take a few minutes to give it a tune-up.

Gas and charcoal grills

Begin by giving your grill a once-over. For gas varieties, check your propane tank connection by turning on the appliance and adding soap and water to the valve and hose. If you see bubbles, it means there’s a leak to fix. Also, make sure that the burner tubes are clear since bugs love to nest in them. For charcoal, ensure that the airflow openings are working well and remove any ash from the interior.

Next, tackle the grates. Heat the grill for a few minutes, then let it cool slightly before removing the grates and scrubbing them with a grill brush and soapy water; let them soak for a bit if they’re especially grimy. If you notice any signs of rust, use a cleaning block to help remove it.

With the grates removed, clean the bowl, lid, and drip tray with dish soap and warm water. Let everything dry completely before reinstalling, and add a layer of oil to the grates to help prevent any rust from forming.

Flat-top grills

Follow the same basic steps for gas grills: check the propane connection and remove rust from the cooking surface with a cleaning block or steel wool. From there, scrape away excess residue with a grill scraper, and wash the cooking area with water and dish soap. When the surface is clean, it’s a good idea to re-season it, especially if you had to remove any rust. Turn the burners on again, and apply a thin layer of cooking oil, letting it heat until it smokes and burns off. Repeat the process several times to form a protective nonstick layer that’s ready for your next cookout.