What is the best way to clean a grill on a budget?

Heat your grill on high for 10 to 15 minutes to burn off residue, then scrub with a quality grill brush while the grates are hot. For deeper cleaning, ball up aluminum foil and use tongs to scrub the grates. It is surprisingly effective and costs nothing. Once a month, remove the grates and soak them in warm soapy water for 30 minutes. Avoid oven cleaner sprays on grill grates as the chemicals can leave residue that affects food taste.