Cleaning a smoker means emptying what it collects, such as ash, grease and drippings, and clearing build-up inside. The steps and the schedule come from your smoker’s maker, so below we’ve laid out what Traeger, Pit Boss, Masterbuilt and Weber each say, by smoker type. If you’re still choosing one, start with our guide to the best smokers for beginners.
A note on sources: Masterbuilt’s is an owner’s manual and Weber’s is an owner’s guide. Traeger’s and Pit Boss’s are articles on their own websites, not manuals. Your own manual comes first.
Pellet smokers: what Traeger and Pit Boss say
Traeger. Traeger’s article “Cleaning Guide: How To Clean A Traeger Grease Trap & More” starts its grease-trap steps with “Ensure the grill is off and completely cool.” It then says: “Use a nylon grill brush to scrape off grease and debris. Wipe away any residue with paper towels or disposable rags.” For the drip tray, it says: “Wash the drip tray with warm, soapy water and a sponge or cloth to remove the remaining grease and food particles.” and “Thoroughly rinse the drip tray with clean water to remove any soap residue. Ensure it is completely dry before placing it back into the grill to prevent rust.” For a grease and ash keg, it says: “Simply change the liner when it fills up and replace it with a new one.”
Traeger’s separate article “How To Clean A Traeger Grill” covers the firepot and hopper. On the firepot: “Make sure your grill is COLD when cleaning the ash from in and around the firepot.” It also says: “Vacuum the inside of the grill, the firepot, and the hopper thoroughly, making sure you collect as much residual sawdust as possible.” For its Woodridge model, it says to “simply empty out the EZ-Clean Grease & Ash Keg and replace. No need for a shop vac with this grill.”
On timing, the Cleaning Guide says: “How often you clean your grill is ultimately up to you, but we highly recommend following this timeline:”
- “After Every Use: Wipe down spills and scrape off grill grates (if food touched grates).”
- “Every 2-3 Cooks (Every 20-24 Hours of Cook Time): Deep clean the inside of the grill.”
- “Every 3 Months: Clean the outside of the grill (more often if you don’t have a grill cover)”
- “Every 6 Months: Clean the grease chute (or the downdraft if the grill doesn’t have a chimney)”
“How To Clean A Traeger Grill” adds that “you may need to adjust according to your cooking habits and food smoking preferences. For example, if you’re cooking high-fat foods like pork belly or brisket, your grill will require cleaning sooner than veggies or breads.”
Pit Boss. Pit Boss’s blog article “Cleaning Your Wood Pellet Grill 101: Ash, Grease & Gasket Care” says: “Inspect your hopper and cooking chamber after every cook. Do yourself a solid and empty it if there’s a heavy ash buildup. If your model has a removable ash tray, empty that too.”
For a deeper clean, the same article says: “Every 15-20 hours, it’s time for a deeper clean.” and “Make sure to clean everything in the interior, including the grill grates and drip tray.” For the temperature probes, it says: “wipe down your probes after every use with a warm soapy paper towel.”
For running a pellet smoker rather than cleaning it, see our guide on how to use a pellet grill.
Electric smokers: what Masterbuilt says
The quotes in this section come from the owner’s manual for Masterbuilt’s Digital Electric WiFi Smoker 710 (model MB20070924, manual code 9807230001). Other Masterbuilt models have their own manuals.
The manual says: “Unplug from outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow smoker to cool completely before adding/removing racks, drip tray or water bowl.” and “ALWAYS MAKE SURE SMOKER IS COOL TO THE TOUCH BEFORE CLEANING AND STORING.” On timing, it says: “Be sure to clean smoker after each use.”
By part, the manual says:
- Racks, water bowl and drip pan: “For rack supports, racks, water bowl and drip pan use a mild dish detergent. Rinse and dry thoroughly.”
- Wood chip tray and loader: “For wood chip tray and wood chip loader, clean frequently to remove ash build up, residue and dust.”
- Ashes: “Dispose of cold ashes by placing them in aluminum foil, soaking with water and discarding in a non-combustible container.”
- Grease tray: “Check grease tray often during cooking. Empty grease tray before it gets full.”
- Interior, door glass and exterior: “For the interior, glass in door (if featured), and exterior of smoker, simply wipe down with a damp cloth. Do not use a cleaning agent. Make sure to dry thoroughly.”
It also says: “Do not clean this product with a water sprayer or the like.”
Charcoal smokers: what Weber says
The quotes in this section come from Weber’s “Smokey Mountain Cooker™ Smoker Owner’s Guide,” the 2011 edition. It covers that smoker, and Weber may have updated its guidance since.
On timing, the guide says: “Add years to the life of your Weber® Smokey Mountain Cooker™ Smoker by giving it a thorough cleaning once a year.” Its steps are: “Make sure the smoker is cool and coals are totally extinguished.” “Remove the cooking and charcoal grates.” “Remove ashes.” “Wash your smoker with a mild detergent and water. Rinse well with clear water and wipe dry.”
The guide’s safety page adds: “Do not remove ashes until all coals are completely burned out and are fully extinguished.” It also says: “Using sharp objects to clean the cooking grate or remove ashes will damage the finish.” and “Using abrasive cleaners on the cooking grate or the smoker itself will damage the finish.” Before the next light, it says: “Ensure that ashes have been removed from bottom bowl and that the charcoal grate and charcoal chamber are in place.” and, on its safety page, “Remove all debris from the bottom heat shield prior to operating the smoker.”
For cleaning the grates themselves, see our guides on how to clean grill grates and how to clean a grill.
Before you store it
Masterbuilt’s manual for the 710 says: “After cleaning, store smoker in a covered and dry area.” and “Do not store smoker with HOT ashes inside smoker. Store only when all surfaces are cold.” It adds: “Check your smoker periodically to avoid possible rust and corrosion due to moisture buildup.”
A parts checklist (ours, not a maker’s)
This list is our own, so you can match your smoker to the sections above. It is not instructions, and it doesn’t set a schedule. Your manual says which parts your model has and how to clean them.
- Ash: the firepot and hopper on a pellet smoker, the bottom bowl on a charcoal smoker.
- The grease path: the chute or trap, the drip tray or pan, and any liner or keg.
- Water bowl or pan: only if your model has one.
- Wood chip tray and loader: on smokers that have them.
- Racks and grates: check whether yours come out.
- The interior and the outside: walls, door and door glass if it has any.
On grease, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said in news release 11-228: “Is the grill clean? Regularly cleaning the grill, as described in the owner’s manual, and also cleaning the grease trap, will reduce the risk of flare-ups and grease fires.” Follow your smoker’s manual for the steps that fit your model.
Once it’s clean, our guide on how to control temperature on a smoker covers running it.
Frequently asked questions
When should I clean a smoker?
It depends on the maker. Traeger’s Cleaning Guide says: “How often you clean your grill is ultimately up to you, but we highly recommend following this timeline:” and its list includes “Every 2-3 Cooks (Every 20-24 Hours of Cook Time): Deep clean the inside of the grill.” Pit Boss’s article says: “Every 15-20 hours, it’s time for a deeper clean.” Masterbuilt’s manual for the 710 says: “Be sure to clean smoker after each use.” Weber’s 2011 guide for its Smokey Mountain Cooker says to give it “a thorough cleaning once a year.” Check your own manual.
What do I clean inside a smoker?
Pit Boss’s article says: “Make sure to clean everything in the interior, including the grill grates and drip tray.” Traeger’s timeline lists “Deep clean the inside of the grill.” For the interior of its 710 electric smoker, Masterbuilt’s manual says to “simply wipe down with a damp cloth.” See the parts checklist above for what to look for on your model.
Can I spray a smoker with water to clean it?
Masterbuilt’s manual for the 710 says: “Do not clean this product with a water sprayer or the like.” For other smokers, follow your own manual.
How do I clean the ash out of a pellet smoker?
Traeger’s “How To Clean A Traeger Grill” says: “Make sure your grill is COLD when cleaning the ash from in and around the firepot.” Pit Boss’s article says: “Inspect your hopper and cooking chamber after every cook. Do yourself a solid and empty it if there’s a heavy ash buildup. If your model has a removable ash tray, empty that too.”
Can I use a cleaning agent on an electric smoker?
Masterbuilt’s manual for the 710 splits it by part. For the racks and bowls: “For rack supports, racks, water bowl and drip pan use a mild dish detergent. Rinse and dry thoroughly.” For the interior: “Do not use a cleaning agent.”
How should I store a smoker after cleaning it?
Masterbuilt’s manual for the 710 says: “After cleaning, store smoker in a covered and dry area.” and “Store only when all surfaces are cold.” Follow your own manual for your model.
How we choose
We’re a research-led site, not a testing lab. For this guide we read cleaning documents from Traeger, Pit Boss, Masterbuilt and Weber and quote them with the maker and document named. Our How we choose page explains our wider approach.
Sources (each read October 30, 2026): Traeger, “Cleaning Guide: How To Clean A Traeger Grease Trap & More,” traeger.com/learn/spring-cleaning-your-grill-refresh. Traeger, “How To Clean A Traeger Grill,” traeger.com/learn/how-to-clean-grill. Pit Boss, “Cleaning Your Wood Pellet Grill 101: Ash, Grease & Gasket Care,” pitboss-grills.com blog. Masterbuilt, Digital Electric WiFi Smoker 710 owner’s manual, model MB20070924, manual code 9807230001 / 230913-GH. Weber, “Smokey Mountain Cooker™ Smoker Owner’s Guide,” 2011 edition (digital-assets.weber.com, document 56001). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, news release 11-228, “Fire It Up Safely: CPSC Recommends Safety Check Before Grilling This Summer,” May 25, 2011.