Nothing sounds worse at the end of an all-day barbecue than cleaning the grill.

After hours spent perfecting steaks, burgers and bratwursts for friends and family, it’s tempting to let the grill cool and return to clean it tomorrow — maybe.

But falling behind on cleaning and maintaining a gas grill can take years off the grill’s life, and it will cost you in the long run.

“It’s always the worst when you buy a $1,000 grill, and three years down the road you’re spending $1,000 on parts,” said Christopher Sanchez of Tru-Lite Gas Products in Houston.

The best way to maintain a grill is to clean it after every cookout.

Start by turning the heat up to medium or high to burn excess grease off of the grill grate.

“Let that baby run for about seven minutes, and burn off that excess grease and fat,” Sanchez said.

Once the excess grease has burned off, brush the grates, panels and flavor bars — but don’t use just any brush.

A brush’s bristles shouldn’t bend too easily, otherwise they could snap off. That’s especially dangerous if you use a wire brush and accidentally ingest one of the bristles. A nylon brush, a wood scraper or grill-cleaning cloths are all safe alternatives.

A $5 brush is too cheap to last beyond two or three cleanings, but you don’t need to pay $50 either, Sanchez said.

Brush the grill as you would brush your teeth. The goal is to remove any remnants of food that shouldn’t be there.

Also, don’t forget to empty the grill’s grease trap, which collects fatty deposits while you’re cooking. If it’s not cleared regularly, it can start a fire. But don’t ever use soap and water to clean the inside of a grill. Think of the grill as an oven; if you wouldn’t use something to clean an oven, it doesn’t belong near the grill, said Steve Pulone, vice president of operations for O’Malia’s Living in Carmel, Ind.

A little planning can also keep a gas grill’s exterior looking nicer longer. Rustproof metal paint can protect your grill during spring showers. If rust does appear, try using steel wool to remove it. A grill cover offers even more protection.

Also consider having your grill professionally serviced and calibrated once each year.

A professional can disassemble the grill, cleaning areas that otherwise would be impossible to reach. That’s especially important for gas grills that use propane, as propane causes a buildup of soot.