2torial #0816: Learn2 Light a Charcoal Grill Put the fire out After you're finished cooking, extinguishing the charcoal is a matter of simply putting the lid on the grill and closing the vents. If you're really industrious, you can also steam clean the grill at this point. To do so, place several layers of wet newspaper (soak it while you're cooking) on the grill and close the lid--the hot coals will do the cleaning for you. Simply remove the newspaper from the grill when everything has cooled down. If steam cleaning isn't your thing, you can just clean the grill the next time you use it by leaving it on while you're heating the coals. Once the coals are properly heated, scrape off the residue with a grill brush or a crumpled piece of aluminum foil. But the finishing touches don't stop there: it's also important to remove as many ashes as possible from your grill or smoker once they've cooled. While the ashes themselves pose no particular problem, if they become damp for any reason (especially if you use the steam-cleaning method mentioned above), the resulting mixture will create a very corrosive compound capable of eating through almost anything if it's left alone for too long. Keeping your equipment in good condition will help it--and your status as a barbecue expert--last longer. -end- Learn More! or All steps at once (printable version)