That unmistakable smell of hamburgers or steak on outdoor grills will soon be making its way through Maryland neighborhoods. With weather warming up, people are reminded to avoid using harmful products to keep those grills clean. Environmental experts say using chemical sprays to get rid of that grease and grime can create harmful emissions when that grill is fired up again, by releasing harmful gases into the air. John O'Brien of Green Maids Cleaning suggests a different approach involving baking soda and vinegar. To get started, he says to remove food debris using a brush that doesn't contain microplastics. Then, get together a healthy mix in a spray bottle.

"Do equal parts white vinegar, equal parts water, and just kind of spray it down and let it soak."

 Lastly, sprinkle on some baking soda to make the scrubbing part easier. Not only does this protect natural resources, health officials say it also prevents chemicals from getting into the food you prepare.

If the vinegar and baking soda mix doesn't sound appealing, O'Brien says you can explore other cleaning options.

"There are a few plant-based degreasers on the market or soaps that you could use."

As for getting a fire started in charcoal grills, experts say there’s no such thing as totally eco-friendly briquettes. But they cite better options, including those made from invasive tree species or environmentally certified wood. From 2005 to 2022, Maryland has decreased its output of green house gas emissions by 36-percent. But Maryland only saw a four percent decrease in residential sector emissions, which researchers say could be improved.