[j_syk]

Cheese dripping from cheeseburgers or heavily sauced ribs can leave a mess, which can smoke/flameup and give newly cooked food a bad taste. Normally I just brush enough to get the big stuff off the grate.

[walshemj]

Yep its the same way you season a cast iron grill pan - lightly rinse and brush of the big bits but don't scrub it hard.