Every braai leaves a trace. Fat drips, smoke settles into a sticky film, and dust bonds to both. A few weekends later, your camp chairs feel tacky, the cooler box smells stale and the braai grid needs a chisel.
This guide covers the whole kit: camp chairs, folding tables, cooler boxes, gas bottles and braai grids. One degreaser for outdoor braai and camping equipment cleaning keeps the routine simple, and it saves you buying five different sprays.
Why one degreaser covers braai and camping gear
The same three things coat everything you take outdoors: cooking fat, smoke film and dust. A chair arm, a table top and a cooler lid all collect them, just in different amounts. So you don't need a separate product for each item. You need one that cuts heavy grease and is safe to use around food and family.
SK7 Superkleen is a multi-purpose degreaser built to cut through heavy grease, grime and oil on virtually any surface. It is water-based, with no harsh chemicals and maximum cleaning power. That makes it a strong outdoor equipment degreaser in South Africa, where kit gets used hard and stored dusty.
It is also the smart choice if you are tired of old-school chemical cleaners that sting the nose and leave a residue you then have to rinse away.
SK7 is a cleaner, not a repair kit. It will not fix torn fabric, rusted frames or cracked plastic, so the best degreaser for outdoor kit still depends on you spotting worn gear before it fails.
Eco-friendly degreaser for camping gear: test before you clean
SK7 is water-based and formulated without harsh chemicals, which is why it suits campers who want an eco-friendly degreaser for camping gear without giving up cleaning power. Both SK7 MAX and SK7 Original are sold as multi-purpose degreasers, so choose between them by size and format, not by strength.
Fabric and plastic are where care matters most. Sun-faded canvas, coated metal and soft plastics all react differently to any cleaner, and you cannot undo a dull patch on a chair you love.
The same applies to caravan awnings and canopy fabric. They get the identical hidden-patch test as your chairs and tables, and the caravan awning and outdoor furniture guide takes the full awning routine further than this article can.
Spot-testing fabrics, plastics and coated metal
A hidden-patch test takes ten minutes and protects the whole item. Here is the routine:
- Pick a hidden spot: under a seat, inside a hem, behind a table leg.
- Apply a little SK7 as you plan to use it, by spray or foam.
- Let it dwell for the short time you would use on the full clean.
- Rinse with clean water and wipe dry.
- Check in good light for dulling, colour change or a rough texture.
If the patch looks the same as the area around it, go ahead. If it looks different, stop and leave that item alone.
Test each material separately. Passing on a chair's seat fabric tells you nothing about its plastic feet or painted armrests.
Camping chairs and folding tables: grease, grit and hinges
Chairs and tables take the most handling, so they collect the most grease from fingers, plates and braai tongs. You will usually find the worst of it where hands land and where grit hides. A good degreaser for camping chairs in South Africa has to deal with both.
Seat fabric, frames and armrests
Start with the frame and armrests, because that is where greasy fingerprints build up. Spray or foam SK7, give it a short dwell and wipe with a damp cloth. Then move to the seat fabric.
On fabric, work in small sections and keep the cloth damp, not dripping. Soaking a seat pushes grime deeper and leaves it slow to dry. Rinse the cloth often with clean water so you lift dirt off instead of spreading it around.
If your chairs carry cushions or covers, the cushion and cover cleaning guide covers those separately.
Table tops, legs and folding hinges
Table tops show braai fat and smoke film most clearly. Foam or spray SK7, wait a couple of minutes and wipe in long strokes, then rinse the surface with clean water.
Hinges need a different approach. Grit collects in the fold, and that grit is what makes a table stiff or stuck by the next trip. Use a small brush or a cloth on a skewer to work the product into the joint, open and close the table a few times, then rinse and wipe it clean.
For a fresh floral finish on chair fabric and table tops, SK7 Garden Breeze 1L is the scented option, at around ZAR 109. The SK7 Garden Breeze Bundle 5L + 1L Foamer suits you if you want that scent across a larger kit.
Dry seats and hinges fully before packing. Damp fabric folded into a bag turns musty, and trapped moisture in a hinge is how rust starts.
Cooler boxes: lid seals, handles and the interior
A degreaser for cooler box cleaning has one job beyond cutting grease: leaving nothing behind that touches your food. That makes rinsing the most important step in this section.
Start with the interior. Wipe out spills, spray or foam SK7 on the walls and floor, give it a short dwell and wipe. Meat juices and sunscreen from hands both leave a greasy film that plain water won't shift.
Then move to the parts people forget:
- Lid seal: Run a damp cloth along the full length. Crumbs and old drips collect in the groove and cause the smell.
- Handles: These carry the most grease from your hands, so give them a proper wipe.
- Drain plug, where fitted: Remove it if it comes out, clean it separately and check the thread.
Rinse the whole box thoroughly with clean water, then leave it open to dry. Do not close the lid on a damp cooler, because the smell comes straight back.
Only put food back in once the interior is completely dry and smells of nothing at all. If you can still smell the degreaser, rinse again.
Gas braai bottles and metal fittings: clean the outside only
Start with safety, because a degreaser for gas braai bottle cleaning is only for the outside of the cylinder. Work outdoors, well away from flame, sparks and heat. Disconnect the bottle, check the valve is closed, and follow your gas supplier's guidance on handling and inspection.
SK7 is not a way to check whether a bottle is safe. It removes grease and grime from the outer surface, nothing more, and a damaged or suspect cylinder goes back to the supplier.
The cylinder body: wipe, never soak
A typical approach is to wipe the cylinder body with a cloth dampened with diluted product. Never spray the bottle heavily or pour product over it. A dampened cloth gives you control over where the liquid goes.
Wipe the body in sections, then go over it with a second cloth dampened with clean water. Keep the stamped markings legible, so don't scrub them hard. Let the cylinder dry completely before it goes back near a braai.
Valves, regulators and hose ends: keep them dry
Liquid stays away from the valve, regulator and hose ends. Wipe these fittings with a dry cloth only, and clear any dust or grit gently from the surfaces.
Once everything is dry, reconnect the bottle and check the connections as you normally would. If anything looks wrong, stop and call your gas supplier.
For burner and plate detail after the bottle is done, the camping stove and gas cooker guide picks up where this section ends.
Braai grids and camp cookware: foam, wait, wipe
Most campers scrub grids until their arms ache. A foamed degreaser does the hard part for you.
Let the grid cool first, because no product should touch hot metal. Once it is cool, foam SK7 over the whole grid, including the underside and the bars where fat bakes on. Leave it for a couple of minutes, then wipe. The fat lifts without the heavy scrubbing.
The same method works on camp pans, potjie lids and cast-iron plates. Rinse with clean water afterwards, and dry everything before it goes in the box.
The SK7 Original Bundle 5L + 1L Foamer is the foamer for this job. Its product copy describes the exact routine: foam it onto greasy pans, stove tops, oven doors and braai grids, leave it for a short dwell, then wipe, no scrubbing. It costs around ZAR 309 and comes with a 5L refill.
Want more depth on heavily baked-on grates? Our braai grill grate guide covers it.
Choosing an SK7 degreaser size for camping: 1L or 5L
Size comes down to how often you clean and how much you carry. A 1L bottle suits a quick job, and a 5L refill suits a regular routine. Pick by how you camp, not by the biggest label.
Weekend pack-down: a quick spray-and-rinse routine
For a weekend away, the SK7 MAX 1L with Cap is pitched for controlled pouring and smaller cleaning areas. It costs around ZAR 99 and fits in the kit box. If you prefer a foamed option, the SK7 Original 1L with Foamer does the same job as a ready-to-use bottle.
A short spray-and-rinse after every trip stops grease setting into chairs, tables and coolers between outings. Grease left for a month is far harder to shift than grease wiped off on Sunday evening.
The routine is the same for all of it:
- Put on gloves.
- Spray or foam the product on.
- Leave it for the short dwell.
- Wipe, then rinse with clean water.
- Dry before packing.
Never mix SK7 with other cleaners.
Full-kit cleans and the Buy 2 Get 1 Free bundle offer
A full-kit clean is a different job. Chairs, tables, coolers, grids and pans all need doing in one session, so you will use more product. That is where the SK7 MAX 5L refill comes in. SK7 describes it as a water-based, multi-purpose alkaline degreaser for demanding jobs, positioned for regular use and for refilling spray bottles. At around ZAR 309, it keeps your bottles topped up for as many cleaning days as you have.
For a full kit, two bundles each come with a ready-to-use foamer bottle plus a 5L refill: the SK7 Original Bundle 5L + 1L Foamer at around ZAR 309, and the SK7 MAX Bundle 5L + 1L Foamer at around ZAR 370.
The store also runs a Buy 2 Get 1 Free offer. If you camp and braai regularly, it is the way to stock up on what you use across the whole kit. Check each product page for how the offer is currently shown before you order.
For clubs, event operators or anyone with a lot of gear, the SK7 Superkleen 210L Drum - Enquiry Only is available by enquiry. It is heavy palletised freight, so delivery cost varies by location.
Ready for the next trip? Start with the SK7 MAX 1L with Cap for weekend pack-downs, or step up to the SK7 MAX 5L when the whole kit needs a clean.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to clean a braai grid with?
A foamed degreaser works well because you foam it on, leave it for a couple of minutes and wipe, with no heavy scrubbing. Let the grid cool first. The SK7 Original Bundle 5L + 1L Foamer is described for exactly this use on braai grids and greasy pans.
What is the best cleaner for caravan awnings?
Choose a gentle, water-based cleaner and test it first. Apply SK7 to a hidden patch, let it dwell, rinse and check for dulling or colour change before cleaning the whole awning. The caravan awning guide on this site covers the full routine.
Can I clean a gas braai bottle with a degreaser?
Yes, but only the outside of the cylinder. Work outdoors, away from flame, with the bottle disconnected and the valve closed, and wipe the body with a damp cloth. Keep liquid off the valve, regulator and hose ends, dry everything and follow your gas supplier's guidance.
Can I mix SK7 with other cleaners?
No. Use SK7 on its own, wear gloves and rinse with clean water afterwards. Mixing cleaners is unnecessary and can cause problems you do not want near food or cooking gear.
Which size should I buy for camping?
A 1L bottle suits a quick weekend pack-down. A 5L refill suits full-kit cleans and keeps spray bottles topped up, and the bundles add a foamer bottle.