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How to quickly clean your cooker hood and its filter – 7 best ways

The more often and better the hood works (it captures odors, combustion products, fumes and grease), the faster and more soiled its filter. Over time, the grate becomes so clogged that its air throughput becomes minimal. Moreover, large deposits of fat can be a fire hazard..

That is why the hood should be washed at least once every 2-4 weeks. By the way, most modern models signal the need for cleaning through special sensors on the display. For example, it can be a lighted grate icon or the letter “C” (on average, it is displayed every 60 hours of engine operation, but the frequency can be adjusted independently).

Fortunately, cleaning your range hood is not that difficult, especially if you have a dishwasher..

In it, a dirty filter can be washed in 1 cycle at maximum time settings and a temperature of 60 degrees.

If you don’t have a dishwasher, or if it could not clean the filter from old fat (this happens often), then 7 simple but super-effective tricks from our article will help you out. We will also tell you how to properly wash the kitchen hood body itself from grease, dust and soot..

Preparation

Remove the filter from under the canopy before starting cleaning. First remove / lift the hood front panel, then remove the filter from the guides by unlocking the latch. To prevent the filter and panel from falling down, support them with your hand.

Method 1. How to wash the filter in a soap and soda solution

As a matter of fact, hood manufacturers all as one recommend cleaning filters and front panels with only a mild soap (for example, dishwashing liquid). However, as practice shows, the “official” method does not always work, so we propose to enhance its effectiveness with baking soda or soda ash.

Instructions:

Pour hot tap water or boiling water into a sink or bucket. The hotter the water, the more effective cleaning.

Add 1/4 cup baking soda and a few drops of dish soap to the water. Stir the solution with a spatula (not with your hand!) To form a foam (scroll to the right to see all the steps in the photo).

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Submerge the grease filter completely in the solution and leave to soak for 10 minutes.
“Scrub” the filter with a not too hard sponge / brush, then wash as usual, rinse thoroughly and dry with a towel.
Place the filter back under the hood.

Method 2. How to clean a hood in the kitchen with a perennial layer of fat with an anti-blockage agent

This method is the most radical and is suitable only for the most advanced cases, when the hood has not been washed for several years..

Important! Equipment manufacturers do not recommend using this cleaning method more than 1-2 times over the entire period of operation, since the pipe cleaner is a caustic that can corrode the aluminum grate if you overexpose the solution or use it too often.

You will need:

For one large filter or two small ones, you will need 2-3 small bags of dry powder or about ½ cup of liquid blockage remover. Also prepare a baking sheet and boiling water. And, of course, do not forget to wear rubber gloves and open the window.!

Instructions:

Place the grid of the hood in a baking sheet and fill it with boiling water / hot water (it should lightly cover the filter).
Sprinkle / pour the debris evenly over the filter. Hold it in the resulting foam for literally 5-10 minutes.

Rinse the filters several times under running water.

Method 3. How to clean the grill of the hood with a grease remover (for difficult cases)

Another radical method of cleaning the hood is with a grease remover or oven cleaner. For example, it can be Shumanit Bugs, Giant Bugs, Shining Kazan, Oven Cleaner from Amway and others. Remember to open the window and use rubber gloves!

Instructions:

Treat the hood filter with a product..
Put the grating in a bag (!) To prevent the pungent odor from spreading throughout the apartment.
After 10-15 minutes, wash the mesh as usual and rinse thoroughly.

Advice:

If you have children or pets, it is better to use an Amway oven cleaner, as it has almost no smell and works more efficiently than its counterparts. True, it is sold only through brand dealers or in a branded online store..

See also: How to clean a gas stove in 8 steps

Method 4. How to boil a filter in a soda solution

Stubborn old fat deposits on the hood filter can be removed with the same baking soda, but by boiling.

Instructions:

Boil water in a large saucepan.
Pour baking soda into boiling water: in a large saucepan about 1 cup, in a medium one – 1/2 cup.
When the soda dissolves, reduce the heat, place a filter in the solution and boil it for up to 10-15 minutes, until the dirt looses.
Wash the pot as usual..

In this video, you can clearly see how to clean the hood filter from grease using this folk method..

Method 5. How to wash the hood with laundry soap

Laundry soap works well with grease, especially when combined with hot water.

Instructions:

Heat 2.5 liters of water in a saucepan / bowl.
Grate half of the laundry soap (72%) on a medium grater and add to the heated water.

When the soap dissolves, remove the basin from the heat, immerse the filter in it and leave to soak for 10-20 minutes.
Wash the grate as usual..

Advice:

The same soapy water can be used to wipe the hood body..
To increase the effectiveness of the soap solution, add a couple tablespoons of baking soda to the solution..

Method 6. How to wash the hood filter with 9% vinegar

Instructions:

Soak a rag in vinegar (9%) and rub liberally over all soiled areas..
Leave the filter to soak for 7-15 minutes.
Wash and rinse the mesh as usual..

Method 7. How to clean hoods with lemon

Instructions:

Peel 1-2 lemons and cut into halves.
Rub the pulp on the surface of the grate and, if necessary, on the hood body. Let the lemon juice work for about 5-10 minutes.
Wash and rinse the wire shelf as usual..

How to clean the hood body

So, with washing the grease filter, we figured out how to properly wash the hood housing? After all, it also becomes covered with a persistent oily coating, dust and soot..

In fact, all manufacturers prohibit cleaning the case with anything other than neutral products. It is strictly forbidden to use:

Alcohol-based cleaners and even less solvents, as they can tarnish stainless steel or varnishes.
Use aggressive cleaning agents (descaling agents, blockages, abrasive powders and pastes, fat solvents, chlorine, acids and soda).
Use hard sponges and brushes.

What then remains? We recommend using dishwashing liquid or laundry soap. The main thing is to prevent moisture from getting inside the case, into the control panel and display..

Prevention Tips

Try not to delay washing the filters, as fat tends to harden over time, after which it becomes difficult to wash it.
After cleaning the filters, the hood operating hours counter must be reset. How to do this – read the instructions for your device.