How to clean a hood and its filter from grease and dirt in 15 minutes

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The more often and better the hood works (it captures odors, combustion products, fumes and grease), the faster and more dirty its filter becomes. Over time, the grill becomes so clogged that its ventilation becomes minimal. Moreover, large deposits of fat can cause a fire.

That is why you need to wash your hood 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, this could be a lit grille icon or the letter “C” (on average, it is displayed every 60 hours of engine operation, but the frequency can be adjusted independently).

Luckily, cleaning your hood isn't 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 couldn’t wash the filter of old grease (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 clean the kitchen hood body itself from grease, dust and soot.

Preparation

Before you start cleaning, remove the filter from under the dome. First remove/lift the front panel of the hood, then remove the filter from the guides by releasing the latch. To prevent the filter and panel from falling down, hold them with your hand.

Method 2. How to clean a kitchen hood with a multi-year layer of grease with an anti-clog 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 during the entire service life, since the pipe cleaner is a caustic agent that can corrode the aluminum grate if the solution is left too long or used too often.

You will need:

For one large filter or two small ones, you will need 2-3 small packets of dry powder or about ½ cup of liquid declogging agent. Also prepare a baking sheet and boiling water. And, of course, don’t forget to wear rubber gloves and open the window!

Instructions:

Place the hood grate in a baking tray and fill it with boiling water/hot water (it should lightly cover the filter).
Sprinkle/pour the anti-clog agent evenly onto the filter. Keep it in the resulting foam for literally 5-10 minutes.

Rinse the filters several times under running water.

Cleaning with folk remedies

The improvised remedies, also called folk remedies, are not so harmless to the skin of your hands - so you should wear rubber gloves. Protect your eyes from caustic liquids with a pungent odor - vinegar, ammonia. Keep the window open while working. During the chemical reaction, the treated grating can be placed in a plastic bag.

For the grease-absorbing filter, select flat dishes in size so that it is completely immersed in the cleaning composition. For example, a baby plastic bathtub, a flat tray, or a baking sheet for baking in the oven will do.

Ammonia

Dissolve 2 tablespoons of ammonia in 4 liters of warm water and soak the hood parts for an hour. When the surfaces are clean, finish washing by rinsing in clean water.

Soda

You will need a suitable container, hot water and a pack of baking soda.

To clean a steel or aluminum hood filter with soda:

heat 5 liters of water to a boil and pour in a glass of cleaning product, adding gradually with a spoon;
place the mesh in boiling water and leave for 10 minutes;
after soaking, the fat is washed off under running warm water, removing remaining deposits with a brush;
The mesh is wiped and left until completely dry.

Vinegar

An effective remedy is obtained from a solution of concentrated acetic acid in water in a ratio of 1:7. The surface is treated with a sponge generously moistened with the composition. After 10 minutes, wash off with plenty of warm water.

Citric acid

You can use acid in powder, having previously dissolved it in water, or take a lemon, cut it in half and rub it on the contaminated areas. As it is absorbed, the juice will dissolve the fat. Heavily greasy areas are wiped with lemon juice several times until completely clean.

Laundry soap

The soap is grated and soaked in hot water. When the shavings dissolve, a mesh is placed there. The cooling water is heated, then it will be possible to wash off the fat faster. When the dirt gets wet, all that remains is to rinse, dry and put the mesh in place.

Combined means

To be sure, dirt removers are combined.

The dry method of cleaning with soda and vinegar is faster, without boiling:

powder is evenly scattered onto a grid laid on a flat surface;
For convenience, acetic acid 70% is poured into a spray bottle and carefully, without lifting it high, sprinkled over the layer of soda;
leave to interact for 20–30 minutes;
washed with plenty of water and dried.

Another good remedy that will allow you to wash a greasy hood with improvised means:

add half a glass of liquid soap, 2 tbsp. to a large container with 5-6 liters of hot water. dry citric acid and half a glass of baking soda;
soak the filter, preferably entirely;
after 3–4 hours, the mesh is washed with a brush, removing any remaining dirt.

Mustard powder

The powder is mixed with water in such a proportion to obtain a semi-liquid slurry. The grate is placed on a tray, rubbed and covered with film to prevent the mixture from drying out. After 15–20 minutes, wash in water using a sponge or brush.

Whiteness

Whiteness copes with dirt, but is somewhat worse than soda. In addition, the smell fills the entire room even after washing with detergents. If you decide to soak the grate with white, wear safety glasses.

Saline solution

Table salt is dissolved in hot water. To obtain the required concentration, 200 g of salt per 5-6 liters will be enough. Softening of old fat occurs actively only at high temperatures, so the container is heated or boiling water is added.

Method 3. How to clean the hood grille 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 could be Bugi Shumanit, Bugi Giant, Sparkling Cauldron, Oven Cleaner from Amway and others. Don't forget to open the window and use rubber gloves!

Instructions:

Treat the hood filter with the product.
Place the grille 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 Amway oven cleaner, as it has almost no odor and works more efficiently than its analogues. True, it is sold only through brand dealers or in the company’s online store.

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

Proper care: life hacks for housewives

Do not leave the hood running when it is not necessary. The air flow dries out the surfaces, and dirty sediment sticks tightly.
Assemble the hood parts only when they are completely dry. The washing effect will last much longer.
Do not turn on the stove burners idle, and especially when the fan is on. Plastic parts can be deformed by passing hot air.
By cleaning the hood over the gas stove in a timely manner, you will not only avoid spontaneous combustion of accumulated deposits of fat and soot, but also increase the service life of the engine.
Lemon not only cleanses greasy deposits, but also deodorizes the surface.

Cleaning the hood in an apartment or house really extends the life of household appliances. You just need to include it in the list of mandatory places for regular cleaning, along with the stove and kitchen apron. The equipment is designed in such a way that maintenance is simple. Each housewife will decide for herself what is the best way to wash off the fat.

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

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

Instructions:

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

In this video you can clearly see how to wash the hood filter from grease using this popular method.

My details

We have already figured out how to remove the hood grille and disassemble it completely yourself. Some nuances remain.

Grease filter

Filters are divided into disposable and reusable. In inexpensive models, volumetric liners made of acrylic or other synthetic material are simply changed every 2-3 months. Their pores quickly become clogged with oily impurities.

In recirculating hoods, an additional filter is installed that purifies the air with activated carbon. Can the carbon filter be washed? It is possible, like acrylic, but after that it will be useless.

Reusable grilles consist of a frame and a flat or three-dimensional mesh. They are made of metal. After washing and drying, they continue to serve and are effective until the hood becomes unusable. The main thing that allows dirt to settle on the mesh is the holes, so they must be clean.

Ventilation grill

The most basic way to clean grease from ventilation is with a steam generator. If equipment is not available, the ventilation grille is well soaked with soda and soap or washed with an anti-grease chemical.

Fan

It is quite difficult to wash the fan impeller by hand. It is soaked in alkali or acid.

Motor

The hood motor can only be cleaned using a dry method. After removing kitchen grease and dust from the surface with a napkin soaked in alcohol, its moving part is lubricated with grease or machine oil. If you do not clean the hood motor, its internal cavities and the rotor from plaque, it will overheat and may fail.

Frame

After disassembling, wash the body with soapy water. Despite the simplicity of the work, there is no need to rush. The edges of the metal are quite sharp, it is easy to get hurt.

Inner walls

To clean the inside of your home hood, you will need to apply some kind of product, for example, the one used to clean kitchen surfaces. Then the surface is washed with plenty of water.

Buttons

The buttons are washed so that they do not stick after pressing. Soda gruel, applied on all sides and rubbed with an old toothbrush, removes fatty deposits well.

Duct and pipes

Pipes usually do not require cleaning. The main deposits remain on the hood parts. If you want absolute cleanliness or the air duct is in a disrepair, everything that can be disassembled can be removed and washed with any anti-grease agent. In extreme cases, the pipes can be changed. Plastic, like corrugation, is inexpensive.

Method 5. How to wash the hood with laundry soap

Laundry soap does an excellent job of removing grease, especially when combined with hot water.

Instructions:

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

When the soap has dissolved, remove the bowl from the heat, immerse the filter in it and leave to soak for 10-20 minutes.
Clean the grill as usual.

Adviсe:

You can wipe the hood body with the same soap solution.
To increase the effectiveness of the soap solution, add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to it.

Let's sum it up

Equipment needs constant care, otherwise the devices will quickly lose their original appearance, so during general cleaning in the kitchen you need to pay attention to all the details of the equipment. If you take care of the hood and walk over it with a damp cloth at least once a day, then you will not encounter the need for global cleaning. If old stains have already appeared, try using our tips. Good luck!

Changing bed linen is an important hygiene procedure that must be carried out at least once a week. A person spends about eight hours a day on a bed and dirt, sweat, skin particles, and harmful bacteria accumulate on its surface. How often should you change your bed linen at home? More details in a special article.

How to clean the hood body

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

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

Alcohol-based cleaners, and even more so solvents, as they can cause stainless steel or varnish to become dull.
Use aggressive cleaning agents (scale dissolving agents, anti-clog agents, 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.

Preparing to wash

If you decide to carry out a major cleaning of the exhaust system, you will need to perform the following steps:

disconnect the device from the power supply, otherwise you risk getting an electric shock;
disassemble the structure into parts.

Traces of fat on internal parts

You should be careful with the second point - it is recommended that you first read the instructions that the manufacturer encloses with the package. Information regarding the materials of all parts should also be indicated there so that you know which cleaning products are acceptable to use. However, most models have similar internal contents.

Hood disassembly sequence:

First you need to dismantle the cover: to do this, unclip the fixing parts and remove it.
Now you need to pull out the filter grid.
Next, you will have to dismantle the pipe that extends from the hood.
The last step is to remove the air filter.

It is necessary to disassemble the hood following the specified sequence

After disassembly, each part of the structure must be immersed in water to make it easier to remove dirt later. It is also necessary to thoroughly clean the inside of the base of the hood.

Note! Before you begin the procedure for cleaning the structure, you need to cover the hob and furniture that is located nearby with foil, because during the cleaning process, grease may drip down. In addition, the structure can be assembled and turned on after the parts have completely dried.

Prevention Tips

Try not to delay cleaning the filters, as grease tends to harden over time, after which it becomes difficult to wash it off.
After cleaning the filters, you must reset the hood operating hours counter to zero. How to do this - read the instructions for your device.

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What can't you clean?

The surface of the hood and built-in filters is made of metal alloys. Therefore, not all aggressive substances can be used to clean parts. Some products may react with the metal, causing permanent stains, clouding and tarnishing.

It is not recommended to use the following for cleaning a fume hood:

concentrated alcohol;
acetone-containing compounds;
nail polish remover;
any solvents.

IMPORTANT!
To clean the surface of the case, do not use powdered products, which may leave scratches. Hard iron jaws or scrapers are also contraindicated.

Air duct

This information is relevant for owners of flow-through hoods. If too much grease has accumulated on the walls of the duct, the result will be reduced draft, causing the device to not work at full capacity.

Before proceeding with the inspection, you need to determine what type of air duct it is. Highlight:

smooth round plastic or corrugated aluminum;
plastic square.

A smooth surface is easier to clean. As a rule, simply using a soapy solution and rinsing with running water is enough. Corrugated pipes collect grease much better and are cheaper, but due to numerous folds, cleaning them is problematic.

Sometimes the grease becomes so ingrained into the surface that it will be cheaper to replace the ductwork.

What is important to remember before the procedure?

Cleaning the hood does not mean brushing away the dust with a cloth. It is necessary to clean all internal elements. To find out how to clean the filter in a kitchen hood, you should first understand the type of equipment:

Flow type hood. The filter in such devices is located near the motor. Protects it from contamination. Sometimes it is necessary to clean the ventilation channel for hoods of this type.
Hoods with a grease filter made of metal (steel, aluminum). If the filter metal is aluminum, it is often impossible to resort to alkaline cleaning agents - the design will not withstand it. Tips on how to clean a kitchen hood with such filters will be given below.
Hoods with carbon filter. This type of filter cannot be cleaned. It only needs to be changed. And even if you manage to wash it somehow, it will be unusable. The filter will no longer catch grease.
Hoods with disposable filters. The following materials are used for their manufacture: paper, padding polyester, acrylic, non-woven fabric. From the name of these filters it follows that they should be washed, washed, etc. they are not allowed. They need replacing.

The following rules are common to all hoods. It is necessary to disconnect it from the power supply and dismantle it.

How to disassemble a kitchen hood in order to wash it - this is written in detail in the instructions for each brand.

The simplest way looks something like this:

Release the latches.
Pull the cover out of the recesses or unscrew the mounting bolts.
Remove the filter.
Disassemble the pipeline from the hood to the vent.
Remove the internal filter element. If the design provides for its location.

After dismantling, you can analyze the degree of contamination and draw conclusions on how to wash the hood in the kitchen.

Filter cleaning instructions

It is easy to wash the grease filter of the hood if you follow this procedure:

Prepare soft-bristled brushes, a towel, and cleaning agents.
Cover the stove and furniture with oilcloth to protect against splashes.
Disconnect the hood from the electrical network to protect yourself from electric shock.
Unfasten the locks that hold the grease filter and remove it from the structure.
Clean the hood filter using the chosen method, observing the correct ratio of ingredients in the cleaning solutions.
Rinse under hot running water; no particles of chemical compounds should remain on the mesh.
Dry the grille with a towel or naturally to prevent water from entering the electrical appliance.
Place the filter in its original position, having previously sanitized all accessible parts of the kitchen hood.

Reasons for filter contamination

The kitchen hood sucks in dirty air, soot and fumes.
The filter protects the internal surface of the device from small particles of fat that settle on the outside of the grille from entering the engine. The longer the ventilation runs, the more the filter mesh becomes clogged with a sticky oily layer with an unpleasant odor.

A carbon catcher is installed additionally in recirculation models. Absorbent in the form of granules or powder absorbs harmful and bad-smelling substances. If they accumulate, it is impossible to clean the hood's carbon filter; the cartridges need to be changed periodically.

Fan and motor

IMPORTANT!
The moving parts of the fume hood should be cleaned no more than once every two years.

To clean the fan, you need to detach the fan wings. They can be washed with soapy water and rinsed with water; as a rule, this method is quite effective.

It is advisable to soak the fan impeller in a soapy solution for 1-2 hours. After this, the fat soaks better and lags behind the surface.

You cannot use water to clean the engine because there are wires inside. However, it is permissible to wipe the surface with a well-wrung out damp sponge, trying to remove dust and dirt in places where it is safe to do so. After this, the motor needs to be lubricated.

Household chemicals

Manufacturers of household chemicals have developed special anti-grease products for the kitchen. They contain powerful additives that break down even very strong and old fat deposits.

Spray Sanita

Sanita “1 Minute” in spray form contains unique fat solvent additives . The spray gets rid of dirt and grease deposits on hoods, stoves, tiles, sinks and microwaves, fights germs and leaves behind a pleasant aroma.

The manufacturer guarantees ideal cleanliness within just one minute. Spray the product onto problem areas, after a minute remove the product along with grease and dirt.

If necessary, repeat the procedure and wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

“Cinderella” Anti-fat

A budget-friendly but effective product for cleaning kitchen utensils and surfaces from sticky deposits and dirt.

Important! Thanks to the trigger sprayer, the product is convenient to use - you spray it on dirty areas and give it time to work. After 5-10 minutes, treat the surface with a damp sponge or rag to remove dirt.

The spray does not contain abrasive particles, so it can be used on coatings that are susceptible to scratches. Suitable for processing hoods, microwaves, stoves, tiles, dishes and countertops.

Synergetic for slabs

This eco-category product contains only natural ingredients and is not harmful to health . Easily copes with grease, soot, food stains and deposits on stone, ceramic, glass, glass-ceramic and stainless steel coatings.

Available in gel form - applied to contaminated areas and after a few minutes is completely washed off with clean water.

To enhance the action of Synergetic, you can use brushes or scrapers.

Reference! Eco-friendly product Synergetic is recommended for cleaning even in children's institutions.

“Shumanit” from “Bagi”

The spray grease remover instantly removes stubborn and stubborn grease from hoods, stoves, grates, steam traps, ventilation systems and dishes. Contains sodium hydroxide, solvents, surfactants and flavorings.

The spray is sprayed onto contaminated areas, allowed to act for a few minutes and washed off with a damp cloth several times. The manufacturer recommends working with gloves - the product irritates the skin .

Household chemicals Cillit bang

Two anti-grease products from the Cillit bang brand are suitable for cleaning hoods:

Gel - fights fat deposits, rust, lime, and deeply ingrained dirt. Not suitable for processing porous, wooden, ceramic and glass-ceramic surfaces.
Spray - easily copes with oil stains, dirt, soot, and burnt food residues. Not suitable for treating hot, damaged, halogen or wooden surfaces.