We are often asked about home hood cleaning. We are a commercial company that cleans hood systems. Our methods and pressure systems are simply not designed for residential hood cleaning. We can however give you some suggestions for how to clean your hood at the house.
A dirty filter can ruin your meals. Get expert advice from a professional to clean your range-hood filter.
It is important to clean the exhaust fan, vent cover, and range hood filters regularly. Grease and grime buildup can stop your filter from functioning properly.
These parts can be cleaned easily and require no special techniques. Most of these remedies only require one to two ingredients, which most likely are already in the pantry of your average household.
A dirty range hood looks greasy, slimy, warm. This is the environment where bacteria and other pathogens thrive. The filters also filter out small food particles which can be carried along with the fumes. These help feed the growing bacteria.
Regular Hood Cleaning Makes it Easy
You’ll want to make sure that the filters on your range hood are cleaned regularly, even though it may not be the most enjoyable way to spend your free time. Broan, one of the top manufacturers, recommends cleaning your filters at minimum once per month.
If you’re a regular homeowner, this is definitely a lot. Most people haven’t cleaned the filters in years. Broan has a great article on range hoods that I agree with. The following are reasons you should clean your filters consistently:
These are the Simple Steps to Clean Range Hood Filters
The metallic grease filters must be cleaned frequently. They are usually made from aluminum and sometimes stainless steel. They can either be mesh filters (or baffle filters) and are typically visible at your range hood’s base.
It might seem slow, but it all depends on how dirty your range hood filters are and which cleaning method is used. The total time can be as long as an hour. But the actual cleaning time would take less than 15 minutes.
It is possible to find attachments that combine support and a fastener, but this attachment is not the most difficult. The only reason I think it’s so difficult is the fact that some models have the rotating flap in an awkward location, making it difficult to hold your fingers. Instead, you can use a spoon to rotate it.
Notice: I will move from the most effective cleaning method down to the least efficient. This is done for your convenience and you will only switch to another cleaning method if you run out of supplies or prefer another method.
To do the job, you can use dishwasher detergent rather than dish soap or grease remover. A combination of vinegar, baking soda and detergent could be used as an alternative.
If you’ve been keeping up with your cleaning schedule and cleaning every two months, this is the only method you will need. It uses just soapy water (not always necessary).
You may find that your filters are clogged up with dirt and grease if you don’t clean them often enough. This is why you won’t be able to just throw them in the washing machine. You’ll have to instead follow one of three methods above.
I wouldn’t recommend using a blow-dryer to dry the filters as they are made of metal. In some instances, this could result in electric shocks. Allow them to dry as soon as possible. Before you place them, be sure they are completely dry.
There will be grease deposits and oil on some parts of your range hood, especially around the grease filters. These areas are easily cleaned with mild degreasers.
Just use a napkin, spray some detergent and wipe away. Spraying some degreasers is a complicated process. You need to make sure you have read the instructions.
Use a spray bottle to dilute your degreaser. Spraying spray detergent into large amounts of water will not work. Concentrated degreasers need to be diluted in hot water. Zep makes industrial purple that is comparable to what professional use.
If you have enough space in your sink to soak the detergent, an automated dishwasher detergent might be useful. Automatic dishwashing detergent is great for soaking. It will lift and loosen the grease from areas that are difficult to scrub.
The Comment Section
“I find the dishwasher is great for cleaning these filters in most cases. But, make sure to dry them completely before refitting. Corrosion can occur.
“My filter had terrible taste. I washed the filter with dish soap first. Next, I washed it with dish soap. It was clean but still had some spots. The vinegar and baking powder method was then used. It was sparkling clean.
“Extra grease and oils may build up on the filter of your range hood and can cause serious damage to your dishwasher.” If you clean your range hood at least every six-months, this method will work.
“Remember: Commercial hood cleaning companies can’t clean your hood and filters.”
“With a degreaser/rag, go as high as you can into your duct to get rid of grease. It might be possible to reach up to a foot, but this will ensure a better cleaning of your hood than leaving grease behind.
