As you cook, a kitchen exhaust fan extracts oil, smoke, steam, and smells from the air. Grease and dirt build-up in the filter over time, reducing the fan’s efficiency. A clogged grease filter may become a severe fire hazard if it goes too long between cleanings.
Thankfully, cleaning your kitchen exhaust fan is a simple and quick task that can be accomplished with ordinary home items.
Remove the mesh filters from the exhaust fan
Remove the mesh filters from the exhaust fan and pour boiling water through them if they have them. Soak them for an hour in a solution of hot water and ammonia or white vinegar and add baking soda(1/2 cup ammonia to 1 gallon of water).
Scrub the solution around the mesh after removing it from the soaking solution by removing the filter. Fat collects not only on the filter but also on the fan blades. Clean your blades using a sodium phosphate cleanser and dry them with a microfiber cloth
Water and Soap for exhaust vent
Prepare a combination of water and soap for the fan blades, or use a mixture of 1/4 ammonia, 2 tbsp baking soda, and 1 cup warm water. Put on the rubber gloves and scrub the exhaust fan blades and then the remainder of the body with the aforementioned combination and cotton towel.
Chemicals for cleaning the exhaust
Applying caustic chemicals to break down grease is an option. After that, the residue may be rinsed away with hot water. Chemicals are usually sprayed using a garden sprayer, a downstream injection by a pressure washer, or with a pressure washer
Scrape it up
Where grease accumulation is excessive, use scrapers before applying chemicals. Using the tiny steam cleaner, remove the dirt and oil. Wipe the equipment inside and out with a gentle damp cloth or towel to ensure that every element is dirt-free.
Scrub the fan housing and blades from the back, cutting through the dirt. You’ll need to keep using paper towels to dry the sections you’ve finished. You may also clean it with a toothbrush and vinegar, window cleaner, or any dishwashing liquid. It will remove the dirt and oil that has accumulated in the fan.
Range Hoods Are Underappreciated Appliances
A range hood is an item that is often overlooked since it is rarely maintained. You could get some not-so-praising looks from guests who are paying you a surprise visit because you neglected to clean this crucial kitchen fan.
The oven hood is used to remove all of the smoke that is emitted from the kitchenette. It functions as an exhaust fan and significantly enhances the quality of your indoor air.
Due to the filthy stainless steel filters, if it is not cleaned, it might cause smoke obstruction. A foul environment in your kitchen might also be caused by a greasy range hood.
How to Clean a Filter on a Greasy Range Hood
- Water that is extremely heated or boiling
- Dish soap that removes grease (Dawn works very well)
- Soda (baking)
- Scrub brush that isn’t harsh
- Dishcloth or paper towels
Remove the hood filters as follows:
Most filters should be able to slide or pop off of the hood’s bottom. My filter featured a metal loop that I could grip to push it up and out.
Boil some water in a sink or a bucket: The more effective the water is, the hotter it is. That may be sufficient, depending on how hot the water from your tap is. I used my electric tea kettle to boil water and emptied it into the sink.
Dissolve the baking soda and dish soap in the water: Pour 1/4 cup baking soda and a big spray of degreasing dish soap into the hot water. Using a brush (not your hand since it’s too hot!) swish the water around until it’s nice and soapy.
Fill a container with water and grease filters: Put your filthy exhaust fan filters in the water to clean them. Check to see if they’re totally covered.
Allow them to soak: Allow 10 minutes for the filters to soak.
Scrape the filters: After soaking, scrub the filters using a non-abrasive scrub brush. While you’re scrubbing, add extra dish soap to your brush if necessary.
Clean the filters by rinsing them completely in hot water and drying them with a paper towel or clean cloth.
Replace the filters as required and repeat: Replace the filters under the hood and repeat as necessary! A recommended maintenance plan is to clean the filters once a month and clean your range hood you can also hire a professional cleaning service to do it on a regular basis.
