You regularly clean your stove, coffee maker, oven, and refrigerator, but there's one appliance most people forget to clean: a range hood! The range hood is that part of your kitchen that makes sure your smoke detectors don't go off while you cook, and removes the fumes from cooking from your home.
Situated above your stovetop, the range hood is responsible for keeping the cooking fumes out of your kitchen, which in turn makes for a greasy range hood. A greasy range hood is a fire hazard - the grease can catch fire from cooking with high heat, and is particularly dangerous for commercial kitchens. Here's how to clean your range hood at home:
What You'll Need
- Anti-grease dish soap OR
- OxiClean cleaner
- Baking soda
- Vinegar and water - optional
- Scrub brush
- Thick paper towels
How to Open a Range Hood
Most range hoods have a housing that keeps the filter in place, and provides a clean appearance that goes well in your kitchen. When opening a range hood, be mindful of the grease that may drip off onto your stovetop. Prepare a baking sheet or catch basin lined with newspaper to carry the greasy filter.
Carefully remove the housing of your oven hood, and use cleaning rags or paper towels to catch the dripping grease. Pull the filter out, and place it in your catch basin. Keep the oven hood open for a thorough cleaning.
How to Clean Range Hood: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here's how to clean your range hood filter in 5 easy steps! While it may not look like the filter needs cleaning anytime soon, you shouldn't let the grease get to the point where it drips off our range hood and into your food.
Step 1: Pat the Grease from the Range Hood Filter
Once you've removed the range hood filter, pat the grease away with paper towels. Sprinkle some baking soda all over the filter to cut out the grease, and absorb any odors. The baking soda will remove as much grease as possible, making it easier to clean the filter.
Step 2: Mix Your Cleaner, Soak the Filter
Mix your cleaner: create a soapy water solution with a grease cutting dish soap or OxiClean and hot water, and let your filter soak in the solution for about half an hour, or until the water cools completely.
Step 3: Clean the Range Hood
While you wait for the filter to soak, Take your soapy solution, and use paper towels to apply the solution onto your range hood. Let the solution stay for 15 minutes, then wipe off using a damp rag or a dampened paper towel. Clean the filter cover as well, and use a gentle cleaning spray made with vinegar and water for stains.
Step 4: Wash the Filter
Wash the filter with running water, and dump out the greasy solution. We recommend tossing the grease buildup in a separate container, rather than pouring it down the drain. Use a scrubbing brush and warm water to remove any remaining greasy stains and leftover residue.
Step 5: Dry Completely Before Assembling
Let the filter air dry completely before assembling back into your range hood. Keeping your filter moist will grow mold, which can get spores into your food. Always pat the filter dry with a clean paper towel, or hang it up to air dry in a well-ventilated space.
Keeping Your Range Hood Clear of Grease
For most households, cleaning a range hood can be done once every 6 months, depending on the frequency of your cooking. If you tend to deep fry, stir-fry, or broil a lot of your food, then you may need to clean a range hood more often. Here are some tips to keeping your range hood clear of grease:
- Clean a range hood regularly. This will prevent the grease from building up, and will provide an overall cleaner kitchen for you.
- Use disposable charcoal filters if you tend to cook a lot, especially when you cook with a lot of grease, oils, and fats. It may be more convenient and safer for you to use disposable filters with deodorizing properties.
- Keep the rest of your kitchen clean. The grease does not only come from cooking, but from the grease left behind on your stove and ovens that have gotten into the range hood through evaporation, constant heating, and more.
- Wipe your range hood daily, even if you did not cook for the day. This will prevent dust particles from getting into the filter.
Clean Up Your Cooking Space!
At Luce Home, we understand that homeowners may not have time or energy to take on the cleaning tasks that need to be done daily. Our house cleaning services are meant to be the convenient, accessible solution for you to clean up your home! Trust in us to bring you a space where you can feel good about cooking, sleeping, and eating.
Looking to clean up your kitchen? Check out our blog articles for more cleaning tips and guides!
