How to clean the hood in the kitchen above the stove from grease, soot and dust

The kitchen hood is designed to eliminate odors, fats and fumes. Because of this, difficult-to-remove dirt and grease deposits form on it very quickly, so the hood requires periodic maintenance. If you do not clean the ventilation grille, mesh and filters, the device will lose its functionality. Everything is clear with the outer body of the hood and it is not so difficult to wash it, but what to do with old layers of fat and soot on the ventilation grille and filter will be discussed in more detail in the article.

Preparation for cleaning work

If your hood no longer eliminates cooking odors and smoke, this is a sign that it’s time to clean the device. Before you start cleaning the hood, you must follow some rules:

Before disassembling, disconnect the device from the power supply.
Remove the top cover by releasing the special latches.
Remove all removable parts of the device: grille, mesh, filter (on some models of hoods, the internal filters are disposable and can simply be replaced with new ones).
If the device operates through an air vent, then, if possible, it is also necessary to dismantle the corrugation, or clean all its accessible places.

To disassemble a kitchen appliance, it is better to refer to the instructions for the specific model.

6 tips on how to easily and safely clean your hood at home

The main components used to clean the device are budget-friendly and effective products that are found in every home:

any cleaning powder,
baking soda,
dishwashing liquid,
lemon,
table vinegar,
ammonia,
laundry soap,
foam/metal sponge.

Tip 1

You will need:

large iron utensils,
1 pack of baking soda,
laundry soap (if necessary).

Pour water into a large saucepan or bowl and place on the stove to heat. Add a whole pack of baking soda to the water (approximately 1 pack per 5 liters of water). As soon as the soda dissolves in warm water, immerse a wire rack or filter in the dish, bringing the water to a boil. Thus, simmer over low heat for 30-50 minutes. As soon as you see that grease and soot easily come off the grate, you need to rinse under running water, cleaning hard-to-reach places with a brush.

To achieve the best result, you can add grated laundry soap to boiling water.

Tip 2

You will need:

dishwashing liquid,
cleaning powder.

Soak the removable parts of the hood in warm water, adding dishwashing detergent (it dissolves grease well). Leave in water for 1 hour. Next, rinse the ventilation grille and filter under running water using cleaning powder and a soft metal sponge.

If after the procedure there are still visible stains, repeat the soaking again.

Tip 3

You will need:

lemon,
baking soda.

A simple and quick way to get rid of grease, soot and dust. The ventilation grille and filter should be placed on a flat surface, with baking soda sprinkled on top. Table vinegar (70%, undiluted) must be poured into a spray bottle and thoroughly sprayed onto the sprinkled soda, especially good in areas of heavy contamination. Leave in this state for 10-20 minutes.Afterwards rinse under clean water.

It is important not to forget to wear gloves, otherwise you can damage the skin of your hands.

Tip 4

You will need:

baking soda,
vegetable oil.

Baking soda has always been famous for its excellent ability to remove grease and other contaminants. Mix vegetable oil with baking soda, in proportions of 1.5:1, until the consistency of thick sour cream. Spread the mixture onto all removable parts of the device and leave it in this state for at least 30 minutes. After the dirt has come off, rinse with water, additionally brushing.

After the procedure, the condition of the ventilation grille and filter will be as good as new.

Tip 5

You will need:

lemon.

Cut the lemon into two halves or several slices; use them to wipe all contaminated areas on the grill and filter. Allow the lemon juice to soak into the old grease and grime for 10 minutes. After this time, wipe everything with a damp cloth. Repeat the procedure until a satisfactory result occurs.

Tip 6

You will need:

ammonia.

Dilute half a glass of ammonia with 3 or 4 liters of hot water, and immerse all contaminated removable parts of the kitchen appliance in the boiling mixture for several hours. After this, use a brush or sponge to remove any remaining grease and dirt.

Important! Before starting the procedure, you must wear a respirator and ventilate the room, as there is a risk of burns to internal organs due to the pungent odor of ammonia.

Household cleaning products

The range of household chemicals for cleaning old dirt is huge:

Products for removing pipe blockages, such as Sanox, Mole, Deboucher, Chirton, have a powerful cleaning effect.They come in liquid consistency, powder and granules. The ventilation grille or filter must be placed in a container and filled with cleaning agent and a small amount of hot water. The main thing is that the removable parts of the kitchen appliance are immersed in water. It is enough to leave for 5-7 minutes and you can remove the grille or filter from the solution, rinsing it with cold water.
Gel-type cleaners for stoves and ovens (Sanitol, Schumanit, TOPCleanner) are good at corroding grease. Place all removable parts of the device in a stainless container, coat them in several layers with cleaning agent and wait 10 minutes. After this, using gloves and a soft wire brush, remove any remaining dirt.
Another proven means of cleansing is regular whiteness. Which must be applied with a brush to a contaminated surface previously wetted with water and wait 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with running water.

You should work with household chemicals with extreme caution, using all safety measures.

Additional recommendations

In addition to folk cleaning products and household chemicals, there are some other techniques for cleaning a hood:

Place the removable parts of the device in the dishwasher using mild cleaning products intended for use in the dishwasher. According to numerous reviews on the Internet, it copes well with dirt.
Steam cleaner with special attachments in the form of sponges. It works from the mains, so you only need to swipe it over a contaminated surface. If this kitchen appliance is not available, then there are a lot of the above methods for getting rid of old fat, soot and dust.

Cleaning the outer surface of the hood

In addition, the outer casing of the device also needs to be kept clean, because a large amount of grease and dust also settles on it. When cleaning the outside surface of the hood, you need to be careful not to let cleaning products run down onto your face and hands. Therefore, it is better to use special chemicals for stoves/ovens in the form of sprays that corrode dirt well. All you have to do is leave the cleaner on for 10 minutes and remove all dirt using a soft, non-scratch sponge.

It is recommended to wash the hood at least once a quarter, depending on how often it is used.

And in conclusion, I would like to say about one method that makes washing easier kitchen hood. In order to make it easier to clean the grill, mesh and filter next time, the already clean removable parts must be lubricated with any oven or stove cleaner. Without rinsing, leave until completely dry and then put back into the hood. In this case, the fat will settle on the cleaning agent, and not on the filters and grill, thereby making your work easier in the future.

Severe contamination can be avoided if you follow the rules for caring for kitchen appliances: wipe with a damp cloth after each cooking, and do not leave the stove on if there are no dishes on it.