Guide · Kitchen and dishes ·
How to Clean a Cooker Hood
Grease that builds up in cooker hoods and canopies hardens over time with heat and steam and reduces the filters' airflow. The cleaning method depends on the filter material: aluminium filters, common in household hoods, must not be cleaned with a strong alkaline degreaser, and hot water with dish detergent is enough; on stainless steel filters, a degreaser can be used for baked-on grease.
Before you start
- Unplug the hood or switch off its fuse, and wait for the hob and the appliance to cool down.
- Wear gloves; if you are using a degreaser, wear eye protection too.
- Check the user manual for the filter material: aluminium or stainless steel?
- Most carbon (odour) filters are not washed but replaced; follow the replacement advice in the manual.
How to clean an aluminium filter
- Remove the filter: release the catch and take the filter out of its housing.
- Soak: add dish detergent to hot water and leave the filter to soak for a while; the grease softens.
- Brush: brush between the mesh layers from both sides with a soft brush.
- Rinse and dry: rinse with plenty of water and refit only when completely dry.
- Do not use degreaser, bleach or abrasive powder on aluminium filters; the surface can darken and turn dull (how to use a degreaser).
Stainless steel filters and commercial hoods
On stainless steel filters and inside hood canopies in restaurant and hotel kitchens, a degreaser is used for grease hardened by heat: apply the product as stated on the label, leave it briefly, brush and rinse with plenty of water. According to its safety data sheet, START Yağ Sökücü has a pH of 12 and carries the signal word "Danger"; wear gloves and eye protection and keep it away from food. For details, see how to use a degreaser.
How to wipe the hood housing
- Stainless steel housing: wipe with a damp cloth and surface cleaner, following the grain of the steel; use a steel polish for shine (how to clean stainless steel).
- Painted and glass panels: wipe with a soft cloth; use glass cleaner on glass and no abrasive products.
- Buttons and touch panel: do not spray liquid directly; apply the product with a cloth.
- For a greasy film on the housing, test the product on a small area first.
How often should it be cleaned?
It depends on how much cooking is done. At home, check the filter regularly and clean it when a layer of grease appears and the airflow starts to drop. In commercial kitchens, grease building up in hoods and filters increases the fire risk, so filters are cleaned often and ducts are cleaned periodically by professional companies. For a restaurant kitchen product list, see restaurant cleaning supplies.
