How to Clean Kitchen Exhaust Hood Filter

The exhaust hood is perhaps the murkiest part of the kitchen. Soaked in oil residue and grime, most people defer cleaning it only to end up with an uphill task later on. But now, after trying out 7 different methods, we have found out the easiest and most effective method to clean the exhaust hood filter.

Whenever people come across such difficult cleaning tasks, they tend to resort to baking soda or vinegar. Let me make it easy for you. Neither of these two is effective. They lack the potency to cut through the tough grease. So, such household hacks unfortunately don't work.

You can use this method to clean mesh filters and baffle filters made of stainless steel. But never on a charcoal filter.

Preferably, clean the filter and the hood during the daytime as in the evenings, insects may enter your kitchen through the hood duct and open hood.

A large basin

Caustic soda or Drainex

Water

Dry Cloth

Remove the filter from the hood. Usually, there will be a small clip that locks the filter to the hood, twist it and the filter will be ejected from the hood.

Place the filter inside a basin and sprinkle a tablespoon of caustic soda on the top. If you don't have caustic soda, you can use Drainex or any other drain cleaner powder.

As soon as you pour hot water, you will see the grease and grime dissolving into the water. It honestly looks quite satisfying. Leave it for an hour.

Avoid pouring boiling water because caustic soda and hot water together may cause pitting on stainless steel.

Clean the filter in running water and your filter will be as good as new.

Usually, most people hate cleaning. But with this easy method and satisfying process, I am actually looking forward to cleaning the filter next time.

If you would like to know which are the methods that failed and proved disastrous, check out our complete article on how to clean exhaust hood filter.