Kitchen exhaust fans require regular maintenance to keep the air in your home safe and sanitary. In addition, clogged rangehood filters and dirty ducts lead to back-drafting, releasing harmful gases into your kitchen. To protect against this, there are several simple steps you can take below.
Key Takeaways
- Kitchen filter cleaning and maintenance is simple and will ensure your hoods functions at peak performance
- Prevent mold from growing in your kitchen by regularly cleaning the exhaust fans and filters
- Your kitchen exhaust system is essential to removing harmful contaminants and grease from your kitchen, which protects both you and your food
Here are 5 hacks to maintain clean filters, kitchen exhausts, and range hoods:
Use Oxygen Bleach with Boiling Water to Clean Your Rangehood Filters
Oxygen bleach is a natural cleaner that kills germs while removing dirt and grime. You can use this powerful disinfectant to clean the filters of your kitchen exhaust hood. However, it is important not to mix oxygen bleach with other cleaning products or chemicals because it will react with them and cause damage or injury.
Boiling water will also kill off any mold or bacteria growing in your filter, so it’s an especially effective way to sanitize the filter before you start using it again. In addition, boiling water will help remove any grease and dirt that may have clung to the filter.
To clean your kitchen exhaust filters:
- Mix two scoops of oxygen bleach with boiling water in a bucket or a large container.
- Soak your filters in the mixture for 15 minutes before cleaning them with a scrub brush to remove any buildup grime.
- After 15 minutes, brush away leftover grease on the filters, especially around the corners.
Once you have cleaned off the grease, rinse the filters thoroughly. You can then pat them dry or leave them out to dry completely.
Use Baking Soda and Vinegar for Kitchen Cleaning
A simple combination of baking soda and vinegar can be a powerful tool to help you clean your range hood filters, kitchen exhausts, and vents. Together, the two form a natural scrubbing agent that will loosen dirt on metal surfaces.
They’re not just for cleaning hard water stains from your faucets. Baking soda is abrasive and can remove buildup from the surface of the filter. Vinegar will help neutralize any grease or oil left after the baking soda has done its job.
First, you will want to use baking soda and vinegar. This combination works well for cleaning the filters on your kitchen exhaust fan. Just sprinkle some baking soda onto the filter and then spray it with vinegar.
You can also use this method to clean range hood filters. After spraying the mixture onto the filter, let it sit for about five minutes before wiping off any leftover dirt or grease with a damp cloth.
Kitchen Cleaning Using a Steam Cleaner
Steam cleaners are excellent for getting rid of grease and grime in your kitchen. In addition, you can get rid of any bacteria or food particles that may be present. You can use it on the filters of your range hoods, on your kitchen exhaust vents, and even on the grease trap under your sink.
This is an easy way to clean your kitchen exhausts because all you have to do is attach the hose and let it go. The steam will loosen up grime and grease, so you can easily wipe it away with a rag or paper towel.
A steam cleaner is also great for removing grease and food from hard-to-reach places and cleaning your range hood filter. However, you’ll need to make sure the steam cleaner is set to a high temperature to kill bacteria.
Vacuum Your Kitchen Exhaust Fans and Filters for Maintenance
Regular vacuuming will help reduce dust buildup inside your oven, range hoods, and other appliances requiring filters or vents that generate a lot of dirt. This will also help keep odors at bay while extending their life span, which means less money spent on replacements.
A vacuum can help you eliminate these particles by sucking them up. You can use it to clean filters and other parts of the exhaust system without taking them apart or buying expensive cleaning products. Make sure the filter is securely attached to the hood before vacuuming it.
You should do this once every few months to prevent the buildup from getting too bad. Taking the vent hood or ventilation system might be too complicated if you’re untrained. If you believe that the accumulation of dirt and grime is excessive and beyond your ability to manage, it may be best to hire a professional for assistance.
Use Ammonia as a Degreaser
Ammonia is a strong cleaner that can cut through grease quickly. It becomes an even more effective cleaning solution when you mix it with water in a spray bottle.
Additionally, you can put some ammonia in a trash bag and put the bag over the filter. Let it sit on the filter for about 20 minutes or as long as possible before removing the bag from the filter. Then, wipe the filter down with a damp cloth or paper towel until it’s clean.
If any stubborn spots are left after wiping them down with water, use an old toothbrush to scrub them off.
Kitchen Cleaning Products to Avoid
Even though there are products out there that might seem like a good idea to use when kitchen cleaning, you need to be careful and avoid some of them. When it comes to kitchen cleaning, avoid using these products:
Electric Blowers
Electric blowers are one of the worst choices for cleaning ventilation systems. They can damage vent components and can’t remove clogs or grease.
Bleach
Never use bleach on a vent because it corrodes metal and melts plastic. In addition, bleach can discolor or weaken wood exhaust system parts.
Aerosol Sprays
Chemical propellants in aerosol sprays can damage ventilation system components. In addition, when sprayed on surfaces, these chemicals can leave a residue that can clog pipes if not treated.
Maintaining Your Kitchen Exhaust and Range Hood Filters
Kitchen exhaust fans and range hood filters are commonly overlooked maintenance issues. Clean them regularly if you want to maintain a clean kitchen, and they’ll deliver the same high level of air filtration performance you should expect. Schedule a professional service with us to ensure your range hood is properly maintained.