How to Clean a Range Hood Grease

How to Clean a Range Hood

Is your range hood absolutely caked with crud? Here’s a closer look at how to clean a range hood, both inside and out.

The oven range hood fan pulls heat, moisture, and smoke out of the air when you cook. Grease particles in the smoke and steam adhere to the interior of the hood and eventually coat the fan and filter in a messy residue. This grease residue can eventually clog the fan and prevent proper airflow through the range hood, resulting in a burned-out motor or a poorly working fan. Cleaning the hood and fan at least once a month keeps the interior grease free and working properly. These simple tips show you how to clean an oven hood and keep it looking brand-new.

Wipe the outside of the hood

The first step is to wipe down the outside, where grease has landed and the dust settled in. Use thick paper towels or your best rags to really clean this section up. To make sure you break up the amalgam of grease and dust, use a bar of anti-grease dish soap. Mix a little of it with warm water (you can fill your sink with this mixture if you are planning a big cleaning project) and thoroughly wipe down the hood. Finish up with a basic cleaner spray like this vinegar solution and some paper towels to clear away leftover residue.

Choose the right cleaner for your specific hood.

Range hoods can be made from a variety of materials. When choosing what to clean with, pick a cleaner that’s safe to use on that material in order to avoid damaging it. For instance:

• For plastic or vinyl hoods, use an all-purpose cleaner or warm soapy water.
• For stainless steel, go with warm soapy water.
• For copper, use copper cleaner.[Wikihow]

Cleaning Underneath the Hood

Now it’s time for the underside of the hood, around where the vent is installed. If it’s been a while since the hood was cleaned, this spot may be a blackened mess. It’s a good idea to switch to a scrubbing brush like this one to tackle any large grease or ash deposits. Gas ranges tend to get especially dirty in this area.

Try a grease-cutting dish soap and a pan filled with a mixture of warm water and baking soda. For bad build-up, turn the baking soda into a paste and apply it to the underside of the hood, then wait for half an hour or so. Baking soda is famous for neutralizing acidic compounds and can break apart some of the bonds holding the grease in place.

Dealing with the Filter

The filter gets the brunt of the grease in your range hood, and it needs to clean carefully. Remove the filter first—most have a metal loop that allows you to pull it out. If you don’t want to get greasy, wear gloves for this part!

Fill your sink with hot water (the hotter, the better, although you don’t want to burn yourself while you work). Add around a teaspoon of anti-grease dish soap and about a ¼ cup of baking soda to the water, and then fully submerge the filter.

Let the filter soak for 15 to 20 minutes, then get your scrubbing brush and tackle the filter with firm brush strokes. Don’t use too much pressure, which could damage the filter, but don’t be afraid to be vigorous. Drain and refill the sink with new soapy water as needed. When the filter is clean again, rinse it off and dry it thoroughly with a cloth.