Do you know easy tips to clean and maintain range hood? Range hoods, also known as vent hoods, come in a wide variety of different sizes, styles, designs and features. The hood itself can be easily cleaned if you make a regular habit of it, although it may require some harsher chemicals than your regular surface cleaner at first. But despite these distinct differences, cleaning and maintaining your range hood is rather similar across the different products and styles.
The purpose of a range hood filter is to collect grease, so if it’s doing its job correctly, it’s going to look and feel, well, greasy. Over time, the filter may become so blocked with grease and pickiness that it loses its effectiveness, which is why it’s important to clean these filters periodically.
Even though it may not seem like the best way to spend your time, you’re going to want to make sure that your range hood filters are maintained well. The following seven cleaning and maintenance tips can serve as your go-to guide for your questions about range hood care. Read and implement the following to keep your vent hood running in tip-top shape so that it can do its job of keeping smoke and grease out of your kitchen.
HOW TO CLEAN A RANGE HOOD FILTER IN 7 SIMPLE STEPS:
A hood over the stove is a wonderful thing to have, but the cooking oils from your favorite fried chicken, stovetop suppers and bacon can really do a number on it. These simple tips show you how to clean an oven hood and keep it looking brand new.
The first what you need:
- Very hot or boiling water;
- Degreasing dish soap;
- Baking soda;
- Non-abrasive scrub brush;
- Paper towels or dish cloth.
1. Wipe down the outside of your range hood:
Use thick paper towels or your best rags to really clean this section up. 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. Mix a little of it with warm water with an anti-grease dish soap and thoroughly wipe down the hood.
Finally, use a basic cleaner spray like vinegar solution and wipe it down with a dry, clean cloth or paper towels. Remove all traces of the cleaner. If the hood’s material has an obvious grain, wipe with the grain for a more effective clean and polish
2. Cleaning underneath the range hood:
The underside of the hood, around where the vent is installed this spot may be a blackened mess. Gas ranges tend to get especially dirty in this area. Open windows and turn the exhaust fan on if strong ventilation is recommended. Then spray the hood’s interior as directed and wipe it down with a sponge, cloth, or paper towels. Then, try a grease-cutting dish soap or baking soda and a pan filled with a mixture of warm water. Swish around with a brush until the water is nice and soapy.
Remember to wipe regularly with clean rags or paper towels to remove the layers of grease, and finish up with a gentle cleaning spray. Make washing the hood part of your daily or weekly routine when doing the whole kitchen.
3. Take out the filter and clean it:
The air filter is the part of your vent hood that removes particulates and smoke from the air before pushing it outside of your house or recirculating it. There are basically three kinds of filters on most range hoods as: Fabric grease filters, metallic grease filters, charcoal filters.
If you have either of fabric and charcoal filters types, do not attempt to clean them. Simply switch the old one out and install a new one.
If you have a metal filter, simply remove it, and then put it in a small bin or appropriate container filled with enough degreasing solution to cover the filter completely.
Fill your sink with hot water and add around a teaspoon of anti-grease dish soap, fill about ¼ cup of baking soda to the warm water, and then fully submerge the filter. Let it soak for ten minutes up to a half hour, then agitate it in the water to shake off any loose dirt. Use a bristle brush to scrub any stubborn bits. Then, drain and refill the sink with new soapy water as needed. When the filter is clean again, rinse it off clean under a strong jet of water and dry it thoroughly with a cloth. Set the filter on a clean towel or drying rack and allow it to air-dry before reinstalling.
Cleaning the filters once a month is a good maintenance strategy.
4. Cleaning the vent:
Grease can sometimes build up in this vent, impairing functionality and potentially causing a fire hazard. So, you should check the vent leading from your hood to outside on a regular basis and cleaning as soon as possible to clean it properly.
5. Cleaning the fan or replacing the motor:
If your motor is making weird sounds, humming or is excessively loud and it probably needs to be cleaned. Sometimes the motor or even the bearings themselves can be exposed to excessive humidity and grease, and will not function properly. You can remove this part and clean it with a degreaser or need to get the motor replaced, if this does not solve your problem.
6. Troubleshooting:
If you are having difficulty diagnosing issues on your own, try looking up the model number of your unit. A good way to test the vent on your device is to cut a small square of newspaper and hold it over the vent. If the newspaper is sucked up and held in place, your vent hood should be fine.
7. Preventative measures:
Clean your fan blades on occasion to prevent buildup of dirt and grease. Wash the exposed metal of range hood often and regularly check the vent to keep air flow unrestricted. And then, clean the filter frequently as it is the part that will collect grease the fastest.
If a particular meal used a lot of oil or caused a lot of splatter, clean it up immediately afterward, as soon as the stovetop is safe to work around.
MUST KNOW 7 EASY TIPS TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN RANGE HOOD:
A good range hood is essential for kitchen cooking. Accumulated grease will not only affect the environmental sanitation in the kitchen, but also affect the use of range hood, resulting in worse and worse fume extraction effect over time. So, the best range hood needs cleaning in time.
1. Troubleshoot:
To check if your range hood is functioning like it should, turn it off for a few minutes and then turn it back on. If you are hearing a lot of noise, there may be an issue with your fan or motor.
Checking the lights, switch them on and off. If it doesn’t light up, you must need to change the bulbs or have the wiring examined.
Checking the range hood’s performance. If you’re finding that gases and smoke linger even with the appliance on the highest speed, you likely need to remove grease from the system.
2. Preventative Maintenance:
Make sure you carefully read the operation manual. Having your range hood installed correctly is the first step to preventative maintenance. So, turn off the range hood when it’s not in use to avoid taxing the motor.
3. Clean the Filters:
How you clean your filters depends on the type of filter you have. If your metal filters aren’t dishwasher safe or you just want to give them a deeper cleaning, place them in a water-safe container. With charcoal filters, it’s best to just replace the filters. We recommend replacing them bi-monthly or as soon as you notice they are losing effectiveness.
4. Clean the Body:
Start by turning off the range hood and your stovetop. Wipe down the body in the same direction of the grain using a soft microfiber towel and a non-abrasive household cleaning solution. Be sure to rinse the outside with clean water and finish with a stainless steel cleaner to polish and keep the exterior sparkling. Maintaining your range hood’s body will prevent any leftover residue from leaving marks and stains.
5. Check the vent of range hood:
Grease can build up and affect performance. So it’s very important to have grease removed by a professional if you do detect it.
6. Clean the fan:
Grease, smoke, dirt and debris can also build up on your fan blades. Let cleaning the fans on a regular basis will keep your motor from burning out. Again, make sure the stovetop is off and cool to the touch. Rinse thoroughly with a clean rag and water to wipe down the fan blades. Besides, you can also use a solution of equal parts, ammonia and water to clean the fan.
7. Use the range hood appropriately:
You don’t need to always use the maximum setting when you are cooking. Using the proper setting will help to maintain your motor and performance by choose the setting based on your cooking needs. From extracting harmful cooking fumes to protecting your cabinets from grease, a working range hood is critical for any home kitchen. Let invested a little time in routine cleaning and maintenance to maintain excellent performance.
ULTIMATE TIPS:
Before installing the oil cup into the range hood. The first put a little water inside the cup and add some detergent. That will make it easy to clean afterwards.
You can wet the kitchen paper and put it inside the oil cup. Then, you only need to replace the kitchen paper once every 3-5 days, no need to clean the oil cup any more.
How to remove the fingerprints on the stainless–steel surface: You can wipe with white oil or prepare some baking soda, dip a piece of dry cloth into the baking soda and wipe gently on the stainless-steel surface.
For newly purchased hood, you can make a paste of soap and apply it to the surface of the parts to be cleaned. After using the range hood for a period of time, you just need to wipe it with a rag and all the oil stains on the parts will be gone.
WEEKLY OR MONTHLY MAINTENANCE RANGE HOOD:
The sink method: Rinse the filter under warm or hot water and sprinkle it on both sides with baking soda. After soaking, take a non-abrasive scrub brush and scrub the filters. Rinse the filters thoroughly in hot water and dry with a paper towel or clean cloth. Be sure to rinse both sides and allow it to thoroughly air dry before putting it back in place.
The dishwasher method: Remove range hood filters and put them in the top rack of your dishwasher when you’re washing a load. The steam will loosen any built-up grease and the water spray will get in all of the filter’s nooks and crannies. Then, using a good homemade all-purpose cleaner to remove grime from the range hood.
Once you have given your stove hood filter a deep-cleaning with regular maintenance and use. Your clean range hood filters will reduce cooking odors and keep grease from building up on kitchen surfaces. It’s easy to keep it clean.
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