When cooking at home, smoke and grease gradually settle on the hood filters, making them dirty and sticky. If cleaning is not performed in a timely manner, the hood's performance begins to decrease. Although there are expensive chemical cleaners with a strong odor, you can clean a dirty and sticky hood to like-new condition using ordinary items found in the kitchen.
Below are simple methods for cleaning the hood. First, you need to turn off the main switch of the hood, then open the locks and carefully remove the aluminum or baffle filter.
Take a large container or basin into which the filters can be completely submerged. Add baking soda (3-4 tablespoons), white vinegar (half a cup), dish soap (2-3 tablespoons), and lemon juice (2 tablespoons, optional) to this hot water. A light foam will appear when adding the ingredients to the water.
Submerge the dirty filters in this hot solution and leave them for two to three hours. This will allow old accumulations of grease and oil to soften and detach.
After the time is up, remove the filters. Then take an old toothbrush or sponge, apply a little dish soap and baking soda to it, and gently scrub the edges and mesh of the filter. Stubborn grease will begin to come off easily.
After cleaning, thoroughly rinse the filters with cool or plain clean water to remove all soap residue and dirt. Wipe the clean filters with a dry cloth or let them dry for a while under the sun or in front of a fan. When the filters are completely dry, reinstall them in the hood, and it will start to shine like new again.
