Have you ever wondered that you need to clean other appliances of your kitchen other than the regular ones? The range hood filter is one such unnoticed item. Keeping it clean will improve the overall hygiene of your kitchen. If you have never done this before, then do not worry. This article will provide an easy step-by-step guide for you to follow. This will make your chore as easy as possible.
Before moving onto those, let us first understand why this small filter is so important to clean. The range hood filter keeps the kitchen air clean as it takes away polluted air. It also helps keep the kitchen cool as warm air is absorbed through the vent. Furthermore, it prevents the wall behind your stove from darkening from the smoke.
As food odor is filtered out, your house is free of smell. It also keeps insects, fruit flies and cockroaches away as they are attracted to the smell of food. Without its existence, your fire alarm may go off frequently. Cleaning it properly will also save you replacement costs.
You must clean your range hood filter at least once a month whether you cook often or not. If you cook, grease will be stuck, and if you do not, dust will be born. It is very small and does not require much effort.
The method for cleaning a greasy range hood filter:
For a thorough cleansing, you will need:
- Boiling hot water
- Baking soda
- Dishwashing liquid soap
- A scrubbing brush
- One heat proof container
Step 1: Remove the filter
The very first thing to do is to carefully remove the filter. Push your filter up from the bottom to take it off place. Then slide it sideways and look for a latch to remove it. Be cautious not to break it because you are partly doing this to save replacement costs!
Step 2: Prepare your dish
You need to clean the filter in a heatproof dish large enough to let the filter soak in. It can be a tub, a casserole dish or a metal container. As long as it can withstand the heat of boiling water, it is good to go.
Step 3: Add your ingredients
Fill the tub with hot water and add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Choose a lemon flavored soap, as the acid from lemons will help clean better. Then add half a cup of baking soda. Do not panic when it fizzes and bubbles because it will. Then mix the solution.
Step 4: Soak It
Let your filter sit in this solution submerged for ten minutes. The hotter your water is, the more grease will be cleaned off.
Step 5: Scrub it
After its hot bath, remove it and scrub it targeting the crevices and corners that the water could not clean. Make sure it is completely clean and grease free by the end of this step.
Step 6: Rinse and Replace
After all that heavy cleaning, rinse the filter and wipe it dry with a rag or paper towels. You should have a non-sticky and dry filter by the end of this step. Then, your filter will shine as good as new and you can put it back in place!
Hope this effortless way has resolved one of the most basic but daunting kitchen conundrums.
