Your oven hood works pretty hard to get rid of unwanted cooking smells and keep your kitchen smelling fresh. Little wonder then that it sometimes needs a little care and attention to make sure it’s working as well as it can. This little guide will tell you just what you need to do to clean your hood and its filters.

Cleaning or replacing filter(s)

Let’s start with the filters. All hoods have a metallic grease filter which captures grease particles from the bubbling pots below. If your hood relies on recirculation to refresh the air in your kitchen, it’ll feature a carbon filter too. 

Grease will build up on the metallic filters, and this isn’t just unsightly, it can also cause unpleasant odours. Aim to clean these once every 1 or 2 months, but if you do a lot of frying, you’ll need to clean them more regularly. 

To do this, make sure the hood is switched off, then remove the filters using the release catch (check your manual if you’re not sure how to do this). Your hood might have a single filter panel, or it may have multiple panels, but on modern appliances these panels are dishwasher safe. 

Simply pop them in the dishwasher and run a normal programme. If you don’t have a dishwasher, soak the panels in boiling water with some detergent to soften the grease, then scrub and rinse. 

If your hood does have carbon filters, these will be located behind the metallic filters. However, these are not washable and will need replacing every 3 to 6 months. Again, if you’re not sure how to do this, take a look at your hood’s user manual.

Cleaning the inside

While these filters are in the dishwasher or soaking, make sure there are no obstructions in the filter spaces. Grease and grime can seep through the filters over time, so use a sponge and non-abrasive cleaning product to wipe the inside surfaces of the hood. 

Once the filters are clean and dry, you can pop them back into place.

Cleaning the outside

As for the hood itself, keeping this clean is simply a case of wiping after each use. A soft cloth or sponge with a non-abrasive detergent is the best way to keep the underside and top surfaces of your hood clean. 

Most hoods have a stainless steel finish, so be careful not to damage the finish with abrasive sponges of cleaning products.

Finally, use a dry cloth to wipe the surfaces again to prevent water marks.

It might not be the prettiest job in the world but taking care of your hood will mean it can do the best job it can when it comes to keeping the air in your kitchen nice and fresh.