How to Degrease a Range Hood Filter and Stovetop
Soak in hot water and sticky grease melts off with a few strokes of a toothbrush. Just check the filter material first.
What you need
Supplies
- 3 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp dish soap
- Hot water
Tools
- Large tub or sink
- Toothbrush
- Rubber gloves
- Plastic bag
- Dry cloth
How to do it
- 01
Turn off power and gas
Switch off the hood and close the gas valve. Check with the back of your hand that the burners are completely cool before you start.
- 02
Remove the filter and grates
Most hood filters pull straight out by the handle. Remove the stove grates and burner caps too. Lay newspaper on the floor in case grease drips.
- 03
Soak in hot water
Plug the sink with a plastic bag, fill it with water at 50–60°C (120–140°F) and dissolve 3 tbsp of baking soda and 1 tbsp of dish soap. Soak the filter and grates for 30 minutes.
- 04
Scrub with a toothbrush
Scrub the softened grease with a toothbrush. On the fine mesh of the filter, brush in the direction of the weave. Grease hardens again as the water cools, so top up with hot water as needed.
- 05
Clean the cooktop
While things soak, spread a paste of baking soda and water on the cooktop and wipe it off with a damp cloth. Clean burnt marks around the burners at the same time.
- 06
Rinse and dry completely
Rinse the filter and grates under running water, shake off the water and let them dry completely before reinstalling. Running the hood with a wet filter makes grease and dust stick even faster.
Be careful
- Aluminum filters turn black if soaked for long in alkaline water such as baking soda or oxygen bleach. For aluminum, use only dish soap and soak for 10 minutes or less.
- Do not pour boiling water straight into the sink. It can damage pipes and silicone seals.
- Water in the burner holes makes ignition difficult. Wipe burners only with a wrung-out cloth and let them dry fully.
Malkkeum tips
- Wiping the filter surface with a soapy cloth right after cooking, while it is still warm, halves your monthly cleaning.
- Turn the hood on before you start cooking and leave it running for 5 minutes after you finish.
- If your hood uses a replaceable fleece filter, simply swap the fleece every two or three months.
Check the filter material first
Hood filters are usually stainless steel or aluminum. A magnet tells them apart: if it sticks, it is most likely stainless; if not and the filter feels light, it is probably aluminum. Stainless can be soaked in baking soda or oxygen bleach water, but aluminum reacts to alkalis and turns black, so use dish soap only.
For thick, old grease
Grease that has built up for years will not come off in one go. Repeat the soak and scrub two or three times, or, for a stainless filter, simmer it with water and baking soda in a large pot for 10 minutes. If it still will not budge, buying a new filter saves time and cleaner.
FAQ
Can I put it in the dishwasher? Only stainless filters that the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe. Aluminum filters discolor in the dishwasher too.
