It is quite difficult to clear the grate of fat, but this task is feasible, the main thing is to correctly perform all the work. It is important to understand that if you clean the grid only from above, then the filters inside will remain dirty. Over time, this will lead to a decrease in the performance of the exhaust device, and in some cases to breakdowns.
Preparatory work
Before you start washing, the hood should be taken apart a little. It is necessary to remove the main filter and visually assess the degree of contamination. If the hood is cleaned regularly, it will be enough, just wash it with hot water, using special detergents.
The situation is much more complicated if the hood has not been washed for a long time. The fat filter in this case will be much more difficult to clean. You need to prepare special tools or purchase them in stores.
When disassembling a cooker hood, it is necessary to disconnect it from the electric power.
It is possible to disassemble only after the instruction is studied, regarding the location of all structural elements. This will prevent malfunctions.
Using homemade methods to clean your hood
Before cleaning the hood in the kitchen, you need to choose the right detergent. With a limited budget, such a tool can be prepared independently. In terms of effectiveness they are not inferior to store options, but at a cost significantly lower.
To maintain the hood clean, it is worthwhile to carry out regular cleaning, for this you need to clean all elements of soot once a month.
Subsequently, this will make it possible to wash the entire hood from fat using only dishwashing detergent. To do this, immerse all the hood elements in water with a detergent, then rinse with boiling water and wipe dry with a clean cloth. Folk remedies that can be used to clean a surface contaminated with fat:
- soda;
- laundry soap;
- acetic acid;
- lemon juice.
Use of soda
In the event that the fat cannot be simply washed, a dishwashing detergent will not work. In this case, you must use soda. It must be poured into a pot of water (you need at least half a pack) and put on fire. Carefully lower all the small elements into a boiling solution and boil for 30 minutes. The filter grate must be boiled on each side, if it is not completely included in the pan.
Laundry soap in the fight against fat
The hood of the hood can be washed from persistent fat using laundry soap. To do this, use household soap marked 72%. For 2-3 liters of water you need to use about half a piece. It must be grated and diluted in water, after which the solution is put on fire and boiled. The metal mesh and other elements that are not afraid of temperature can be completely boiled. The remaining surfaces must be smeared with a solution and left for a while. Then you can proceed to mechanical cleaning using a plastic scraper. Such a tool gives an effective result even in the case of very persistent contaminants.
Acetic acid to help
This acid should be concentrated, only with its help it is possible to some extent to clean the filter surface from persistent fat. Acetic acid can be applied to the surface with a sponge.
All work must be done with rubber gloves so as not to damage the skin of the hands.
The product must be applied to the filter and all loaded surfaces and wait 10-15 minutes. Then wash everything with water and a sponge. If the hood above the stove is not too dirty, you can prepare the product with water and half the amount of vinegar.
Lemon Juice vs. Fat
Cleaning the hood above the stove using lemon juice. Filters and mesh can be rubbed with the flesh of a lemon. After which you need to leave the surface for 10 minutes, this is enough for the product to eat persistent fat. Then the filters must be washed with water. If not all contaminants have been removed, it is recommended to repeat the procedure several times until the fat is completely eliminated.
More radical means of processing
Wash a very dirty hood from contamination can only be aggressive means. In this case, the mesh and filters must be washed with a special composition for cleaning pipes. All work must be carried out as quickly as possible so that the chemical composition does not damage the structural elements of the kitchen hood. The product on the surface immediately begins to dissolve persistent fat. After using such a concentrate, all products must be washed very well under running water until they are completely cleaned.
The use of saline is also often practiced. To prepare the composition, you need to use table salt and water. Bring the water to a boil, then soak all the details. Additionally, the grill and other parts can be washed with a citric acid solution. This will give a quality result.
The final stage of work
After the filters are cleaned with folk or store-bought products, you need to rinse them in running water. It is important that all elements are completely dried in a natural way. You do not need to wipe anything, you can skip wet areas, which will negatively affect the functioning of the work. After complete drying, all the elements can be put in place and start operating the hood in full force.
If you wash the cooker hood immediately after cooking, you can avoid severe pollution in the future. But it is worthwhile to understand that washing only the outer surface of the product is not enough. You must also wash the internal parts, which also accumulate body fat. Filter contamination can lead not only to a decrease in functionality, but also damage to the household appliance.
In order to prevent exhaust to a deplorable state, it is recommended to wash all filters and internal parts at least once a quarter. For this purpose, you can use any of the above methods, or purchase a detergent in the appropriate department of household chemicals. Removing new impurities is much easier than fighting old fat deposits. This rule must be taken into account by every housewife who has a cooker hood in the kitchen.
