Is your kitchen experiencing lingering cooking odours? Or perhaps you've noticed your cooker hood isn't working as effectively as it used to? The culprit might be a dirty cooker hood filter. While often overlooked, these essential components play a crucial role in keeping your kitchen clean, fresh, and safe.
What is a cooker hood filter?
First things first – what even is a cooker hood filter?
A cooker hood is the extraction unit that sits above your oven, while the cooker hood filter is a specific component within it. Every cooker hood will have some kind of filter. They're an essential part of the appliance that traps grease and cooking particles from the air before they're expelled, helping to keep your space dirt and odour-free.
When it comes to cleaning ovens, it's important to pay particular attention to both the cooker hood and the cooker hood filter to keep everything running smoothly. Here, we'll explain how to keep both looking their best.
The importance of cleaning cooker hoods and filters
A clean cooker hood isn't just about appearances. While external cleaning helps maintain your kitchen's aesthetics and prevents unsightly grease build-up, particularly on reflective surfaces like stainless steel, the real importance lies in regular filter maintenance.
A clean filter is crucial for:
- Fire safety: Grease build-up can become a significant fire hazard
- Efficient ventilation: Clogged filters reduce extraction effectiveness
- Odour control: Clean filters better remove cooking smells
- Appliance longevity: Regular cleaning extends your hood's lifespan
- Energy efficiency: Clean filters allow better airflow, requiring less power
How to clean a cooker hood
When cleaning a cooker hood, it's important to tackle all components systematically, from the exterior surface to the filters themselves.
How to clean the external hood surface
The cooker hood surface is the outer casing of the hood, which is often stainless steel, black, or silver. The external cooker hood includes the chimney section and control panel. When cooking, this external surface often gets splashed with grease or shows fingerprints from regular use.
To clean a stainless steel cooker hood or other external surfaces:
- Check your manufacturer's guidelines first
- Use warm soapy water and a soft microfibre cloth for regular cleaning
- For stubborn grease, use a specialised degreasing cleaner
- On stainless steel surfaces, clean in the direction of the grain
- Dry thoroughly with a clean cloth to prevent water marks
- For extra shine on stainless steel, use a specialised stainless steel cleaner
How to clean a cooker hood filter
In terms of safety and maintenance, cleaning the cooker hood filter is crucial. There are two main types of filters you might encounter:
Cooker hood grease filters
These metal or aluminium mesh filters are the most common type, designed to trap grease before air is vented outside. Here's how to clean them effectively:
- Remove carefully: Take out the filter according to manufacturer instructions
- Choose your cleaning method:
- Dishwasher method: If dishwasher-safe, place on a hot cycle with regular detergent
- Manual cleaning: Soak in hot water with degreasing washing-up liquid for 10-15 minutes
- For manual cleaning:
- Use a non-abrasive brush to remove stubborn grease
- Rinse thoroughly with clean hot water
- Allow to dry completely before reinstalling
- Clean every 4-6 weeks for regular cooking, more frequently for heavy use
Cooker hood carbon filters
Carbon filters are found in recirculating cooker hoods that don't vent externally. Unlike grease filters:
- These cannot be cleaned
- They need replacing every 3-6 months
- They should be changed more frequently with heavy cooking
- They can be purchased from your hood manufacturer
Maintaining your cooker hood
Regular maintenance helps keep your cooker hood working efficiently:
- Wipe external surfaces after each cooking session
- Check filters monthly for grease build-up
- Keep a regular cleaning schedule
- Test ventilation effectiveness regularly
- Replace carbon filters as recommended
At Hoover, we understand the importance of keeping your kitchen appliances in top condition. Our range of cooker hoods features easy-clean filters and surfaces designed for simple maintenance.
Looking for a new cooker hood? Explore our collection to find the perfect match for your kitchen.