Maintenance Tip: Cleaning Your Ventilation Hood

Cleaning Your Ventilation Hood
Many stoves today have a ventilation hood above the burners.  These hoods ventilate heat and smoke from normal cooking which protects your walls and your home from excess smoke and odors.  There are grills in the design of the hood that accumulate grease and grime due to cooking. Not only is this an appliance in the home that needs a regular wipe down after cooking, but many of these grilles can be removed from the hood and are available for a much deeper clean.

Cleaning your ventilation hood is necessary because the accumulation of grease can lead to unhealthy environment with the area impacting food your continue to cook and even contribute to a kitchen fire.

How to clean your kitchen exhaust vent hood

Before getting started, check your owner’s manual for the proper instructions for your specific brand and model.  If you cannot find your manual, visit the manufacturer’s website or www.manualsonline.com.  Most hoods have removable parts like baffles or even filters.  These can be removed and washed in warm soapy water. We also recommend adding a little of ammonia to the water and soap solution and watch the grease fall off. Some models have charcoal filters which would need to be replaced versus being cleaned.

Now you want to sponge down the inside and outside of the hood with a warm water with soap and a small amount of ammonia.  If your hood is made with stainless steel, you should use a specific stainless steel cleaning product. Do this after following the use of the water solution. Spray the hood with the cleaner, and with a microfiber or lint free cloth. Wipe down the surface moving back and forth with the grain.

For more information HomeZada’s maintenance library.