The extractor hood looks like a stalactite cave: here’s how to clean it
Cleaning the extractor hood is exactly the kind of chore you never feel like doing. But when the frying fat from your extractor hood starts dripping back into the pan, everything sticks to it—even without a magnet—and it no longer does a good job of extracting cooking smells, it’s time to take action. Let’s get started and tackle that beast!
Take a look up when you’re cooking. What do you see? Is the extractor hood dull with dust, and are the grilles shining a coppery colour? Not good—when it was installed during the renovation, it was probably all shiny stainless steel. Your extractor hood needs some love—and a hot, soapy bath.
Grilles: in the dishwasher
Check just to be sure, but especially with a new dishwasher, the grilles can usually be washed in the dishwasher. Choose a high-temperature programme, such as the pots-and-pans programme, because your grilles really need it.
Soak them
Are they not allowed in the dishwasher? Or don’t they fit? Then fill a large tub with dishwashing water and add a scoop of washing soda. Make sure the water is as hot as possible. In go the grilles. Leave them to soak for half an hour, rinse them, and admire that shine.
Fabric filters?
Those obviously shouldn’t go in the dishwasher or into soapy water; you need to replace them every three months. How long had you not done that? Naughty!
Clean hood
It’s not just the grilles that deserve a beauty treatment—you can also give the hood itself a thorough clean. Make a soapy solution with baking soda or washing soda and hot water. Use a sponge and clean the outside of the extractor hood using circular motions. Don’t use a scouring pad, as it will scratch the hood, but an ordinary sponge—or the coloured part of your scouring sponge—works perfectly. If a lot of grime comes off, wipe it away with kitchen paper. For hard-to-reach corners, fill a spray bottle with a tiny amount of all-purpose cleaner and warm water, and use that. Dry with a lint-free cloth, such as an old tea towel.
Glass too
Not all extractor hoods are made of stainless steel; some have a glass section. How should you tackle that? With the same kind of soapy solution and the same kind of sponge. Wipe away the grime with kitchen paper. Don’t have any baking soda at home? You can also degrease the hood with washing-up liquid. If you’ve neglected the extractor hood for a while, it’s unlikely you’ll be done after scrubbing once with the sponge. Repeat the cleaning, making a fresh soapy solution each time, until you’re satisfied.
Also read:
- 5 kitchen ingredients that are also great for cleaning
- Hack: cleaning the microwave
- This is how often you should clean an ice cube tray (oops…)
