Range hoods are easy to overlook, but they’re among the most important appliances in your kitchen. These vents are designed to capture smoke, steam, and airborne grease to improve indoor air quality and prevent sticky buildup on your cabinets. In short, if you have a stove, you need a range hood. While the suction draws…
Don’t Fret Over Greasy Filters
Cleaning your range hood filters is one of the most important things you can do to prevent fire hazards and maintain your home’s air quality. However, it’s not enough to simply wipe down these filters. Because they’re designed to trap oil (and do so quite effectively), grease gets stuck deep inside the mesh, making them difficult (and annoying) to scrub clean. What many people don’t realize is that you can often just pop these filters into the dishwasher and move on with your life.
Clean your range hood filters every one to three months to ensure peak performance and better air quality throughout the home. If you do a lot of high-heat cooking or deep frying, consider cleaning the filters every two to four weeks. If you cook infrequently, once every six months is likely enough.
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Let the Dishwasher Do the Work
Just like it does for your dirty dishes, a dishwasher can work magic on a filter’s stubborn grease and grime. The high-pressure jets and concentrated detergent break down heavy buildup far better than hand-scrubbing, ensuring your range hood runs both efficiently and effectively.
It’s best to wash the filters alone to prevent cross-contamination. Place them on the bottom rack of the dishwasher, spaced far apart and angled slightly downward. Select a cycle with a higher water temperature and longer wash time to cut through the grease. Once the dishwasher cycle is complete, check the filters for any remaining residue. A rinse under hot water may be necessary before drying them completely and reinstalling.
This method works well for many range hood filters, though there are some exceptions. If a filter is made of aluminum or contains charcoal, it’s not dishwasher-compatible. Harsh detergents can cause aluminum filters to discolor or oxidize, so you’ll want to clean them by hand with hot water and grease-cutting soap. (If you’re renting and find that the old, crusty aluminum filters in your range hood are beyond saving, you can also replace them.) Charcoal filters cannot be washed at all and must be replaced periodically. Refer to the owner’s manual for your specific model’s maintenance schedule.
