From Grimy to Gleaming: How to Clean a Range Hood

It’s often easy to overlook the range hood when doing your regular kitchen cleaning, but maintaining this appliance is crucial for its performance and the cleanliness of your kitchen. If you’ve been wondering how to clean a range hood, you’ve landed on the right page! We’ll walk you through the process in an easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Clean a Range Hood

Cleaning your range hood might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! With the right tools and this guide on how to clean a range hood, you’ll have it shining like new in no time.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Your range hood will be covered in dust, dirt, and greasy residue by the time you get around to cleaning it, to start the job you can choose a powerful kitchen hood cleaning spray from the store, or make your own natural cleaner as an alternative. What is the best thing to clean an oven hood with? We prefer the natural options personally, but they can take a little longer than the store-bought options.

• For the filter: Make a mixture of hot water, 1-2 teaspoons of degreasing dish soap, and a half cup of baking soda.
• For the hood: Storebought cleaner or a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water for wiping off tough greasy stains.
• For extra scrubbing power: Make a paste of equal parts baking soda and water for breaking up stuck-on grease.
• For stainless steel: Stainless steel cleaner and conditioner.
• A couple of microfiber clothes, and a non-scratch brush.

Step 2: Wipe Down the Range Hood Exterior

After preparing your tools and cleaning solution, it’s time to focus on the exterior of the range hood. Follow these steps for how to clean a range hood exterior to ensure a thorough cleaning:

• Start by wiping down the outside of the range hood with a microfiber cloth or paper towel soaked in your chosen cleaning solution.
• Pay close attention to corners and crevices where dust and grease may have settled. These areas might require extra attention and a bit of elbow grease.
• Rub the surface thoroughly to remove the accumulated dirt and dust. Persistence is key in this step – don’t rush the process.

For those with a stainless steel range hood, there are extra steps to follow to preserve its shiny finish:

• Start by identifying the direction of the grain on your stainless steel hood—it could be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
• Wash the steel using a soft non-abrasive cloth and a stainless steel cleaner, or you can opt for mild, soapy water. Ensure to always wipe in the direction of the grain.
• After wiping it down, dry the surface with a soft cloth to prevent water spots from forming.
• For that extra shine, you can apply a stainless steel conditioner. Apply it with a soft cloth, following the direction of the grain, and remove any excess with a paper towel. This step will leave your stainless steel hood looking brand new and gleaming!

Step 4: Scrub Away Stains Under the Hood

Wondering how to clean the inside of a range hood? Much of what is left behind from oil spatters and smoke will have ended up here. This area might require a little more scrubbing.

• Use a cleaning brush designed to scrub without scratching delicate surfaces and your degreaser spray of choice.
• If you notice tough stains that don’t come off, try making a thin paste of warm water and baking soda.
• Work the paste into the stains and wipe away grease with a dry towel.
• Continue scrubbing as needed.

Step 5: Clean the Filter

Cleaning the filter is a vital step in how to clean a range hood. The filter absorbs smoke, grease, and grime from stovetop cooking, and it can clog over time. Here’s how to clean the kitchen hood filter.

• Most filters are secured to the range hood with a metal loop. Move that loop to the side, and the filter will pull out from the range hood.
• Soak the filter in the cleaning solution for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Use your cleaning brush to scrub away the now-loosened grease and grime.
• Continue scrubbing until the range hood grease filter is clean.
• Lay it out to dry and once dry, clip it back into place.

How often should I clean my range hood? The more you clean it the easier the job will be each time you do it! We’d recommend giving it a monthly wipe-down at the least! And remember, if your range hood is having issues and you need to call a professional, the range hood repair team at DeserTech is always here to ensure your kitchen appliances stay in top shape. If you’re ready to get to more cleaning tasks, take a look at our oven cleaning guide and our range cleaning guide to keep the fun going!