How To Clean A Kitchen Extractor Fan | Quick Grease Fix

Sticky fumes, steam, and food particles drift upward every time you cook. They land on the hood, blades, mesh, and ducts. Leave buildup long enough and you’ll smell oil, hear a louder motor, and see weak pull over the hob. The good news: a good clean brings back quiet airflow.

Quick Prep And Safety

Unplug the hood or switch off the breaker. Let bulbs cool. Lay down old towels to catch drips. Wear gloves and eye protection if you’ll handle strong degreasers. Keep a step stool or ladder stable and centered; never lean over the hotplate. If the hood is vented outdoors, open a window for extra ventilation.

At-A-Glance Cleaning Plan

Here’s a fast overview. The quick table below lists what you’ll do, what you’ll need, and rough time for each pass.

Step	What You Need	Time
Remove Mesh/Metal Filters	Gloves, sink or tub	2–3 min
Degrease Filters	Hot water, dish soap or degreaser, soft brush	15–25 min soak
Clean Fan Blades/Impeller	Microfiber cloths, mild degreaser	10–15 min
Wipe Hood Exterior & Controls	All-purpose cleaner, microfiber	5–8 min
Rinse & Dry Filters	Warm water, drying rack	5–10 min
Reassemble & Test	Dry hands, stable stool	2–3 min

Best Way To Clean A Cooker Hood Fan Without Damage

Start with the parts that trap the most grease: the filters. Most hoods use layered aluminum or stainless steel mesh. Some older models use baffle plates. Both wash well with hot, soapy water. If your sink is small, use a plastic storage bin or the bathtub. A short soak loosens stubborn film, then a soft brush lifts residue from the mesh without tearing it.

Step 1: Take Out The Filters

Flip the latches or press the release tabs and tilt the panels down. Note their orientation so you don’t fight reassembly later. If there’s a carbon pad clipped behind the mesh for recirculating models, set it aside; those pads aren’t washable and will need replacement on schedule.

Step 2: Soak With The Right Cleaner

Fill the sink with hot water, add a small squeeze of degreasing dish liquid, and let the panels sit for 10–20 minutes. For heavy buildup, spray a kitchen-safe degreaser and let it dwell before brushing. If you prefer gentler chemistry, choose a product with the Safer Choice label for lower-hazard surfactants. Rinse well and set on a rack to drip dry.

Step 3: Clean The Fan Blades Or Impeller

With the filters off, you’ll see either a small axial fan or a squirrel-cage impeller. Wipe the accessible surfaces with a barely damp microfiber cloth and a mild degreaser. Turn the blades slowly by hand while the unit is off, keeping liquid away from the motor housing. Stuck, tar-like spots? Lay a cloth soaked in warm, soapy water over the grime for a minute, then lift and wipe again. Avoid soaking the area; pooled liquid can find its way into bearings or electronics.

Step 4: Clear The Vents And Channel

Grease collects along the inner channel that routes air to the duct or recirculation grille. Thread a folded microfiber through the slot and draw it along the length. Repeat with a fresh edge of cloth until it comes away clean. If you spot loose foil tape or a misaligned damper flap, note it for a quick fix once you finish the clean.

Filter Types And Care Routines

Mesh and baffle metal panels handle repeated washing. Carbon pads and cartridges trap smell rather than oil and need periodic replacement. Your user manual will list the schedule, often measured in hours of run time. A common cadence is a wash every 1–2 months for metal panels and a fresh carbon insert every 3–6 months, sooner if you fry often.

How To Wash Metal Mesh Panels

Use hot water and dish soap first. Add a splash of vinegar if you have hard water; it eases mineral film. Gently brush along the mesh grain, not against it. Rinse until water runs clear. Shake gently and air-dry fully before re-fitting. A hair dryer on cool speeds this up if you’re in a rush.

When To Replace Carbon Inserts

If smells linger right after cooking or the pad feels heavy and tacky, it’s time for a new one. These inserts aren’t meant to be washed. Many hoods use click-in cartridges; others hold a rectangular sheet behind the metal screen. Match the part number listed on the frame or manual to order the right size.

Deep Clean For Stubborn Grease

If the hood hasn’t had attention in a while, add a deeper pass. Warm the metal by running the unit on low for two minutes, then switch off and unplug. Warm residue loosens faster. Spray a kitchen degreaser on the inner panels and let it sit. Work small sections. Wipe, then rinse the cloth often to avoid smearing.

Safe Chemistry And PPE

Avoid oven cleaner or lye on aluminum; it can darken or pit the surface. Stick to dish soap, citrus-based degreasers, or products rated safe for aluminum and stainless. Ventilate the room. Gloves prevent dry skin and protect against splashes. For info on handling cleaning agents and fumes, see this short primer from NIOSH on cleaning chemicals.

Sticky Buttons, Sliders, And Touch Panels

Oil creeps into control edges. Spray a cleaner onto a cloth—not directly on the panel—and run the cloth’s edge along seams. Cotton swabs help around tight gaps. Keep liquid away from LED displays and seams that lead to the board behind the panel.

Polish The Outside

Stainless steel shows streaks if you wipe in circles. Work with the grain, using a fresh, dry cloth at the end to buff. On enamel finishes, a standard all-purpose spray does the job. Don’t forget the light lenses; a quick wipe brightens the work area over the hob.

Close Variant Cleaning Guide For The Range Hood Fan Area

This section pulls the whole method into one clear run so you can breeze through it next time. Skim it before your monthly tidy.

Step-By-Step Sequence

1. Kill power and set a stable stool. Lay towels.
2. Drop the metal panels. Remove any carbon pad.
3. Soak panels in hot, soapy water. Dwell 10–20 minutes.
4. While they soak, wipe the impeller or blades with a damp cloth and mild degreaser.
5. Clean the inner channel and the vent opening.
6. Brush the panels gently; rinse until clear. Air-dry fully.
7. Wipe the outer shell, lights, and controls. Buff dry.
8. Re-fit panels and any carbon insert. Restore power and test on low, then high again.

Troubleshooting After A Clean

If airflow still feels weak after a tidy, a few quick checks usually find the cause. Work through the list below before calling service.

Symptom	Likely Cause	Quick Fix
Poor Suction On High	Clogged duct, stuck damper, or oversized gap above hob	Inspect duct for kinks; confirm damper moves; cook with rear burners
Rattle Or Hum	Filter not seated or loose screw	Refit panels; tighten visible screws
Grease Drips	Saturated filter	Wash mesh or replace carbon insert
Lights Flicker	Residue on contacts or wrong bulb type	Clean lens and contacts; fit correct bulbs
Lingering Odor	Old carbon pad	Swap the cartridge; run fan five minutes after cooking

Care Schedule And Easy Habits

Short, regular habits keep the hood clear and the motor happy. Here’s a simple rhythm that works well in most homes.

Weekly Two-Minute Wipe

After a fry-heavy meal, let the area cool, then give the outer shell and control strip a fast pass with a damp cloth. That stops film from setting hard.

Monthly Panel Wash

Pick a date and repeat it: first weekend, payday evening, or any slot you’ll remember. Wash and dry the metal panels. If you cook daily or love stir-fries, move this to every two weeks.

Quarterly Deep Pass

Warm the metal for two minutes on low, unplug, then spray and wipe the inner channel and the fan surfaces again. Replace any tired carbon pads at the same time.

Tools That Make The Job Faster

A few inexpensive helpers shave minutes off the task and reduce mess.

• Plastic Bin Or Tub: Big enough to soak panels flat.
• Soft-Bristle Brush: Slides through mesh without tearing.
• Microfiber Pack: One for degreasing, one for rinse, one for dry buff.
• Non-scratch Scraper: Lifts cooked-on specks from enamel without marks.
• Citrus Degreaser: Cuts oil while keeping fumes mild.

When Professional Help Makes Sense

Most home hoods clean up with the steps above. A pro visit helps when the duct is long, the roof cap jams, or the motor screams even after you’ve washed and re-seated everything. A technician can check motor mounts, replace a worn impeller, or realign a warped damper plate. If you smell heat or see smoke from inside the housing, cut power and book service.

Airflow Tips That Boost Performance

Start the fan two minutes before the pan. Cook on a rear burner when you can. After you turn off the hob, let the fan run five minutes to clear steam and dry the mesh.

What Not To Do

• Don’t spray cleaner into the motor housing or switch area.
• Don’t use steel wool on stainless or mesh.
• Don’t run the fan with wet filters installed.
• Don’t bend the mesh while scrubbing; it creates whistling gaps.