How do I clean an extractor hood?

An extractor with clogged filters barely extracts, which means the grease and moisture it should be removing end up on your kitchen surfaces and, eventually, as condensation problems. The filters are designed to be washed, and it's a much easier job than it looks.

What you'll need

• Washing-up liquid
• Soda crystals or biological washing powder
• Large basin or sink
• Degreaser spray
• Cloths

Step by step

1. Turn the hood off at the wall before removing anything.You'll be working near the light fitting and the fan.
2. Release and remove the metal mesh filters.Usually a spring catch or a small handle. They come out easily once you find the catch.
3. Fill a sink with very hot water, washing-up liquid and a scoop of soda crystals.The alkali is what dissolves the grease. Wear gloves — soda crystals are harsh on skin.
4. Soak the filters for 20–30 minutes, then brush and rinse.The grease should lift off. If it doesn't, repeat with fresher, hotter water.
5. Dry the filters completely before refitting.Refitting them wet means the grease traps moisture and the smell develops.
6. Wipe the hood inside and out with a degreaser.The underside and the area around the fan collect most of the grease.
7. Replace charcoal filters if you have a recirculating hood.These are not washable — they're a consumable, typically replaced every 3–6 months.
8. Clean the mesh filters monthly if you cook frequently.Quarterly is the minimum for light use. A clogged filter defeats the whole appliance.

Tips

• The dishwasher handles metal mesh filters well on a hot cycle, if they fit — check the manual first, as some aluminium filters can discolour.
• Run the extractor for a few minutes after cooking finishes. Most of the steam and grease is still airborne then.
• If the hood is noisy and moving little air, check whether the ducting is blocked or whether a recirculating hood just needs new charcoal.
• A hood that's never cleaned becomes a genuine fire risk over years of accumulated grease.

Common mistakes

• Never cleaning the filters — Extraction drops to almost nothing, and accumulated grease is a fire risk.
• Trying to wash charcoal filters — They're consumables. Washing destroys them without cleaning them.
• Refitting filters wet — Trapped moisture plus residual grease produces a smell quickly.
• Using an abrasive on a stainless hood — It scratches the finish. Degreaser and a soft cloth, wiped along the grain.

Questions people ask