Just in case you do not know what a cooker hood filter is, you must understand that the cooker hood filters are designed to filter out every particles and debris that were released naturally during cooking.
And this cooker hood filter can be made from a range of materials like; ceramic, fleece, carbon, or even charcoal.
They are extremely important in the kitchen and help to safeguard and promote the health of your cooker hood.
Because once cooking is done, the released grease would have been all built-up inside the hood if there was no filter, and this can be dangerous.
So to save yourself from mechanical issues and even financial issues in the future, you should familiarize yourself with these carbon filters and get to know how to clean them.
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Can You Clean Carbon Cooker Hood Filters
For example, the cooker hood grease filter is a kind of filter that is attached to the extractor hood.
The extractor hood is usually made from any kind of metal, like aluminum or steel, although some of them can be made from fabric and ceramic.
But if the grease filter is left too long without cleaning, it may affect your cooker hood’s performance. So to stay on top of your cooking game, you must be ready to get the most out of your grease filter thoroughly.
The cooker hood charcoal filter is also in use. For instance, if your kitchen needs a recirculation hood, then your cooker hood will need to use a charcoal filter to extract the grease from the air.
So they take the filtered air from the grease and purify it before pushing it back into the room.
However, the charcoal filters are not standardized, so you should check the manufacturer of your cooker hood. Check if they can provide replacements for recirculation filters.
How to Clean a Cooker Hood Carbon Filter
However, they keep working tirelessly underneath your cooking hood. But for you to prolong the lifespan of your cooking hood, you should always look forward to cleaning the filters at least every 6-8 weeks.
That is because if your cooker hood filter is consistently working, then that means it is going to be a lot greasy.
After all, it has been left to collect too much grease without cleaning.
And then your filter stops being effective after collecting grease out of the air and preventing lingering cooking odors.
This means that regular care and maintenance are needed for the carbon filters.
If your filter is made from fabric, you may be unable to clean it properly, so you will need a replacement filter when it becomes too greasy.
Check the cooker hood because the manufacturer will be able to supply you with the necessary replacement filters.
If not, then you can buy universal fabric filters and cut them down to sizes that will fit your model.
How to Clean Carbon Filter by Hand
You can go through this method even if your cooker hood filter is made from metal or ceramic materials. All you will need is; Degreasing liquid washing soap, hot water, a non-abrasive brush, and baking soda.
- Carefully detach your cooker hood filter from the rest of the cooker hood. Follow the instructions that come with your cooker hood to remove the filter safely. Once this is done,
- Fill the kitchen sink with boiling water and add about three tablespoons of baking soda and some squirts of liquid washing soap.
- Then put the filters into the sink and allow them to soak for at least ten minutes. Once this is done,
- Take your non-abrasive brush to the filters after they must have been soaked. Be careful not to damage them.
- Then rinse the filters in hot water and leave them to air-dry; finally, wipe the carbon filter with a clean cloth and replace the filters carefully.
Can the cooker hood filter be washed by the dishwasher? You can clean them by hand and throw them into the dishwasher.
However, if you must throw the filter into the dishwasher, then you must ensure that there is nothing g else in the kitchen sink.
This is because leftover food from the plates and trays can get stuck to the filter even after the washing is over.
So make sure that you are washing the filters alone in the dishwasher and at a minimum of about 65 degrees to dissolve the grease properly.
How to Replace Your Cooking Hood Filter
In recirculating your cooker hood filter, means that the previous filter has not been doing its job properly, so it needs to be replaced.
As for your grease filters, you may not need to replace these if you keep on cleaning them. But replacing your circulation filter is just as easy as removing the filter from the cooker hood.
You should just slide out the filter from its frame and replace the new one. However, you should consult the manual on how to fix the new filter properly.
The universal cooker hood filters may have to be cut down into sizes. And you may need a knife to do so.
And you will need extreme caution. So check out the size you will like for your filter and cut it down carefully.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is better for you to replace your cooker hood filter every 3 to 4 months, that is, if it is a recirculation filter.
Meanwhile, always consult the manual of your cooker hood filter for the best advice on when to change the filter. And check to see if the manufacturer can provide you with the recirculation filters.
But as for the ceramic, metal, and grease filters, you may have to clean them monthly or every 5 to 6 weeks, and you will not need to replace them unless they break.
So in detaching them, you will have to be very careful while doing these. If you can stay disciplined with your carbon filters, you may never need to replace them.