How To Clean Exhaust Fan Filter

Do you know how to clean your exhaust fan filter? A range hood is a must-have in your kitchen, and for your range hood to work, it needs to rely on the exhaust fan to reduce cooking fumes and other lingering toxic odors like smoke, even grease, etc.

But when your range hood is not kept clean, then it may not work effectively to put out the odor in your kitchen.

This could mean that your exhaust fan filter needs a thorough cleaning. Lots of people have complained about not knowing how to clean their exhaust fan filters.

It’s quite easy to clean up. And in this article, you will discover the various ways you can use to clean your exhaust fan filter.

Here’s how;

How To Clean Your Kitchen Exhaust Fan Filter

Method 1

There are a few points to note down when cleaning your exhaust fan filter.

The first point is that you need to avoid using coarse scrutiny tools such as brill pads or steel wool because they tend to damage it.

Also, it is not every dish soap or detergent that you can use to wash your filter because some of these detergents contain harmful chemicals that can bleach or even harm your filter.

Now, you need to know that every stainless steel filter has a grain. So while scrubbing or drying your filter, ensure to move in the direction of the grain so that you can have a perfect finish.

This first method is one of the quickest and easiest methods of cleaning your exhaust fan filters.

Remove or detach your fan filters and place them in the dishwasher if they are dishwasher-friendly, then put them in the bottom rack of the dishwasher, and wash them but be sure to avoid using harsh cleaning detergents that bleach.

As soon as you are done with the washing cycle, bring them out and wipe the filters clean using a wide soft towel, cleaning them in the direction of the grain.

But if you do not have a dishwasher, you can also hand wash your filter that is if it doesn’t take much of your time.

Here is how to hand wash your exhaust fan filter:

1. Remove or detach the filter. Be careful when detaching your filter because the edges may be sharp.
2. Fill your sink or bathtub with hot or warm water and liquid soap. Ensure you fill the water halfway.
3. Allow the filters to soak in the warm/hot water mixture for 20 minutes.

4. If the filter wasn’t fully soaked in the water mixture, rotate it again.
5. Soak again for 15 minutes.
6. Then begin to scrub the filter gently with the aid of a sponge or scrutiny brush.
7. Now rinse the filter with warm water and dry it with a cloth.

 

Method 2

The dishwasher may not be able to get your filters to be as clean as you want. They may need a deep cleaning to remove every greasy and grime first. Here is how to clean your fan filters using the deep cleaning method.

Here’s what you will need;

• 1/2 cup of baking soda or Bicarbonate of soda.
• Liquid dishwashing soap.
• Warm or hot water.
• Soft scrubbing brush.
• Dish towels.

Steps

1. Remove the exhaust fan filters. You can do this by siding or popping out the underside of the hood so that the filter can be easily removed.
2. Fill your sink with half of the hot water. Ensure that the water is really hot because the hotter the water, the easier it will be to clean the filter.
3. Pour the hot water and 1/2 cup of baking soda. You can also add some liquid dish soap if you like. Stir this mixture but be careful so that the hot mixture doesn’t pour on you. Once you see bubbles and the mixture is soapy, you can now place the filters in the water.
4. In this method, the filters do not have to be completely submerged. It is much easier to clean your filters if you do not feel it all the way. Otherwise, if the water overflows, you will have to deal with the mess that comes with It.

So start with one end of the filter in hot water, then after soaking the other end of the filter, scrub it and while doing that, place the other end of the filter in the water.

5. Allow the filter to soak for about 15 minutes to help in totally removing the grease from the filter.
6. Scrub the filters thoroughly with your scrubbing brush or soft sponge. Do this in a circular motion. Meanwhile, if you are doing this with a sponge, make sure the water is cooled down before dipping your hands into that sink to wash, or you can wear rubber gloves instead to do your work.
7. Rinse the exhaust fan filter with warm water when you are done with scrubbing.
8. Dry the filters with a dishtowel.
9. Then you can now fix back the exhaust fan filter.

Once you are done cleaning, always put it on your reminder to clean your exhaust fan filter once every two months. It will keep the device working properly even for years to come.

 

How To Clean Exhaust Fan Mesh Filter

One of the quickest forms of cleaning your exhaust fan mesh filter is by placing them in the dishwasher. However, if you must hand wash the filters, here’s an easy way to try it out;

1. Remove the filters from your range hood,
2. Fill your kitchen sink halfway with warm water and liquid dish soap.
3. Allow the filter to soak for 20 minutes.
4. Once you realize that the grease has started to come off, begin to scrub with an old toothbrush or, better still, a scrub brush so that the greasy stain will be completely removed.
5. Rinse the filters thoroughly with warm water and dry them filter with a microfiber cloth.

 

How Often Should You Clean Your Exhaust Fan Filter?

Clean your filters every two or three months. Although it depends on how frequently you cook.

So if you use your stovetop frequently, maybe you fry a lot of foods, you cook a lot, then your filter may require monthly cleanings. But if you barely cook, then your filter may need two or three for cleaning.

In conclusion, you can also clean your filter after a major cooking event, such as a holiday feast or even a dinner party.