The easy way to clean a stainless steel cooker hood and filters without using harsh chemicals. I’ll show you the best budget way to remove greasy gunk and build up.
How to clean cooker hood
This is the method I use to clean my cooker hood and filters and it works for me – but you should always check manufacturers instructions for full details in case you cooker hood and filter need to be cleaned differently. And remember that long life carbon filters can only be washed a certain amount of times before they need replacing.
Cleaning the cooker hood and filters is a job best kept on top of by cleaning regularly, before you get to the greasy gunky build up stage…
But, if that’s what you’ve got – greasy gunky cooker hood filters then here’s how to get them clean without using harsh chemical cleaners.
What you need for cleaning cooker hood and filters
- washing up liquid – I use Ecover washing up liquid for both washing my dishes and lots of cleaning jobs around the kitchen.
- 1 cup white vinegar – white vinegar is really efficient at cutting through greasy build up so it’s always a good idea to keep a bottle at home.
- 2 cleaning cloths – you’ll need one cleaning cloth for cleaning the hood and one for washing the filters and plastic light coverings.
- cheap white toilet soap – I buy the Tesco value bars of bathroom soap – they’re BRILLIANT at cleaning greasy surfaces and it’s always worth keeping a bar in at home.
- soft bristle brush – I use an old toothbrush for scrubbing the little holes on the filters.
- soft towel – for buffing the stainless steel after cleaning.
- tea towel – for drying the filters and light covers.
Instructions for cleaning cooker hood and filters
1. Turn off the power
Turn off the electric at the wall switch. Ensure the cooker hood, lights and filters are cold before you start to disassemble them.
2. Remove the light covers and metal filters
You’ll need to check your appliance instructions for the fine details of taking apart the cooker hood but usually the light covers and metal filters just clip out really easily. My clip out in seconds.
3. Soak the cooker hood filters and light covers
- Run a sink full of very hot water and add a good squirt of washing up liquid.
- Add a cup full of white vinegar – white vinegar is really good for cutting through greasy build up.
- Immerse the metal filters into the hot soapy water. Try to make sure they’re totally submerged, otherwise keep swapping them around in the bowl to make sure every part of the filter gets chance to soak under the water.
- Put the plastic light covers into the hot soapy water. Again make sure they’re totally under the water.
- Leave everything to soak for a few hours – especially if really greasy and sticky.
4. Clean the hood
I clean stainless steel using cheap white toilet soap and a damp cloth. It’s the best thing I’ve found to clean stainless steel leaving no streaks.
It just cuts through grease and dirt with very little effort, cutting down the need for harsh chemical degreasers.
- Get a soft damp cloth and rub it with the white toilet soap to create a foam.
- Wipe over the stainless steel cooker hood using the soapy cloth.
- Wipe over the stainless steel cooker hood using a rinsed out soft damp cloth to remove the soap.
- Dry the stainless steel cooker hood and buff with a soft dry cloth to remove any streaks easily and create a nice shiny finish.
- If you prefer you can buy stainless steel polish and use that once the grease has been removed, but it’s really not necessary.
- Clean underneath the cooker hood wiping down carefully the area surrounding where the filters are held in and the underneath edges that get splattered with greasy cooking residue.
5. Scrub the cooker hood filters clean
- Go back to the sink and rinse off the filters, you may need to scrub them gently with a soft bristle brush to remove any build up that’s really stuck in the narrow holes.
- The plastic light covers will just wash clean with a little rub using a damp cloth.
6. Dry the cooker hood filters and light covers
- Allow the filters to dry thoroughly and dry the plastic light covers with a soft tea towel.
7. Put the cooker hood and filters back together
Re-assemble the cooker hood by slotting the filters and light covers back into place.
More kitchen cleaning tips to try
If you love a clean kitchen then try out some of our other kitchen cleaning tips below.
- How to clean the kitchen sink – the BEST way to keep your kitchen sink clean and fresh with tips for cleaning after every use, daily and weekly.
- How to clean the fridge – how to deep clean your fridge.
- Spring clean the kitchen – get our cleaning checklist and give your kitchen a thorough deep clean with our easy spring cleaning guide.
PS… we think you’ll LOVE our Easy Housework Routine – it’s brilliant at getting you organised and for just seeing on top of the housework with less stress.
How to clean cooker hood and filters
Easy way to clean greasy cooker hood and filter
Materials
- washing up liquid
- bar of cheap toilet soap
- 1 cup white vinegar
Tools
- soft bristle brush
- 2 cleaning cloths
- 2 towels
Instructions
- Turn off the electric at the wall switch. Ensure the cooker hood, lights and filters are cold before you start to disassemble them.
- Remove the light covers and metal filters.
- Run a sink full of very hot water and add a good squirt of washing up liquid.
- Add a cup full of white vinegar
- Immerse the metal filters into the hot soapy water.
- Put the plastic light covers into the hot soapy water
- Leave everything to soak for a few hours
- Clean the hood - get a soft damp cloth and rub it with the white toilet soap to create a foam.
- Wipe over the stainless steel cooker hood using the soapy cloth.
- Wipe over the stainless steel cooker hood using a rinsed out soft damp cloth to remove the soap.
- Dry the stainless steel cooker hood and buff with a soft dry cloth to remove any streaks easily and create a nice shiny finish.
- Clean underneath the cooker hood wiping down carefully the area surrounding where the filters are held in and the underneath edges that get splattered with greasy cooking residue.
- Go back to the sink and rinse off the filters, you may need to scrub them gently with a soft bristle brush to remove any build up that’s really stuck in the narrow holes.
- The plastic light covers will just wash clean with a little rub using a damp cloth.
- Allow the filters to dry thoroughly and dry the plastic light covers with a soft tea towel.
- Re-assemble the cooker hood by slotting the filters and light covers back into place.
Hey! – We hope our cleaning tips makes your cleaning a whole lot easier! We love to see your before and after cleaning photos – tag us on Twitter @daisiesandpieUK or Instagram @daisiesandpie