Cooking delicious food is the most common activity for which the kitchen is designed, be it the commercial one or those in the homes. While preparing meals is one thing, you might be aware that cooking leads to unpleasant smells and releases moisture and heat. If cleanliness is not maintained, it results in an unhealthy environment. This is when a kitchen exhaust system seems useful. It purifies warmth and moisture, leaving the kitchen’s air fresh and breathable. Additionally, it gets rid of bad odors. Even though it cleans the air, it becomes filthy because the pollutants and dirt are trapped. As a result, if it is not kept properly clean, over time, its performance will suffer.
So, in this write-up, we will discover the simple steps that need to be performed to clean and degrease the exhaust fan efficiently.
Greasy Kitchen Exhaust System Hazards
The greasy kitchen exhaust only comes with an unhealthy environment and life risks. Maintaining the kitchen cleanliness depends on the grease and dirt-free range hood system. If the filter has accumulated a lot of impurities plus grease, it increases the chances of fire ignition.
Also, when the temperature rises in the kitchen, the grease begins to take its liquid form. As a result, the kitchen plumbing begins to clog as the grease starts disposing down to the drain. This can further result in expensive fines.
Hence, efficient cleaning is essential, to avoid any mishap. Avoid a steamy and hard-to-breathe kitchen environment.
Now, we will talk about the ways that can help efficiently clean the kitchen exhaust and ensure a well-maintained and healthy environment.
Ways to Clean Kitchen Exhaust System
The kitchen exhaust system comprises various components that serve multiple purposes. These include a duct, exhaust fan, and filter. Cleaning all these parts ensures the proper functionality of the exhaust. Plus, the grease and dirt accumulation increases the chances of fire hazards. Therefore, maintaining better care is essential.
Clean the Exhaust Filter
- Remove filter: A reusable filter can be taken out by simply sliding it out or using any latch associated.
- Formulate a DIY Cleaning Solution: Take a bowl full of warm water and add dishwashing liquid, only two tablespoons. Additionally, stir in half a cup of baking soda to the mixture. Make sure to include the degreaser in the solution to ensure effective cleaning.
- Put in the Filter to the Solution: Soak in the filter to the prepared cleansing solution and keep it in for about 15 minutes. Avoid scrubbing for now. If you still want to do this, let the solution cool down and grease resettle on the filter for easy cleaning.
- Scrub and Rinse Well: Lastly, take the scrub brush and remove the food particles, impurities, or grease accumulated on the filter. Again, take some hot water and rinse the filter well. Once rinsed, dry it well before installing it back into the exhaust system.
Fan Blades Cleaning is Essential
- Switch off the exhaust fan power from the circuit board before you begin with the cleaning procedure. It would be great to clean the fan blades using a degreaser.
- Now, take the degreaser and spray it on the fan blades. Let it sit for some time.
- Take a scrub and remove the dirt or grease clinging.
- After the scrubbing is over, rinse the blades well with clean water and dry them.
- Once dried, they are ready to turn on and function.
Clean the Exhaust Duct
- To avoid any fire risks, the exhaust duct must be cleaned by a professional cleaner.
- Start by shutting off the fan and removing the filter and fan cover before cleaning the exhaust duct.
- Utilize a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt or debris from the duct.
- Spray the degreaser within the duct, then wait a few minutes for it to dry on the surface.
- Now, get rid of the remaining dirt and grease left over using a cable.
- Once cleaned, put back the fan cover and filter and switch on the exhaust fan.
Clean the Exhaust Fan Motor
- Getting fan motors cleaned professionally and at least twice a year is essential.
- Before doing any cleaning, disconnect the power to the exhaust fan at the circuit board.
- Begin with turning off the exhaust fan.
- Remove the components like the filter and fan cover.
- Take a vacuum cleaner and clean the debris and dirt accumulated on the motor.
- An all-purpose cleansing solution or degreaser works best for cleaning the motor. Spray it inside the motor and give it some time to absorb.
- Now, remove all the remaining impurities with a brush.
- Once done, install back all the removed components and turn on the exhaust fan.
How Often Should a Kitchen Range Hood Be Cleaned?
If your kitchen is used every day to prepare meals, cleaning it inside out every month is necessary. Seasonal cleaning would work if the kitchen is not under frequent use. Do ensure you clean the exhaust filters whenever it’s the festive season.
If the range hood fails to eliminate the heat and smoke, it is time for professional kitchen hood system cleaning. The reason can be anything like clogging up ductwork or filters. Also, the fan motor with a loud voice when functioning can be a sign that it needs cleaning asap.
Conclusion
All the range hood systems catch grease, dirt, and other dirt particles. Sometimes, the impurities enter the ducts which become challenging to clean off. Here, following all these shared tips would be helpful in an efficient kitchen exhaust system. However, it is also a great idea to get the range hood inspected by a reputable cleaner. They can more accurately determine whether any parts need to be cleaned up or replaced. Thus, ensuring the system functions well in the long run.