The Range Hood Filter Soak That Finally Cut Through Old Grease

I had been ignoring the filters in my range hood for far too long. When I finally pulled one out, it was sticky, brown and heavy with grease, and the fan was noisy because the air could barely get through. Grease filters should be cleaned every month or two if you cook often, and once you know the soak method, it is no longer a chore you dread. Hot water melts the fat, dish soap lifts it, and a soft brush finishes the job. The hood itself gets a gentle wipe while the filters soak.

What you need

• enough to cover the filters very hot tap water or water from the kettle mixed with tap water
• 2 to 3 tbsp (30 to 45 ml) dish soap (a degreasing one)
• 1/4 cup (about 55 g) baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), for stainless steel filters only
• 1 soft scrub brush
• 2 microfiber cloths
• 1 pair rubber gloves

How to do it

1. Turn the hood off and, if possible, switch off its power. Let everything cool if you have just cooked.
2. Remove the metal grease filters following your manual; most have a small latch or tab. Check whether they are aluminum or stainless steel.
3. Fill the sink or a large baking pan with water as hot as is safe to handle with gloves, around 140°F (60°C) is ideal. Never pour boiling water into a plastic sink or a cold enamel one.
4. Stir in the dish soap. For stainless steel filters, add the baking soda too. For aluminum filters, skip the baking soda, which can darken bare aluminum, or keep it to a very short soak.
5. Submerge the filters and leave them for 15 to 20 minutes. The water will turn brown as the grease melts.
6. Scrub both sides gently with the brush, following the mesh, then rinse under hot running water. Repeat the soak once if they are still sticky.
7. While they soak, wipe the inside and outside of the hood with a cloth dipped in hot soapy water, then a clean damp cloth. Let the filters dry completely before putting them back.

Good to know

• Many filters are dishwasher safe, but check the manual first, especially for aluminum, which can discolor.
• Charcoal filters in recirculating hoods cannot be washed; they need replacing.
• Wear gloves and work with the window open if you use a commercial degreaser.
• A monthly soak takes ten minutes; a yearly one takes an afternoon.

The first time I put clean filters back, the hood was quieter and the kitchen smelled lighter. Mark it in your calendar and you will never face a brown filter again.