The kitchen hood takes the brunt of cooking, trapping microparticles of oil and burning. Over time, the grates will form sticky yellow coatingwhich tightly clogs the cells and reduces the efficiency of the device. An ordinary sponge and dish soap are often powerless here, but there are proven methods that can break down even old stains without extra effort.
Vegetable oil against fat
Oddly enough, but exactly oil dissolves fat best. This method is based on the chemical principle of “like dissolves like” and is excellent for surface cleaning of cabinets and external panels.
Apply normally sunflower or olive oil on a paper towel or soft rag. Rub the contaminated areas with slight force. You will see how the old hardened layer begins to soften and come off. After the main dirt has been removed, the remaining oil is easily washed off with warm water with the addition of fat-removing gel or laundry soap.
Hot bath with baking soda and soap
For cleaning removable metal filters (grids), boiling or soaking in an alkaline solution is ideal. This is the safest and most environmentally friendly way to restore shine to metal.
You will need a large saucepan or baking sheet with high sides. Fill the container with water and bring to a boil. Gradually add half a glass soda ash (it is more powerful than food grade) and add some shavings laundry soap. Place the grates in the boiling solution for 15 to 20 minutes. Active foam will push dirt out of the most inaccessible corners of the mesh. If the filters do not fit entirely, process them in parts.
Ammonia for difficult cases
If the fat has managed to polymerize and become hard as stone, it will help ammonia. This product has an aggressive effect, so you need to work strictly with gloves and with the window open so as not to inhale harsh fumes.
Dilute ammonia in hot water in the proportion of 100 ml of alcohol per 3.5 liters of water. Place the filters in the solution and leave to soak. Ammonia effectively destroys molecular bonds of fatturning plaque into a soft substance that can be easily removed with a stiff brush. This method requires caution, but guarantees results even in the most advanced situations.
Dishwasher tablets
Concentrated dishwasher detergents contain powerful active enzymes and alkalis designed to break down organic matter. They can be used even without the machine itself.
Dissolve two tablets in hot water until a thick, soapy liquid forms. Apply the resulting paste to the surface of the hood and grille with a sponge. Leave the product to act for 30–40 minutes. The active components will corrode the carbon deposits, after which it can simply be washed off with clean water. This is an excellent alternative to caustic chemicals that does not damage enamel and aluminum parts.
The cleanliness of the filters directly affects the air quality in the apartment and the durability of the hood motor, preventing overheating of the motor due to reduced draft. Regular preventive maintenance once a month will save you from the need to carry out general cleaning using aggressive reagents.
About the Author
