Most modern kitchens include chimneys, and they do a great job of removing smoke and fumes from the kitchen, leaving the place smelling nice.
Like all other household equipment, a chimney needs to be cleaned regularly to avoid clogging.
If your filters are not cleaned regularly, then the grease and oil will drop into the stove’s open flame, and that can cause a fire.
So, you should clean your chimney regularly to avoid any kind of hazards in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
Different ways to clean kitchen chimney
Vinegar
White vinegar is a good cleaner for grime and stains collected on the chimney’s exterior, such as the panels and hoods. To clean the kitchen chimney quickly, it is recommended to dip a towel in the vinegar solution and wipe it on the surfaces. Leave the chimney for a few minutes, and now clean it with a paper towel.
Baking soda
While baking soda may not seem like the most exciting ingredient to clean your kitchen chimney, it’s actually a very powerful cleanser!
It’s often included in cleaning kits, or you might have a pack of it in your refrigerator.
Make a thick baking soda paste and take a little bit of water. You can apply this paste over the surface and allow it to sit there for five to ten minutes.
Another best way to use the baking soda is by adding 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda, two tablespoons of vinegar, and 2-3 tablespoons of salt to a tub of hot water. Put the filters in this solution for 1-2 hours and then take it out. After taking it out, scrub it gently and wash it with water to remove the debris.
Dishwashing liquid
If you are looking for simple ways to clean the chimney, then try using dishwashing liquid. They remove the oil and grease on the chimney filters, and they are good cleansing agents. Apply the dishwashing liquid all over the mesh and filters and let it stay for at least 2 hours.
Now, take out the filters and scrub them softly till all the grease is removed. To remove hard grease, you can use a steel drum instead of a plastic drum for cleaning purposes. The rest of the cleaning process remains the same.
Paint thinners
Paint Thinners contain powerful solvents like toluene, acetone, etc. that are great cleaning agents. Since these solvents are evaporative in nature, you might inhale these chemicals while cleaning the filters. Hence, we recommend you to use this method only to remove hard grease or clogged grease from hard-to-reach areas like folds and crevices.
Paint thinners can instantly remove the grease, and hence they are the most powerful among all other cleaning agents mentioned in this list. If you plan to clean the chimney filters with the paint thinners, then it is recommended to dab a cotton piece and scrub the filters to remove the grease. Make sure to perform this activity outdoors to avoid inhaling the fumes.
Caustic soda
Like any other cleaning methods mentioned above, taking a tub and sprinkling caustic soda over the filters is recommended. Now, pour hot water into the tub and stay far from it, as you might see fumes around it.
While removing the filters from the tub, it is recommended to wear gloves. Now, wash the chimney filters properly under running water and let them dry. Once done with the process, place them in the hood.
Detergent powder
- Firstly, unlock the filters and remove them from the chimney
- Fill a metal tub with water and then heat it.
- After the water turns lukewarm, try to add three tablespoons of detergent powder and boil it once again.
- Now, place the filters in the boiling detergent powder and leave it for a while.
- Slowly, the grease and hard stains start getting removed from the filters.
- After the grease is removed, try to clean them under running water.
- Now, wipe the filters with a dry cloth and place them back in the chimney.
Degreaser Spray
Degreaser sprays are used to remove heavy dirt and debris from the filter. You can clean the filters with degreaser spray by following the steps given below:
- Firstly, spray the degreaser on both sides of the filter.
- Let the spray sit on the surface of the chimney filters for at least 20 minutes.
- Now, slightly scrub the surface of the chimney with a brush and clean it under running water.
- Wipe it with a damp cloth and dry the chimney filter.
How to clean kitchen chimney?
It is not only the filters that get stained or have oil marks and grease, but also the chimney hood, pipes, etc., that get stained. You need to properly clean the exterior surface of the chimney, like lights, panels, etc.
To clean the surface of the chimney:
- Use a degreaser spray as mentioned above.
- Use the spray wherever you find hard stains and oil marks.
- Let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Wipe it off with a damp cloth to remove the grime and grease.
How to clean kitchen chimney filter?
To clean the chimney filters, you need to remove them from the hood. Use either soap, detergent, or any other solutions mentioned above. Soak the filters in this solution for at least 20-30 minutes.
Remove the filters from the solution and clean them with a soft brush. Now, put it under clean running water and wipe it with a dry cloth.
How often should you clean a kitchen chimney?
The frequency of cleaning the kitchen chimney depends on how often you cook and your food type. If you are a kind of a person who uses a lot of spices and masalas, then we recommend you clean the chimney once a month. If you have a charcoal filter chimney, you need to clean the chimney once every 6 months.
Conclusion
It is essential to maintain your kitchen chimney properly to increase its lifespan. Simple grime and dirt can be cleaned with vinegar, whereas hard stains require paint thinners. Use any of the methods mentioned above as per your convenience and availability of things needed.
