How to Clean a Kitchen Range Hood and Filter

Grease buildup in your range hood doesn't just look grimy—it kills airflow and turns your kitchen into a heat trap when you're cooking. A clogged filter works half as hard, meaning cooking smoke lingers and odors settle into your walls. The good news is that cleaning a hood is straightforward, takes about an hour, and costs almost nothing. What separates a hood that lasts years from one that fails is the difference between regular maintenance and ignoring it until it's caked. We're talking about keeping that filter clear so air moves freely, and keeping the internal surfaces free of the sticky buildup that accumulates fast around any cooking surface.

1. Kill the Power First. Switch off the range hood at the wall switch or breaker. If you've been cooking, wait at least 10 minutes for any residual heat to dissipate. A warm hood is fine to work with, but a hot one will make cleaning uncomfortable and can damage certain filter materials.
2. Extract the Filter Safely. Open the hood's faceplate or decorative trim if there is one. The filter sits directly behind or below the cooking surface. Most filters slide out horizontally or hang on hinges from the hood interior. Gently pull or unlatch the filter—it will be heavy if it's loaded with grease. Place it directly over your sink or a basin to catch any drips.
3. Mix Your Cleaning Bath. Use your sink or a large plastic basin. Fill it with the hottest water your tap delivers—aim for 120°F or hotter if you can safely manage it. Add a commercial degreaser (the kind designed for kitchen use) or a strong dish soap mixed with a small amount of white vinegar. A 1:1 ratio of dish soap to vinegar works well. The solution should smell noticeably like degreaser but not be so concentrated it's unsafe to touch.
4. Let Chemistry Do the Work. Place the filter flat in the hot degreaser solution. If the basin is too small, tilt the filter or soak it in sections. Set a timer for 15–30 minutes. The longer it soaks, the more the grease will soften. Don't skip this step—trying to scrub a cold, caked-on filter wastes effort and can damage the mesh.
5. Scrub with Grain. Remove the filter from the solution and place it over the sink. Using a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush or a nylon scrub brush works), gently scrub both sides of the mesh in the direction of the mesh openings, not against them. Work methodically across the entire surface. You'll see grease and debris release into the sink. If buildup is heavy, dunk the filter back into the degreaser solution for another 5 minutes and scrub again.
6. Clear All Suds. Hold the filter under hot running water from your kitchen tap, or spray it with a kitchen sprayer if you have one. Rinse both sides until the water runs completely clear and no soap or grease residue remains. Tilt and rotate the filter so water flows through every mesh opening. This step is critical—any leftover degreaser or residue will reattract grease faster.
7. Air Dry Fully. Lean the filter vertically in the sink or against a backsplash to air-dry for 10–15 minutes. You can also carefully pat it with paper towels, but avoid high-pressure air (like a shop vac or air compressor) which can force water deeper into the filter layers. Once it's dry to the touch, it's ready to reinstall.
8. Polish the Hood Shell. While the filter dries, grab a damp cloth (slightly soapy water is fine) and wipe the interior surfaces of the hood where you can reach—the underside, the sides, and the front frame. Use a different cloth or a clean section for the exterior casing. This removes dust and fresh grease before it hardens. Don't use a harsh abrasive; soft cloth and gentle pressure keep the finish intact.
9. Clear the Catch Basin. Some hoods have a removable sump or drip tray underneath the filter. If yours does, slide it out and wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Empty any accumulated grease and debris into a waste bin. A clean sump allows air to move freely and prevents odors from sitting in a grimy reservoir.
10. Seat It Tight. Once the filter is completely dry, slide it back into position, making sure it sits flush and locks or seals properly. If your hood uses hinges, fold the filter up and latch it securely. Make sure there are no gaps around the edges—a poorly seated filter lets grease bypass it and coat the ductwork.
11. Verify the Pull. Replace any trim or faceplate you removed. Turn the hood on at low speed and hold a piece of paper or tissue near the underside—you should feel a gentle pull toward the hood. Run it for 30 seconds on each speed setting to confirm normal operation. If airflow feels weak, the filter may not be seated properly; remove it and reinstall.
12. Replace Charcoal if Needed. If your range hood is ductless (recirculating) instead of vented to the outside, it has a charcoal filter behind the mesh filter. This filter cannot be cleaned—it must be replaced every 6–12 months depending on use. Check the manual for the correct replacement part number, order it online or from an appliance store, and slide it in behind the fresh mesh filter.