Cleaning Your Kitchen Extractor Fan

A kitchen extractor will help to disperse or remove smoke and vapours that are created while frying, baking and cooking, and it will also ventilate your kitchen. There are three main components in the extractor hood. The skirt or capture panel will collect the rising fumes, the filters will be housed in an assembly to remove grease particles, and a fan or blower will force the ventilation or replacement of air.

The hoods may also include built-in lighting to illuminate the cooking surface. Some manufacturers may also include matching accessories, such pot racks, backsplash panels, and dish racks. Some more expensive models of extractor hoods feature electronic remote control, temperature sensors, noise cancellation, memory pre-sets, delayed shut-off, motorized height adjustment, and filter cleaning reminders.

Your kitchen extractor should be cleaned regularly. Removing the accumulation of grease and food particles and debris or dust will ensure that your extractor fan continues to work properly. Cleaning will also extend the life of the extractor, and it will also reduce the risk of fires caused by an accumulation of grease and particles that restrict the airflow and causes the fan to overheat. It is recommended that the surfaces of the hood be cleaned every week as part of your regular cleaning routine, but the frequency can vary depending on how often the unit is used.

The manufacturer may include some instructions for proper cleaning, but there are a few general guidelines that can be followed. Your unit may most likely be made of stainless steel and in order to prevent damages some precaution may be necessary. You may need some elbow grease as baked on-grease may be more difficult to remove.

A paste of baking soda as a mild abrasive can be used to remove sticky grime, to avoid damaging the surface. Using long strokes, and avoid going in circles, apply on a small test area, before cleaning the entire unit. After the unit has been wiped clean, you can polish the surface with baby oil applied with a lint-free cloth. Before you begin cleaning, be sure to unplug the kitchen extractor. Remove the screws that hold the filter housing in place, and gently remove the filter.

The filter can be washed in the dishwasher, with dishwashing detergent, or it can be washed with liquid soap and warm water. After washing, the filter must be rinsed thoroughly with warm water. To wash the blades of the fan, you may carefully mix 4 ozs of ammonia in a gallon of warm water, and dampen a soft cloth to wipe off grime and grease.

Both the interior and exterior of the kitchen extractor should be cleaned, but you should only use warm water when cleaning the interior surfaces. Be sure to remove as much grime as grease as possible, as unmaintained and dirty range hoods have been the cause of kitchen fires. The unit must be allowed to dry completely, before replacing the filters and installing the filter housing. When it is completely dry, you can then plug-in the extractor and begin using it.

It is best to use a kitchen extractor with smooth surfaces that are easy to clean. Some care must be exercised, when cleaning your kitchen extractor.

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