Kitchen Guides
How to Clean a Kitchen Chimney?
It's all about cleaning the kitchen chimney filters and preventing blockage by kitchen grease
The typical Indian style of cooking involves a great deal of frying with oil, ghee and traditional spices; as a result, a lot of airborne particles of grease are produced while cooking, which ultimately stick onto the kitchen chimney, walls and cabinetry. Although the kitchen chimney helps in expelling the smoke, fumes and odours from the kitchen, the filter might get blocked with grease and dust over a period of time. This article will tell you how to clean kitchen chimney filters regularly so that the chimney does not lose its suction power and effectiveness.
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What is the stepwise method for cleaning baffle and cassette filters in the chimney?
- The first step is to remove all the filters from the hood of the chimney. Most filters slide out easily or pop out from the base of the hood.
- Now immerse the filters completely in a solution of boiling-hot water mixed with 1/4 cup baking powder and some liquid soap for one or two hours. This loosens the grime.
- Alternatively, one can also soak the filters in a hot water solution made with 2 spoons baking powder, 2 spoons salt and 2 cups vinegar.
- Scrub the filters with a non-abrasive scrub and rinse the filters thoroughly in hot water.
- Wipe with a clean dry cloth and put the filters back into the hood.
In some cases, cassette filters need to be cleaned with aggressive chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). That is because these filters are made up of a mesh with small pores, which makes it difficult to remove the grime.
One can clean a cassette filter by placing it in a deep tray and sprinkling some caustic soda on it. Now pour some boiling water in the tray and let it rest for two hours. After this, wash the filter with clean water, let it dry and put it back in the chimney hood.
Caution: This method of cleaning should be professionally done, using rubber gloves and protective clothing. It is essential to keep some distance from the filters during the process of cleaning because caustic soda is highly corrosive and produces dangerous fumes which should not be inhaled.
One can clean a cassette filter by placing it in a deep tray and sprinkling some caustic soda on it. Now pour some boiling water in the tray and let it rest for two hours. After this, wash the filter with clean water, let it dry and put it back in the chimney hood.
Caution: This method of cleaning should be professionally done, using rubber gloves and protective clothing. It is essential to keep some distance from the filters during the process of cleaning because caustic soda is highly corrosive and produces dangerous fumes which should not be inhaled.
Is it easier to maintain auto-clean chimneys?
Modern chimneys come with an auto-clean option that ensures easy cleaning and hassle-free maintenance. How? The user just has to turn on a switch and the chimney is washed by an automatic cleaning function. All the grime and dirt gets deposited or accumulated in a cup, which can be removed, cleaned and fixed back in the kitchen chimney.
Modern chimneys come with an auto-clean option that ensures easy cleaning and hassle-free maintenance. How? The user just has to turn on a switch and the chimney is washed by an automatic cleaning function. All the grime and dirt gets deposited or accumulated in a cup, which can be removed, cleaned and fixed back in the kitchen chimney.
Is it advisable to go for an AMC (annual maintenance contract) for the kitchen chimney?
An AMC is a better option than personally manually cleaning chimneys for kitchens where a lot of cooking goes on and causes clogging of the chimney with dense grease deposits. One can opt for an AMC with a reputed servicing company or directly with the manufacturer to clean, repair or maintain the chimney periodically.
Read more:
Which Chimney Is Right for Your Kitchen?
Are Hidden Chimneys in the Kitchen the New Trend?
Tell us:
How to clean the kitchen chimney? Share your tips in the Comments section below.
An AMC is a better option than personally manually cleaning chimneys for kitchens where a lot of cooking goes on and causes clogging of the chimney with dense grease deposits. One can opt for an AMC with a reputed servicing company or directly with the manufacturer to clean, repair or maintain the chimney periodically.
Read more:
Which Chimney Is Right for Your Kitchen?
Are Hidden Chimneys in the Kitchen the New Trend?
Tell us:
How to clean the kitchen chimney? Share your tips in the Comments section below.
Electrical chimney filters can be broadly classified into three types:
- Cassette or mesh filters are multi-layered filters made of aluminium. These filters comprise small pores that allow grease particles to stick onto them. Hence, these filters should be cleaned regularly within a span of 8–10 days.
- Baffle filters use cut-and-chop technology to separate smoke from grease. These filters do not clog the chimney or reduce its suction power. Baffle filters should be cleaned every 2–3 weeks.
- Charcoal filters are used for ductless chimneys. They have charcoal granules which absorb the cooking smoke and odour. These filters cannot be cleaned but need to be replaced periodically within a span of 3–6 months.
Note: Since cleaning of chimney baffle filters or a cassette filters can be done regularly, they are best suited for the Indian style of cooking, which produces a lot of grease and smoke.