How to clean filters from range hood panels.

How to Clean Hood Fan Filters Before They’re a Fire Hazard

When was the last time you checked your range hood filter?

If it’s caked in grease, it’s not just filthy — it’s a fire hazard. Blocked filters can’t do their job. And all that built-up grease can ignite in seconds.

Plus, if you're renting, a filthy filter could cost you part of your bond. 

Let’s fix that before it becomes a real problem.

How to clean range hood filter mesh if it's caked in grease.

A clean filter means a clean kitchen.

They pull out grease, smoke, and whatever’s floating in the air — before it sticks around.

Leave it too long, and you’ll be scraping grease like burnt lasagne.

How to clean range hood filter mesh boards.

Time to stop putting it off.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

  • Hot water
  • Your go-to dish soap
  • White vinegar — eats through the grease
  • Baking soda — packs a punch for your clean
  • Microfibre cloth — if your filter needs a softer touch
  • Non-metal scrubbing brush 
  • A pair of gloves, for safety
  • Large sink or bucket, big enough to soak the filter
  • Natural all-purpose cleaner, for extra backup (optional)

The good news?

Vinegar and baking soda are all you need to get through this mess without wearing out your filter.

 

Alright, Let’s Clean This Thing

Turn It Off First

How to clean hood fan filters by taking it out first.

Start by Removing the Filter

Make sure your rangehood is off and cool to the touch. Most filters just slide or pop out — no tools needed. 

Hint: Look for a latch along the edge or underneath.

Let it Fizz

How to clean kitchen hood filter aluminium effectively.

Fill a sink with water as hot as you can handle. Add a big squirt of dish soap to create the bubbles as pictured.

Now toss in a half cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda, and it’ll fizz up fast — that’s your degreaser at work.

Drop It In

How to clean kitchen hood filter grids with impeccable technique.

Submerge the filter and let it soak for 20 minutes — 30 if it's cooked in grease. 

The heat and fizz will do most of the heavy lifting. All you’ve got to do now is wait.

Bring the Brush

A man showing how to clean kitchen hood filter mesh correctly.

Throw on some gloves and scrub off what’s left.

Don’t press too hard — the mesh can tear easily.

(I cut myself doing this thinking I didn’t need gloves last week. Don’t be me.)

 

Wash It Down

How to clean range hood filter metal by passing it under running water.

Hold it under warm running water.

 Get every bit of grime off.

If it still feels slimy, keep going.


Dry It Off

Ensure a thorough clean of a range hood filter via an air dry.

Don’t reinstall it while it’s wet — water can mess with the motor.

Lay it flat on a microfibre cloth or clean tea towel.

Let it air-dry completely before putting it back in.


Reinstall the Filter

Woman showing you how you clean range hood filters.

Once it’s bone dry, clip it back in.

Wipe down the range hood while you’re there.

Optional: hit the hood and stovetop with a bit of natural cleaner to wrap up.


What People Get Wrong

Regularly cleaning your hood fan filters keeps your children strong and healthy.
  • Pressing too hard while scrubbing: Easy way to tear the mesh. Let the brush do the work.

  • Not soaking for long enough: Cuts the clean short — makes you scrub harder than you have to.

  • Using harsh chemicals: They work fast — but at the cost of your filter’s lifespan.

  • Reinstalling while wet: Moisture can break the motor. Always dry it fully before clipping it back in.


Why Even Bother At All?

How do you clean range hood filters and achieve these gleaming results.Losing your bond is one thing — but skipping regular cleans comes back to bite in more ways than one.


  • It’s not just gross — it’s risky: A 27-year study in Taiwan linked cooking oil fumes to higher cancer rates. The risk was especially high for women.


  • Grease fires happen fast: Built-up oil can ignite unexpectedly.


  • Weak suction means a smoky kitchen: Airborne grease isn’t great for little lungs either.


  • Grease starts dripping: From the hood... onto your stove, your food — or straight onto the flame.


  • Sticky walls and yellowed cupboards: That grease has to go somewhere.

 

Quickfire FAQ

How to clean the filter on a cooker hood and leave it pristine as pictured.

How often should I clean the filter?

Every 1–3 months. Monthly if you cook often or deep-fry.

Can it go in the dishwasher?

Most metal filters can — check for a dishwasher-safe symbol or see the filter's manual. For thick grease though, the soak and scrub are still your bread and butter.

What if I want a natural alternative for my soak?

Try this natural all-purpose cleaner that's made to cut through grease.

A technician demonstrating how he cleans hood fan filters.

How do I know when my filter needs replacing?

If it’s still discoloured, bent, or looks cooked after a proper clean — that’ll be when.

Still not pulling air properly? You’ll know if steam lingers, smells stick around, or a tissue held to the vent barely moves. That’s a go-next.


While You’re Here:

[How to Clean Shower Screens Fast — 5 Simple Steps]

[How to Clean a Mattress: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need]

[Eco Friendly Cleaning Products: Are They Worth It?]

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Jimmy Wu

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Jimmy’s a property manager who’s spent years figuring out what actually works around the house. He shares simple, no-nonsense cleaning advice for Aussie homes. Safety. Practicality. No fluff.

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