How to Clean Kitchen Chimney? A Step-by-step Guide

A kitchen chimney is quite common in contemporary households. The device relieves our kitchens from foul odor, smoke, heat, etc. As a result, a lot of dirt and grease accumulates on the chimney filters and body. As you can guess, such accumulation affects the performance of the chimney.

So, what can you do to prevent such a situation?

The answer is cleaning the chimney at your home. Through this article let’s take a look at how to clean a kitchen chimney at home.

Why is periodic cleaning of the chimney necessary?

Every electrical appliance requires proper maintenance for efficient and long-lasting performance. The Indian kitchen is no stranger to greasy and fatty food. A lot of oil, spices, fats, etc. find their way into Indian cuisine. A kitchen chimney in such a household plays a very significant role.

Primarily, there are four different types of kitchen chimneys. These include wall-mounted, corner, built-in, and island chimneys. All these designs have filters and ducts attached to the body. Smoke, heat, and odor produced during cooking are easily disposed of. But the minute solid particles get stuck in the filter. Furthermore, grease can accumulate on the body of the chimney.

Ductless chimneys need more cleaning and maintenance than ducted chimneys. Compare ductless and ducted chimneys to understand more about their differences.

Unchecked accumulation of such particles will affect the functioning of the chimney. Hence, cleaning the appliance is essential. While frequent cleaning is not required, it is best to do so once a month. Let’s take a look at the best way to clean kitchen chimneys.

Cleaning Procedures of Kitchen Chimney

Getting service for your chimney does ensure its efficient cleaning. But that is, without a doubt, an expensive alternative. Many users prefer cleaning their vents by themselves. Furthermore, it is ideal for cleaning the filters once a week.

Proper chimney maintenance comprises cleaning every part efficiently. These include the exterior, and interior portions, and filters. Let’s take a look at how to clean each individually and properly.

Manual cleaning of chimneys is more prone to maintenance. But using an auto-clean chimney can ease the whole process.

Cleaning the Chimney exterior

Cleaning the exterior of your chimney involves cleaning the accumulated grease on the surface. For the best results, follow the below-mentioned steps.

You will need a dry cloth and paint thinner.
Pour some paint thinner into a container and soak the cloth in it.
Use the soaked cloth to wipe the chimney’s exterior surface.
Remember to wipe a little hard on the stains.
After wiping the exterior surface, leave the chimney for just a few minutes. This will allow the paint thinner to crack up the stains.
Take another dry cloth and wipe off the paint thinner.
The exterior of your chimney is now as good as new.
As a final touch, use a cloth soaked in water to wipe the chimney’s surface.

Cleaning the filters of the Chimney

The filters carry out a significant part of the chimney’s operations. Hence, it is best if you clean them once every week. Let’s learn how to clean kitchen chimney filters.

You will need dishwashing gel and boiling water. It would be best if you used lemon gel.
Carefully remove the filters from the chimney.
Dip the filters in the boiling hot water. Make sure the filters are completely submerged.
Add the dishwashing gel to the water.
Leave the filters like that for a few hours.
Then take out the filters from the water and scrub them carefully. Make sure the scrubbing does not damage them in any way.
Wash the filters after the scrubbing.
As a finishing touch, leave the filters in sunlight to dry. This will ensure towards effective removal of oil stains.
You now have clean filters for your chimney.

Cleaning the Chimney interior

Now we have a clean chimney exterior and filters. So let’s shift our attention to the interiors. This part is the most intricate part of the cleaning, and you need to be very careful.

Make sure you use absolutely no water to clean the chimney interiors. Using water can damage the circuitry of the appliance.
Use a screwdriver to detach the smoke suction assembly carefully. This assembly is attached to the motor.
You can wash the smoke suction parts like the chimney filters.
Use a dry cloth to wipe the interior wall of the chimney.
Use a dry toothbrush to clean the motor of any accumulated dust. Unless you are experienced in handling hardware, it is advised not to detach the motor.
Carefully attach the smoke suction assembly back with the motor when it has dried up.

Materials/ingredients for cleaning Chimney

When you are cleaning a kitchen chimney at home, you can use a lot of household materials. These products help in a more efficient cleaning process. Let’s take a look at some of them.

1. Paint thinner

Paint thinner is ideal for cleaning the exteriors of your chimney. The material has organic solvents that help in the process. You can effectively remove the toughest grease stains using this material.

Soak a dry cloth in the paint thinner. Use this cloth to wipe the exterior surface to remove the stains.
For tougher stains, apply the thinner directly. Wait for a few minutes and wipe the surface.

Paint thinner evaporates quickly. Hence, it is ideal to have some ventilation in the place where you use them.

2. Baking soda

Baking soda is widely used to clean kitchen appliances. It can be used to clean the exteriors and the filters of the chimney. The ingredient is salt in nature and is ideal for removing stains. Let’s learn how to use it.

Firstly you need to make a paste using baking soda.
Make the paste by mixing the soda with either water or vinegar. To remove tough stains, use vinegar.
Once the paste is ready, apply it to the stained areas.
Let the paste settle down for about 5 minutes.
Use a wet cloth to wipe the exterior of the chimney.

To clean the filters, use the following steps.

Place the filters in a container.
Add a few cups of vinegar to it. Two cups are suitable for the job.
Sprinkle three tablespoons of baking soda on the filters.
Leave the filters for a few hours.
Scrub the filters and easily remove the stains and dirt.

Baking soda is very readily available and used to clean chimneys.

3. Vinegar

It is evident from the above ingredients that vinegar plays a vital role in cleaning kitchen chimneys.

Use vinegar to make a paste with baking soda. Use the paste to remove tough stains from the chimney exterior.
Vinegar and baking soda clean the filters efficiently, as mentioned above.
To clean lighter stains, soak a cloth in vinegar. Use a piece of cloth to wipe the stained chimney surface.
For tougher stains, directly apply vinegar to them. After a few minutes, use a wet cloth to wipe the surface gently.

White vinegar is the best choice when it comes to cleaning kitchen chimneys. The ingredient effectively removes the stains.

4. Caustic soda

Caustic soda is the most effective chemical for cleaning kitchen chimneys. It is very popular as a cleaning agent in industries. Let’s take a look at how you can use it in your homes.

Sprinkle caustic soda on the chimney components.
Let the soda settle on the components for about 5 minutes.
Pour hot water on the components.
Leave the components submerged for about 3 hours.
Then take out the components and wash them.
Allow the components to dry in the open air.

Once you complete the steps, the components are good as new. Remember to wear gloves when working with caustic soda.

5. Dishwashing liquid

When cleaning kitchen chimney filters, you can use dishwashing liquids. The following steps ensure effective cleaning.

Submerge the filters in boiling water.
Add the dishwashing liquid to the water.
Leave the filters submerged for a few hours.
Scrub the filters to remove the stains and the grease.

A lime dishwashing liquid is preferable when washing chimney components. When cleaning the filters, scrub carefully not to damage them.

Tips For Cleaning the Chimney

So far, we have learned how to clean a kitchen chimney. We have also taken a look at the best chemicals for the job. Now, let’s go through some of the best tips.

Before cleaning your kitchen chimney, make sure the appliance is switched off. Else the application of chemicals can result in the malfunctioning of the chimney. There are significant risks of accidents as well.
When using caustic soda to clean your chimney, remember to wear gloves. The ingredient can result in chemical burns on your hands. Gloves protect you from such injuries.
Baking soda evaporates quickly. As a result, there are a lot of fumes when working with the ingredient. It is ideal to have proper ventilation or do the cleaning in an open space. You can use a face mask for further precaution as well.
When submerging filters, do not use a container that you use for other purposes. Such a measure will protect you from any potential adverse effects.
A kitchen chimney is usually installed directly over the heating source used for cooking. When cleaning the chimney, appropriately cover the heating source. Also, ensure no utensils are present underneath the chimney.
While using chemicals to clean your chimney, remember not to touch your face. This can negatively affect your health.

The Final Verdict

Today, auto-clean chimneys are available in the market. Will a single press of a button you can efficiently clean the appliance. But most users prefer the manual approach. Especially in the Indian kitchen, manual cleaning is required to a certain extent.

The information in this article sheds light on how to clean a kitchen chimney at home. Follow the steps for the best results. Go through the cleaning chemicals and choose the ideal one. With proper cleaning and maintenance, rest assured, your chimney will work correctly for a long time. Consequently, you can easily use your kitchen chimney without any trouble.

Related Posts:

How to Clean Kitchen Chimney at Home? Procedure and Tips