How to Clean a Greasy Range Hood Filter
The aluminum mesh filter under your range hood traps cooking grease — and when it clogs, the hood can't pull smoke and steam, and the grease becomes a fire hazard. The good news: degreasing it takes 15 minutes and household ingredients.
Remove the Filter
Slide or unclip the metal mesh filter from under the hood — most pop out with a small spring latch or pull-tab, no tools. There may be one or two. Note whether you also have a black charcoal/carbon filter (on ductless/recirculating hoods) tucked behind the mesh — that type is NOT washable and gets replaced, not cleaned.
Degrease the Aluminum Mesh
The easy method: fill the sink or a pot with boiling-hot water, add a good squirt of grease-cutting dish soap and about a quarter cup of baking soda, and submerge the filter for 10-15 minutes. The grease lifts off. Scrub any remaining film with a soft brush, rinse with hot water, and let it dry completely before reinstalling. For a baked-on filter, a degreaser spray (like a kitchen/oven degreaser) speeds it up. Avoid harsh wire brushes that scratch the mesh.
Charcoal Filters and How Often
If your hood recirculates air (doesn't vent outside), it also has a charcoal filter that absorbs odors — replace it every 3-6 months; washing it does nothing. Clean the aluminum mesh filter about once a month if you cook often, or every 2-3 months for light cooking. A clogged hood filter is both an airflow and a fire-safety issue, so don't skip it.
Parts & Tools
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FAQ
Soak the aluminum mesh filter in boiling-hot water with dish soap and baking soda for 10-15 minutes, scrub off any remaining film, rinse, and dry fully. A degreaser spray helps with baked-on grease.
About once a month if you cook frequently, or every 2-3 months for lighter cooking. A grease-clogged filter cuts airflow and is a fire hazard.
No. Charcoal/carbon filters (on ductless recirculating hoods) absorb odors and can't be washed — replace them every 3-6 months. Only the metal aluminum mesh filter is washable.
Sources
Documents this guide was checked against. How we verify.
Always unplug an appliance and shut off its water supply before servicing. This guide is informational and not a substitute for a qualified technician.