1. Why is it necessary to clean kitchen chimney on time?

Ans: A kitchen chimney is specially designed for removing the smoke, fumes, gases, or other pollutants from the kitchen when cooking. It consists of several components like meshes, filters, etc., that trap grease, steam, and oil particles. Eventually, these will get clogged with the thick deposits of grime that will obstruct the gas flow outside through the chimney. Hence it is essential to clean them regularly to ensure the proper functioning and performance of the chimney. Moreover, the areas deposited with grime and dirt pose a threat to microbial infestation. This can be harmful to the health of the occupants in the long run.

2. What is an auto-clean chimney?

Ans: Modern chimneys, these days, come with an auto-clean feature that reduces the efforts for cleaning or maintaining them. All you have to do is just switch on the option, and the chimney does the automatic cleaning. During the cleaning process, all the grime, dirt, or other particles get deposited in a cup, which is removable. Remove the cup, clean it and replace it in the kitchen chimney.

3. Do you suggest AMC (annual maintenance contract) for the kitchen chimney?

Ans: Well, choosing an AMC is always advisable than to clean chimneys personally. This is primarily because the chimney may have clogged filters. The extensive or frequent cooking may result in dense deposits of grease and oil on the chimney. It is always advisable to opt for an AMC with the manufacturer, who will offer services for cleaning, repair, or maintenance periodically. You can also tie-up with a reputed company offering similar services.

4. Is it ok to clean the chimney inside?

Ans: You may require cleaning the chimney from inside yearly once at least. We recommend you to seek the professional’s help for the same, as you may have to dismantle the appliance, and this is no easy feat. So, call for an expert to get the task done. Moreover, this service is also not expensive.

5. How to clean exteriors of the hood?

Ans: Cleaning of chimney exteriors is equally important as cleaning the inside. You can do it by using a damp soft cloth. However, if you notice more dirt or grime on the surface, apply some cleaning detergent and then wipe it off with a clean cloth to remove the grease. Note: Make sure you refer to the user manual and take the necessary care before trying the given methods.

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How to Clean a Chimney Easily At Home?

Updated by

Apoorva

on Apr 1, 2021

“Quick and Easy Hacks to Clean Kitchen Chimney”

Kitchen Chimneys handle of smoke, grease and dust on regularly basis.

If not cleaned once in a while, the filters get clogged with these impurities and eventually affect the efficiency of the chimney.

You don’t need professional help for cleaning a kitchen chimney. The process is actually pretty simple.

In this article, we have mentioned several methods with clear instructions to help you complete the kitchen chimney cleaning task quickly without any hassles.

Table of Contents

How to Clean Chimney at Home?

The below-mentioned methods use natural ingredients that are commonly available in every household. Choose any method that is feasible for you and try it. But remember to follow the instructions carefully.

1. Dishwash Liquid

A dishwashing liquid is a common ingredient in every home that is readily available. Let us see how we can use this liquid effectively to get rid of the dirt and grease stuck to the chimney.

The advantage of using a dishwashing liquid is that it has surfactants, which act as a catalyst to unblock and eliminate the oil, dirt and grease deposited on the chimney filters.

Method 1: Regular Cleaning

This is all you need:

Dishwashing Liquid
Sponge
Bucket
Non-abrasive Scrubber

Instructions:

Remove the filters from your chimney.
Use a sponge to apply the dishwashing liquid to the filters.
Take a bucket and fill it with water.
Place these filters inside the bucket. See to it that the filters get immersed into the water completely.
Allow it to stay for about one-two hours.
Remove the filters from the bucket and scrub them using a non-abrasive scrubber.
After scrubbing, wash them with normal water and allow them to dry completely.
Replace the filters in the kitchen chimney.

Method 2: Deep Cleaning

If you feel that the grease deposits on the filters are tough to remove, try cleaning them using this method.

This is all you need:

Dish Soap
Steel Drum
Stove
Non-abrasive Scrubber
Dry Cloth

Instructions:

Remove the filters from your chimney.
Take a steel drum and place the filters in it. Add water to the drum till the filters get completely immersed.
Pour 4-5 tablespoons of dish soap into the drum.
Now, set the drum on a burner and allow it to boil for 30 minutes.
Turn off the stove and remove the filters from the drum.
Scrub the filters using a non-abrasive scrubber until you get rid of all the dirt and grime left on the filter.
After scrubbing, wash them with normal plain water.
Use a dry cloth to wipe them.
Dry them completely and then replace them in the kitchen chimney.

Boiling helps in effectively removing the tough grease stains or spots from the mesh or filters. Moreover, this makes the tedious cleaning process faster and easier. You will not waste your time waiting for hours to let the grease come off.

2. Baking Soda

When it comes to cleaning, nothing can play a better role than baking soda. It is yet another effective ingredient that most of us have in our kitchen. Using baking soda can be an awesome hack for cleaning your chimney because of its mild abrasive properties.

It will help remove the dirt, grime and grease efficiently without damaging the surface. Let us learn how to clean the outer surface of the chimney, the filters, and meshes.

Below is the step-by-step process for cleaning the surface.

This is all you need:

Baking Soda
Moist Cloth

Instructions:

Take two tablespoons of baking soda and mix it with a small quantity of water to form a paste.
Apply this paste over the chimney surface and let it sit there for five minutes.
Now, take a moist cloth and wipe it off to eliminate the grease.

You can also use white vinegar as an alternative to water to make a stronger cleaning paste.

If you want to clean the filters and meshes, follow the below method.

This is all you need:

Tub
Baking Soda
Vinegar
Salt
Scrubber

Instructions:

Fill a big tub with hot boiling water.
Now, add salt and baking soda (2-3 tablespoons, each) and vinegar (two cups) to the tub.
Mix all of them together and soak the filters in the solution.
Allow them to sit for one-two hours.
Now, take out the filters from the tub and scrub them using a scrubber until you get rid of all the dirt and grime left on the filter.
After that, wash them in plain water.
Let them dry completely and then replace them in the kitchen chimney.

3. Vinegar

White vinegar does a fantastic cleaning job and can be a great option. This will be of great help for getting rid of grime and greasy stains collected on the chimney exteriors such as the hood and the panels. Why don’t you try this?

This is all you need:

Tub
Vinegar
Salt
Non-abrasive Scrubber
Wet Cloth

Instructions:

Fill a small tub with hot water.
Now, add vinegar (1-2 cups) to the tub.
Mix it well and soak the filters in the solution.
Allow them to sit for about one-two hours.
Now, remove the filters from the tub and scrub them using a non-abrasive scrubber to get rid of all the dirt and grime left on the filter.
After that, wash them in plain water and wipe with a wet cloth.
Dry them completely and then replace them in the kitchen chimney.

If you want to clean the exteriors of the chimney, follow these steps. Take a paper towel dipped in vinegar solution and wipe every corner of the chimney. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then wipe again with a wet paper towel.

4. Paint Thinners

You can also use a paint thinner to remove the grease or oil stains on the chimney. It is a powerful cleaning agent that helps you get rid of stubborn stains effortlessly. It is an easy option for cleaning, unlike the other cleaning methods. Don’t have a paint thinner at home? Worry not! I am sure you will have a nail polish remover at home. You can use that as well.

Let us look into the step-by-step cleaning process:

This is all you need:

Cotton or Microfiber Cloth
Paint Thinner
Knife or Blade
Non-abrasive Scrubber
Wet Cloth

Instructions:

Take a dab of paint thinner on cotton or a microfiber cloth.
Using this, gently scrub every corner of the chimney filter to get rid of all the dirt, grease, and oil.
After that, wash the filters with plain water.
Dry them completely and then replace them in the kitchen chimney.

We recommend you clean the filters using the thinners outside to disperse the vapours. Paint thinners contain organic solvents such as Acetone, Turpentine, and other mineral spirits that evaporate easily. There are chances that you might inhale a little amount of vapour when trying to clean whole filters with it. Hence, it is highly advisable to use this solution for cleaning the most stubborn stains of grease in places that are hard to reach.

5. Caustic Soda

Caustic Soda or Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) is another cleaning agent used for cleaning a kitchen chimney. It works perfectly for stubborn grease or oil stains easily and effectively.