Kitchen Extractor Hoods and Filters: Degreasing Made Easy

Extractor hoods and canopies trap airborne grease every time you cook. Over a few months that grease thickens into a sticky, smelly layer that reduces airflow and, in commercial kitchens, becomes a real fire hazard. Cleaning them regularly is quicker than you think.

How often?

• Home kitchens: wash the mesh filters every month or two, more if you fry often.
• Commercial kitchens: filters weekly (daily in very busy fry kitchens), with the canopy wiped down regularly. Ducts and fans need professional cleaning on a schedule that suits your volume and your insurance requirements.

Cleaning the filters

1. Switch off the extractor and let it cool. Remove the filters as per the manufacturer's guide.
2. Soak them in a sink or tub of hot water with a heavy-duty degreaser such as Maxikleen or Degreaser with Ammonia, diluted as the label directs.
3. After 15–30 minutes, scrub with a heavy-duty scourer or brush, working along the mesh.
4. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and let them dry completely before refitting.

Cleaning the hood or canopy

Spray or wipe diluted degreaser onto the outside and the inside surfaces you can reach safely. Let it work for a few minutes, wipe off with a cloth, then rinse with a clean damp cloth. On stainless steel canopies, finish by drying and wiping with the grain to avoid streaks.

Signs your extraction needs attention

• Grease dripping from the canopy edges
• Smoke lingering in the kitchen when you cook
• A louder fan or weaker suction than usual
• A rancid smell when the extractor runs

Make it a routine

Put filter cleaning on the cleaning schedule with a date and name next to it. Many kitchens keep a spare set of filters so one set can soak while the other is in use.

Stock up

Maxikleen, Degreaser with Ammonia and Heavy Duty Scourers are available in 5L and trade sizes from maxproducts.co.za.

🛒 Shop this article

Products mentioned in this guide

Available now from our sister company Max Products at maxproducts.co.za, in trade sizes and delivered in Cape Town.

MaxikleenShop now →Degreaser with AmmoniaShop now →Heavy Duty Scourers (5 Pack)Shop now →

Visit maxproducts.co.za →