How to Clean and Replace a Range Hood Grease Filter

Range hood filters are the workhorses of your kitchen ventilation, trapping grease and cooking particulates before they coat your cabinets and walls. A clogged filter forces your hood to work harder, pulls air slower, and lets odors linger. The good news: cleaning is simple and fast, and when it's time to replace, you're buying a consumable that costs less than takeout. The difference between a kitchen that smells clean and one that doesn't often comes down to one afternoon of maintenance.

1. Document Before You Remove. Turn off the range hood. Locate the filter frame—most hoods have either a slide-out rectangular mesh filter or a flat baffle filter held by a simple latch or thumbscrew. Release the latch or unscrew the hardware and slide or lift the filter straight down and out. Set it on your counter or sink.
2. Know When to Replace. Hold the filter up to light. If you can see through the mesh clearly, cleaning will work. If it's dark, heavily matted, or you can barely see light through it, replacement is more efficient than deep cleaning. Run your finger across the surface—built-up, hard grease means it's time to replace.
3. Make Your Grease-Cutting Bath. Use your bathtub, a large plastic bin, or a utility sink. Fill it with the hottest water your tap produces (around 120°F is ideal). Add a commercial degreaser like Dawn dish soap or a specialized kitchen degreaser at the concentration the label recommends. For heavy buildup, add a splash of white vinegar or a degreasing paste made from baking soda and water.
4. Let Time Do the Work. Submerge the filter completely in the hot water. Let it sit for 15–30 minutes. This loosens the grease buildup without scrubbing. For extremely greasy filters, let it sit for an hour. You'll see the water turn cloudy and brown as grease begins to release.
5. Scrub Both Sides Thoroughly. Remove the filter from the water. Using a soft-bristle brush, old toothbrush, or non-abrasive scrubbing sponge, gently scrub both sides of the mesh in the direction of the mesh lines. Pay special attention to the edges and corners where grease pools. Rinse under running water as you scrub to see your progress. If grease remains, dunk it back in the hot water for another 5 minutes and repeat.
6. Dry Completely Before Reinstalling. Rinse the filter under hot running water until the water runs clear and no soap or grease residue remains. Shake off excess water. Stand the filter upright in a dish rack or lean it against a wall to air dry completely before reinstalling. This usually takes 15–30 minutes.
7. Secure and Test Airflow. Slide the dry, clean filter back into the hood frame, orienting it the same way it came out. Secure any latches or tighten any thumbscrews firmly but not forcefully. Run the hood on low for 30 seconds to confirm it's seated correctly and airflow is restored. If replacing, unbox the new filter, remove any plastic wrapping, and install it the same way.
8. Schedule Your Next Check. Make a calendar note to inspect your filter again in one month. In a light-cooking kitchen, you'll clean every two months and replace every six. In a heavy-cooking kitchen, you'll clean every month and replace every two to three months. This simple habit keeps your hood working and your kitchen smelling fresh.