How to Clean and Degrease a Kitchen Exhaust Hood and Filters

Kitchen exhaust hoods trap grease, smoke, and cooking vapors before they settle on your cabinets and walls. Over time, that grease builds up inside the hood and clogs the filters, which means the hood stops working and your kitchen fills with steam and smell instead of drawing it out. A grimy hood also becomes a fire risk—grease accumulation near heat is never safe. Cleaning it properly isn't complicated, but it does require the right approach: hot water, a good degreaser, and some elbow grease. Done well, a clean hood will pull air efficiently again, and you'll have knocked out one of those jobs that's easy to put off but feels great when it's finished.

1. Kill the Power First. Switch off the exhaust hood at the wall switch. If you've been cooking, wait 10–15 minutes for the hood and motor to cool down. A warm hood is fine to work on, but a hot one can burn your hands and make degreaser dry too fast. Open a window to ventilate the kitchen while you work.
2. Release and Remove Filters. Locate the filter mounting clips or latches inside the hood. Most residential hoods use a simple push-release clip or a twist-lock mechanism. Push or twist to release the filter frame, then slide the filters out gently. Some filters are a single panel; others are stacked. Take photos with your phone if you're unsure how they go back in.
3. Mix Your Degreaser Bath. Use your bathtub, a large plastic basin, or a utility sink. Fill it with water hot enough that you can hold your hand in it for only a few seconds—around 140–160°F. Add degreaser according to the product instructions, typically 1 part degreaser to 4–5 parts water. Stir it together. If you don't have commercial degreaser, a 1:1 mix of hot water and white vinegar or a few tablespoons of dish soap in very hot water works in a pinch, though it's slower.
4. Let Degreaser Do the Work. Place the filters into the hot degreaser solution. Make sure they're fully submerged. Set a timer for 15–20 minutes. Don't exceed 20 minutes unless the manufacturer says it's okay, because prolonged soaking can damage the filter media or coating. While they soak, the degreaser will soften the buildup and make scrubbing much easier.
5. Gentle Circular Motions Win. Pull one filter from the solution and place it in the tub. Using a soft-bristled brush (a dishwashing brush or soft deck brush works well), scrub both sides of the filter in the direction of the mesh or pleats. Use gentle circular motions; you're not trying to strip the filter, just dislodge the grease. Work systematically across the entire surface. Rinse it under hot running water while you continue to brush. Repeat for the second filter.
6. Water Runs Clear, You're Done. Hold each filter under hot running water and continue to brush gently while you rinse. Tilt and rotate the filter so water runs through both sides. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear and you don't see grease sheening on the surface. This usually takes 2–3 minutes per filter. If water beads up instead of running through, there's still grease present—rinse longer.
7. Air-Dry While You Clean. Gently shake each filter over the sink to remove excess water. Stand the filters upright on a dish rack, against the side of your sink, or on a clean towel. They don't need to be completely dry before you reinstall them—slightly damp is fine. But give them at least 10 minutes to drain while you clean the hood itself.
8. Attack Inside Surfaces. Refill or refresh your degreaser solution if needed. Dip a microfiber cloth or sponge into the hot degreaser and begin wiping the inside surfaces of the hood—the underside of the hood canopy, the sides, and around the edges. Work systematically. The degreaser will loosen the grease buildup. For stubborn spots, let the cloth sit on the surface for 10 seconds to let the degreaser soak in, then wipe again.
9. Empty the Grease Trap. Many hoods have a removable grease collection pan at the front or bottom. Pull it out and empty any accumulated grease into a disposable container or paper towels—never pour it down the drain. Wipe the pan with degreaser solution and a cloth, scrub any stubborn spots with a soft brush, and rinse it clean. Let it drain before sliding it back into place.
10. Polish the Exterior. Don't forget the outside of the hood. Use your degreaser cloth to wipe the front panel, sides, top, and any exposed edges. Stainless steel hoods can accumulate fingerprints and grease spots. Wipe with the grain of the steel if applicable. For stubborn exterior spots, spray a little more degreaser on your cloth and let it sit for 10 seconds before wiping.
11. Remove All Degreaser Residue. Dip a clean cloth in plain hot water and wipe down all interior surfaces of the hood to remove any remaining degreaser residue. This prevents buildup and ensures the hood looks clean and isn't slippery. Pay special attention to corners and seams where degreaser can pool.
12. Lock Filters in Place. Check that the filters are dry enough to handle (they can be slightly damp). Line them up with the filter slots in the hood. If you took photos earlier, reference them. Slide the filters in fully and secure them using the original clips or latches. Push or twist them into place until they click or lock. Make sure they sit flush with no gaps around the edges.
13. Confirm Suction Returns. Turn the hood back on at the wall switch and listen for the motor to run smoothly. Feel at the intake (usually the underside of the hood) to confirm you feel suction pulling upward. The hood should be noticeably quieter and should pull more strongly than it did before cleaning. Turn it off after 10–15 seconds. Clean up your workspace, empty your degreaser basin, and wash your tools.