How to Clean a Greasy Range Hood in a Small Kitchen
16.08.2026
To clean a greasy range hood, unplug it or switch off the breaker, pop out the metal filter, and soak it in a sink of very hot water with dish soap and a few tablespoons of baking soda for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe the hood's exterior with a hot, soapy cloth, scrub the filter, rinse, dry fully, and reinstall.
What you'll need
- Grease-cutting dish soap
- Baking soda
- A kettle or pot of very hot water (near-boiling)
- A stopper for your kitchen sink (or a large basin if your sink is tiny)
- Two microfiber cloths
- A soft-bristle brush or an old toothbrush
- Rubber gloves
- A small stepstool
- Newspaper or a towel for the counter
Step by step
- Cut the power. Unplug the hood if you can reach the outlet, or flip the breaker. In a rental with a hardwired over-the-range unit, switching off the light and fan is not enough to work safely around the wiring.
- Remove the metal mesh filter. Most slide out or release with a small spring clip or handle. Lay a towel on the counter first so a grease-soaked filter doesn't smear your surfaces.
- Fill your sink with the hottest water you can run, add a good squeeze of dish soap and about three tablespoons of baking soda, and lower the filter in. If your apartment sink is too small, use a roasting pan or plastic basin on the counter.
- Let it soak 15 to 20 minutes. The hot water and soap loosen the hardened grease so you scrub less.
- While it soaks, wipe the hood body. Dampen a microfiber cloth with hot, soapy water and wring it well. Wipe the underside, the front, and the control buttons. For baked-on spots, make a paste of baking soda and a little water, apply, wait a few minutes, then wipe.
- Scrub the filter with the brush, working with the direction of the mesh. Rinse under hot running water until it stops feeling slick.
- Dry everything completely with the second cloth. Water left in the mesh or on the metal body invites streaks and, near a steam radiator, slow corrosion.
- Reinstall the filter, restore power, and run the fan for a minute to confirm it works.
What NOT to do
Do not put an aluminum filter in the dishwasher, and don't leave it soaking in a strong alkaline cleaner for hours. Alkaline solutions and hot dishwasher cycles can oxidize aluminum mesh, leaving it dull, chalky, or pitted. Skip steel wool and abrasive pads on a stainless or painted hood; they leave scratches that trap more grease next time. Never spray any liquid directly toward the light bulb, the fan motor, or the electrical housing, even with the power off. And avoid mixing cleaning products together, especially anything containing bleach with anything else, in a small kitchen with a window that may not open.
When to call a pro
DIY handles the filter and the surfaces you can reach. What it doesn't reach is the ductwork, the fan blades deep inside the housing, and years of grease on a unit that vents through the wall or roof of an old NYC building. If the fan rattles, smells scorched, or barely pulls air after a good cleaning, that's a mechanical or ventilation issue, not a grease problem, and it may involve your landlord or a licensed technician. When you want the whole kitchen degreased and reset without spending a Saturday on a stepstool, book apartment cleaning with CleanWhale.
FAQ
How often should I clean a range hood filter?
For a filter over a stove you use most days, once a month keeps grease from hardening. If you cook heavily or fry often, aim for every two to three weeks. A quick soak is far easier than tackling months of buildup.
Can I use vinegar instead of dish soap?
Diluted vinegar can help loosen light grease and wipe down the exterior, but dish soap is better at actually breaking down cooking oil. If you use vinegar, keep it off unsealed stone and don't combine it with other cleaners.
My hood is over the stove and I rent. Can I still take the filter out?
Usually yes; the mesh filter is designed to be removed and washed, and doing so is normal tenant upkeep. Leave the wiring, ducting, and fan motor alone. If anything beyond the filter needs attention, that's on your landlord.
What if the grease won't come off after soaking?
Re-soak in fresh, hotter water with more baking soda, then scrub with the brush. Very old, varnished-on grease sometimes needs two rounds. If it still won't budge, the filter may be past its life and cheap to replace.
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