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Hood care: Hooding is a hassle?

Hoods need to be kept clean all the time, and that doesnā€™t surprise homeowners. The body of the appliance is cleaned with an ordinary sponge, melamine sponge, kitchen towels with soapy water. It is not recommended to clean metal surfaces with scouring powders, pastes or strong detergents like those used to clean ovens and grills, acidic or alkaline ones. The material can be covered with a mesh of scratches or stains that will be impossible to remove. Ideal for steel and aluminum are special gels for metal, which form a protective coating on its surface. After washing, the hood body is wiped dry, and you can lightly polish them with a microfiber or even a piece of suede to make them shine, and traces of your touches and drops of water are a thing of the past. Surfaces covered with enamels and plastic are less demanding, but you still shouldnā€™t abuse the chemicals.

Extract

WASHING BY THE RULES

You can clean glass parts like panels and fender covers with conventional window cleaners. The principle of use is the same: we apply, or rather, sprinkle it, collect it with a paper towel or tissue, if necessary we apply it again, let it act and collect the liquid with a microfiber, wipe it like a window to prevent leaving any streaks.

The wooden elements of classic models from time to time need to be treated with compositions containing waxes and oils, so the wood will look fresher.

To spend less time on cleaning metal hoods, choose models with a special treatment that does not leave fingerprints and stains from water droplets.

FILTER WASH

All hoods without exception are equipped with grease filters. They also require our occasional care. Itā€™s usual to clean filters every 2-4 months or after 200-250 hours of work , depending on the intensity of use. Some cooker hoods are equipped with filter pollution indicators which help you to know when to start working. Indicators are divided into two types: the first simply counts down a certain amount of time for example, hours , the other directly assesses the degree of filling of the filter.

Do not clean the filter less often than necessary: it puts more strain on the engine, i.e. shortens its active life.

Filter mats ā€“ large pads made of polymers fleece, acrylic, synthetic are simply replaced with new ones. You donā€™t want to wash and reuse them: you ā€œwreckā€ the hood motor early because the old filter wonā€™t be able to conduct the airflow as well, which means the load on the turbine will increase.

If you plan to purchase a hood with removable filters, find out immediately how widely they are available and whether you will have problems with their search and purchase.

Permanent grease filters, made in the form of cassettes, do not need to be replaced, they are designed for the entire life of the model, but they must be periodically washed. The device can be installed 2-3 cassettes, their size does not involve such complex manipulation, as if there was one, but a large cassette. The filters are made of aluminum or steel, and a couple of months can leave a thick layer of grease on the cassette wall. Dishwasher or household detergent is a good way to wash them.

In the dishwasher, the filter must be positioned vertically to allow the dirt to flush out unhindered. Itā€™s best if you donā€™t wash the dishes: the cycle is intense, the temperature is 65Ā°C. Manual cleaning technique is different: the filters should be soaked in hot water with dishwashing liquid. In the manual you can often see a warning not to use radical cleaning compounds concentrates for grills and ovens . It is not due to the fact that the filters lose their properties, just change the appearance of the metal, the surfaces darken. Once the dirt has begun to come off, the cassettes are cleaned with a kitchen brush and washed with a powerful jet of hot water use a shower or shower without nozzle, maximum pressure .

It is possible to clean the filter with the help of a steamer which serves a stream of steam under pressure, but it is impossible to do without soapy solution they put a brush head on the spout and wet it from time to time . Before putting the filters back in the housing they need to be thoroughly dried.

I happened to read on the forum the advice to remove the grease trap so I donā€™t have to clean it or replace it. This is categorically advised not to do. The thing is that the filter cleans the air not for the sake of purity of the atmosphere in the ventilation shaft, and to prevent deposits of grease on the inside walls of the hood, the elements of the turbine and in the duct. Grease not only makes these places unattractive, it also reduces the life of the appliance the hood will be choked with grease and will serve less life and can be the cause of fire.

HAVE A CHARCOAL BITE

Using the hood in recirculation mode is always a forced measure, as the air in the kitchen will not be renewed. Owners of such a cooker hood will also have to deal with the additional hassle of replacing their charcoal filters. Again, you have to buy them somewhere, spend money and time looking for. In order to prolong the time when the filters work effectively, it is necessary to make a habit of leaving the appliance running for 5-10 minutes after each use, this will remove moisture from the charcoal, so that the charcoal will not stick to it and will be able to absorb impurities for a long time.

Filter change every 3-6 months. It is possible to combine these efforts with washing replacement of the grease filters, the technology is very simple: we remove the old filters from the motor and put new ones in.

The situation is a little different with reusable charcoal filters, which only a few manufacturers like Elica, AEG, Teka use. These filters are designed to be used for at least three years. Care with the dishwasher select an ā€œintensiveā€ cycle at 65Ā°C and the oven dry the filters in the oven at 100Ā°C .

Carbon filters must be replaced in a timely manner, because clogged filters reduce the efficiency of the turbine, increasing the load on the turbine. Plus, they donā€™t absorb odors and vapors from the stove, and the hood goes to waste.

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John Techno

Greetings, everyone! I am John Techno, and my expedition in the realm of household appliances has been a thrilling adventure spanning over 30 years. What began as a curiosity about the mechanics of these everyday marvels transformed into a fulfilling career journey.

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Comments: 2
  1. Sage

    Is there a way to make hooding less of a hassle or are there any tips or tricks to simplify the process?

    Reply
  2. Samuel Foster

    Is taking care of your hood a difficult task?

    Reply
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