How to Clean a Kitchen Chimney Filter at Home

Spraying Shinezy Kitchen Cleaner foam onto a greasy kitchen chimney filter

A kitchen chimney pulls oil and smoke away from the stove, and most of that oil ends up stuck in the filter. When the filter clogs, the chimney gets louder and pulls less. Cleaning it at home takes about 20 minutes once you know which kind of filter you have.

First, check what your filter is made of

Slide or unclip the filter and look at it.

  • Baffle filters are curved stainless steel panels. They are sturdy and can be cleaned with a foam kitchen cleaner.
  • Mesh or cassette filters are layers of fine mesh and are usually aluminium. Alkaline cleaners can darken aluminium, so these need the gentler soak method below.
  • Charcoal filters, found in ductless chimneys, cannot be washed. They have to be replaced.

If you are not sure, check the chimney manual, or test a small hidden corner first.

What you need

  • A foam kitchen cleaner
  • A damp cloth and a soft brush or sponge
  • Gloves
  • A tub or sink with hot water and dish soap, for mesh filters and heavy build-up

Before you start

  1. Switch the chimney off at the wall.
  2. Turn off the burners and let the stove and hood cool completely. Aerosol foam cleaners are flammable, so never spray near a flame or on a hot surface.
  3. Open a window so the kitchen is well ventilated.
  4. Take the filter out. Most slide out or release with a clip.

How to clean a stainless steel baffle filter

  1. Lay the filter in the sink or on old newspaper.
  2. Shake the can and spray an even layer of foam over the greasy side from 15–20 cm away.
  3. Leave the foam for 30–60 seconds. For old, baked-on grease, leave it for 2–3 minutes.
  4. Run a soft brush along the channels where grease collects.
  5. Wipe with a damp cloth, then rinse the filter under running water.
  6. Repeat on stubborn patches and let the filter dry fully before you fit it back.
How to use Shinezy Kitchen Cleaner foam: shake the can, spray an even layer, wait 30 to 60 seconds, then wipe with a damp cloth
Shake, spray, wait 30–60 seconds, then wipe. Give old, baked-on grease 2–3 minutes.

How to clean an aluminium mesh filter

Skip the foam on aluminium. Fill a tub with hot water, add a good squeeze of dish soap and soak the filter for 15–20 minutes. Scrub gently with a soft brush, rinse and leave it to dry.

Kitchen surfaces Shinezy Kitchen Cleaner works on, including chimney hoods and filters, and surfaces to avoid such as aluminium
Chimney hoods and filters are on the list. Aluminium is not, which is why mesh filters get the soap soak instead.

How to clean the hood

The underside and body of the hood collect a sticky film too. Spray foam on the cooled surface, wait 30–60 seconds and wipe with a damp cloth. Foam helps here because it stays on vertical and overhead surfaces instead of dripping. Keep the spray away from the motor, lights and switches, and wipe those with a barely damp cloth.

How often to clean it

Everyday Indian cooking involves a lot of frying and tadka, so filters load up quickly. As a rule of thumb, clean the filter every two to four weeks if you cook daily, and wipe the hood whenever you see a film forming. If your chimney has an auto-clean function, you still need to empty and wash its oil collector.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Spraying cleaner while the hood is still warm
  • Using an alkaline cleaner on aluminium mesh
  • Fitting the filter back while it is still wet
  • Washing a charcoal filter

The cleaner we make for this

Shinezy Kitchen Cleaner Foam Spray is made for chimney hoods and filters, gas stoves, tiles, sinks and kitchen slabs. Do not use it on aluminium, natural marble or unsealed stone, painted or lacquered wood, or any hot surface, and test a small hidden patch first.