Cleaning your kitchen chimney is a time-consuming and tough process. The majority of our Indian cooking uses a lot of spices and oils, resulting in a lot of smoke. The oil and grease from the smoke can get caught between the filters, reducing the chimney’s effectiveness. If your filters aren’t cleaned, grease/oil drips from the filters might fall onto the stove’s open flame, causing a fire.
It might also get into the meal you’re preparing and contaminate it. As a result, your chimney must be cleaned on a regular basis. Hiring a professional cleaning service does not have to be expensive. You may clean your chimneys with kitchen items such as caustic soda, vinegar, dishwashing detergent, salt, and others.
The following are the most effective methods for cleaning kitchen chimneys at home:
1. Vinegar
Vinegar is most likely present in your cupboard. Vinegar may be used for a variety of cleaning tasks. Vinegar has disinfectant effects in addition to its acidic and mild abrasive characteristics. Vinegar can disinfect your kitchen. Dip a paper towel or tissue in the vinegar solution and wipe the surfaces clean to quickly clean the kitchen. Fill a small tub halfway with hot boiling water, add 1-2 cups of vinegar, and stir well to completely clean filters. Immerse the chimney filters in the solution and set them aside for 1-2 hours. Scrub the filters with a non-abrasive scrubber after removing them. After that, wash them down with a damp towel and let them dry fully before reinstalling them in the chimney.
2. Dishwashing Liquid
Dishwashing solutions include liquid surfactants that may easily unblock and remove grease and oil deposits from chimney filters. Dishwashing liquid cleaning agents work well with chimney filters. Remove the filters from the chimney with care. Using a sponge, apply some dishwashing liquid to the filters. Fill a bucket halfway with hot water and carefully place the filters inside. Leave for 1-2 hours, then take them from the water and scrub with a scrubber. Finally, wash it in plain water and let it air dry.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a well-known multi-purpose cleaning agent. Baking soda’s moderate alkalinity and abrasive qualities readily remove grease and oil stains without harming the surface. Simply combine two teaspoons of baking soda with a small quantity of water to form a thick paste. Apply the paste to the surface and let it dry for 5-10 minutes. To remove the grease, wipe it down with a damp towel. Another technique to use baking soda is to fill a large tub halfway with hot boiling water and then add 2-3 teaspoons baking soda, 2 cups vinegar, and 2-3 tablespoons salt. After removing the filters, carefully scrub and wash them with plain water, then dry them completely before reinstalling them.
4. Caustic Soda
Caustic soda’s acidic nature will easily remove grease or oil stains. It’s a low-cost, high-performance industrial cleanser that dissolves oils, grease, fats, and other organic substances from industrial machinery. Cleaning kitchen chimney grease with caustic soda and hot water is highly effective. Remove the filters from the chimney and set them on a tray in a small tub filled with hot boiling water. Power boiling water over them as soon as you do this, and gases will escape. Allow it to sit for 2–3 hours without being disturbed. Remove them once they’ve been completed, gently clean them, and then wash them in plain water let them dry.
note: Caustic soda should not be handled with bare hands since it might cause chemical burns. While doing this operation, it is recommended that you use safety clothing.
5. Detergent powder
Oil and grease stains may be removed with detergent powder and hot water. The grease is easily removed by the surfactants in Detergent. To clean the chimney, remove the filters first, then fill a metal tub halfway with boiling water, add 3 teaspoons of detergent powder, and re-boil the water. Place the filters in a pot of boiling water. Oil and grease will vanish on their own. Place the filters in the chimney after scrubbing them with a damp towel under running water and letting them dry fully.
6. Paint Thinner
Paint Thinner is capable of rapidly removing stubborn grease and oil stains. Paint thinner contains strong cleaning agents such as Acetone, Toluene, Turpentine, and other mineral spirits, as well as organic solvents like Acetone, Toluene, Turpentine, and other mineral spirits. Soak a piece of cloth in thinner and wipe it on the chimney to remove oil and grease from the filters. It will quickly remove oil and grease stains, leaving you with great results. If you don’t have paint thinner on hand, nail polish remover will be enough. After scrubbing the grease stains away, clean the filters with a cloth soaked in nail polish remover.
How many times should filters be cleaned?
It all depends on how frequently you cook and what you prepare. Chimneys, on the other hand, should be cleaned at least once every 2-3 months. Cleaning the meshes and filters once a month is recommended if you cook a lot of greasy and spicy foods. In addition, the frequency of cleaning is determined by the kind of filters in your chimney.
Cassette Filters -These filters are composed of multi-layered metal layers. These filters are made up of tiny holes that trap oil and obstruct them. As a result, it is critical to clean them every 8–10 days.
Charcoal Filters – Smoke, stink, and grease are absorbed by the charcoal particles in the filter. Because they can’t be cleaned, they need to be changed every 3–6 months.
Baffle Filters – These filters use smoke and grease separation technology. They aren’t clogged on a frequent basis. As a result, clean them every 2–4 weeks.
Conclusion
Cleaning your kitchen chimney may be a task you hate. However, it is simple to accomplish with just a few basic kitchen items. so, think again that next time you pick up the phone to schedule an expensive cleaning service, to make your kitchen sparkle, all you need is a little effort and a few common kitchen items.