Grease-buster for metal mesh hood filters.

Bendy_House

The types of removable mesh/grill filters that do the first catching under a hood extractor. And to shift years of accumulated 'grease' - that thick, sticky, tough coating that laughs in the face of most cleaners.

The main issue is that the filter has mesh layers, so you cannot get inside it to shift this stuff. Is there a sooper-dooper spray on product that'll 'dissolve' the grease so's it can then be flushed out?

Thanks.

Section62

I've always put them in the dishwasher... check the instructions for the hood before doing the same.

(Edit: On their own so there's no risk of reaction with other metal items)

knightstyle

You can get BBQ cleaner, just put it on and leave in the bag provided overnight then rinse in hot water, works a treat.

shiraz99

Put them in the dishwasher.

Bendy_House

There was a dishwasher - but the first thing she did was get rid of it :-)

I've read that 'oven, grill, bbq' cleaner is the way to go, but the 'bagged' one sounds interesting, knightstyle, as many seem to be quite caustic, so this sounds like a good plan. (It's for mil, and I wouldn't want her to hurt herself...)

Cheers, all.

Section62

Bendy_House said:

There was a dishwasher - but the first thing she did was get rid of it :-)

I've read that 'oven, grill, bbq' cleaner is the way to go, but the 'bagged' one sounds interesting, knightstyle, as many seem to be quite caustic, so this sounds like a good plan. (It's for mil, and I wouldn't want her to hurt herself...)

The manufacturers often say they need cleaning every few months or so... you might want to get that dishwasher back. :-)

If the filters are aluminium (often are) or have a surface finish then go carefully with the chemical options. Maybe do the 'test on a small inconspicuous area' thing first.

plumb1_2

You can buy replacement filters for about £15 for 2
spares2go

fenwick458

be careful with what you use to clean them, I tried cleaning a set of filters in a bath of citrus degreaser/water (30 citrus/70water) and after a day the plastic surround was discoloured and later snapped. the metal filter was clean afterwards but it later discoloured and oxidised, ended up buying a new cooker hood.
I think the best idea is the dishwasher but do it often like every year. if you wait 5 years it'll get so caked up with grease the dishwasher won't touch it, but stronger stuff may well destroy it. washing every year in a dishwasher is what I plan to do from now on

Bendy_House

Thanks everyone - very good points.

Yes, I've seen that some strong oven cleaners shouldn't be used on aluminium, so that needs looking at. And I did come across pairs of filters for as little as £12 - which mil was initially quite taken by, before the doubts - will they be the same? I don't want rubbish quality... etc etc started, as it always does...

I'll check out cleaners first, and get summat that's safe on ali. If that fails, well, it'll be summat else... :-(

Bendy_House

Used Mr Muscle 'Oven Cleaner', which is a strong caustic foaming spray. Tried it on one of my own filters first, in case the spray damaged the aluminium finish - it didn't. Cleaned up nicely - left it sitting in my sink for a good 20 minutes, gave it a light brushing, and then rinsed. Came up good.

Did mil's, and I'm in her good books again....

badger09

Bendy_House said:

Used Mr Muscle 'Oven Cleaner', which is a strong caustic foaming spray. Tried it on one of my own filters first, in case the spray damaged the aluminium finish - it didn't. Cleaned up nicely - left it sitting in my sink for a good 20 minutes, gave it a light brushing, and then rinsed. Came up good.

Did mil's, and I'm in her good books again....

I've had similar experience with Fairy Power Spray (green bottle). Despite it warning not to use on aluminium, brass, painted surfaces etc, I used it for many years on hood filters in our previous kitchen. Completely gets rid of the greasy build up and only slightly dulled the aluminium frame, which is hardly seen anyway!