# How to clean a greasy range hood filter

Updated: 2026-10-24 · https://pros411.com/en/guides/house-cleaning/clean-range-hood-filter

## Short answer

Turn off the hood and the burners and let the stovetop cool. Pop the metal mesh filter out of the hood. Fill a sink with very hot tap water, a quarter cup of baking soda and a good squirt of dish soap, and soak the filter 15 minutes. Scrub gently with a soft brush, rinse and let it dry fully before you put it back. Charcoal filters cannot be washed: replace them.

> Safety first: Turn off the hood and the burners and let everything cool before you reach up. Do not stand on the stove to reach the filter; use a step stool.

## How to clean a range hood filter

![Cartoon range hood with a greasy, clogged filter while smoke escapes from the pan, a soaking sink ready](https://pros411.com/img/guias/clean-range-hood-filter.webp)

1. **The filter is sticky with grease.** The mesh filter catches grease from cooking steam. When it clogs, the fan pulls less, and smoke and grease land on the cabinets.
2. **Hood off, stove cool, filter out.** Push the latch or pull the ring and lower the filter. Use a step stool if you need one, never the stove.
3. **Soak it in very hot water.** Very hot tap water, a quarter cup of baking soda and a squirt of dish soap. Soak it 15 minutes.
4. **Scrub gently and rinse.** A soft brush loosens what is left. Rinse with hot water until it runs clear. Soak it again if it still feels sticky.
5. **Let it dry, then put it back.** Shake off the water and let it air dry. Back in place, the hood pulls the smoke out again. Clean it about once a month.

## What not to do

- Do not use oven cleaner or harsh degreasers on aluminum filters: they can darken or pit the metal.
- Do not wash charcoal (carbon) filters. They go in the trash and get replaced, usually every few months.
- Do not run the hood without its filter: grease gets into the fan and the duct.

## Dishwasher or by hand?

Many stainless steel and aluminum mesh filters can go in the dishwasher, but aluminum may turn dull or dark. Check the manual or the label on the filter. Washing by hand is safe for any metal filter.

## How often to clean it

About once a month if you cook most days, or every two weeks if you fry a lot. A filter that looks dark and feels sticky is overdue.

## When to call a house cleaner

- Grease has built up on the hood, the cabinets around it and the wall behind the stove.
- The filter stays sticky after two soaks, or it is bent or torn (replace it).
- The fan is weak or noisy even with a clean filter: call an appliance technician.

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## Frequently asked questions

### How do I degrease a range hood filter?

Soak it 15 minutes in very hot water with baking soda and dish soap, scrub with a soft brush and rinse. Repeat for heavy grease.

### Can I put my range hood filter in the dishwasher?

Many metal mesh filters can go in, but aluminum may darken. Check the manual or the label on the filter first.

### How often should I clean the range hood filter?

About once a month if you cook often, and every two weeks if you fry a lot.

### Can you clean a charcoal range hood filter?

No. Charcoal filters trap smells and stop working once they are full. Replace them as the maker says, often every few months.

### Why is my range hood not pulling smoke?

A clogged filter is the most common reason. Clean it, and if the fan is still weak, have the fan and the duct checked.