Cleaning in general is a task which requires the utmost effort that too in Indian kitchens which have an immense number of spices and oils. Moreover when it comes to cleaning kitchen chimneys it adds a whole lot more to the plate.
One of the most essential components of our kitchen is the kitchen chimney. They keep the pollution and cooking steam out of the kitchen while keeping it clean and grease-free. In this article, I will show you how to clean kitchen chimney at home.
Costly To Hire Professionals To Clean It:
It will be expensive for you to employ professionals to clean it on a regular basis. Many kitchen cleaning services provide packages that include cleaning them four times each year. For their services, they charge approximately Rs. 1100-1500. Which is fairly expensive compared to how much you will spend if you do it at home by yourself
Why Do Kitchen Chimneys Need to Be Cleaned Regularly ?
Oil gathers in the grooves that are out of reach of a cloth or other equipment. Effective stain removal techniques include completely submerging the baffle filter in the cleaning solution in order to loosen the spots.
A kitchen chimney’s job is to vent the smoke, airborne grease, vapors, fumes, and steam that are produced in the kitchen outside. It has a number of functional parts, including meshes, filters, and baffles that capture airborne particles including steam, soot, and grease droplets. In
In order to keep the chimney operating properly, these gradually build up into heavy layers of filth that obstruct the flow of gasses up the chimney.
Disadvantages Of Sticky, Filthy Chimney Filters:
1. It is unpleasant. It absolutely damages your kitchen’s appearance. Grease-blocking filters developed over time. And as a result, the chimney’s suction power will decrease.
2. Drops of oil or grease could come from the stove’s filters. As a result, it may start a fire within the house.
3.Smoke and steam may occasionally be visible in your kitchen as a result of the chimney’s diminished efficacy. Additionally, the area around the stove becomes unclean.
4. If you use a mesh filter but don’t frequently clean it. Filters might then become clogged with grease and oil.
How To Clean Kitchen Chimney Mesh and Baffle Filters At Home?
To clean chimney filters at home, there are five different techniques. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages. Cleaning a kitchen chimney regularly is important for maintaining its functionality and preventing fire hazards. Here are the steps for cleaning a kitchen chimney:
Method 1: Cleaning With Water, and Baking Soda
Salt, baking soda, and water are all necessary. In addition, you need a waste toothbrush or scrub brush. You may also use boiling water.
Baking soda is another common household ingredient that has been used for cleaning for thousands of years. It’s frequently included in cleaning supplies, and you may have a pack in your refrigerator. Baking soda is chemically known as Sodium Bicarbonate, and it is essentially a salt. It has a soft acidic tendency, making it ideal for washing away difficult stains with a water-based solution.
- Take off the chimney’s filters.
- Boiling water should be put in a bucket.
- Tablespoons of baking soda, and salt should be added to boiling water.Make a thick paste with two tablespoons of baking soda and a small amount of water. Allow this paste to sit on for one to two hours, let the filters soak in it.
- Use the scrub brush to clean.
- Use water to wash it. Then reposition the filters where they belong.
Method 2: How To Clean Chimney With Caustic Soda?
Requirement – Caustic soda, a tub, hot boiling water, and gloves are.
Caustic soda, also known as Sodium Hydroxide, is an excellent cleaning agent, but it is also hazardous and should be handled with caution. Place the chimney filters in a dish and cover with caustic soda. Caustic soda should not be handled with bare hands as it may cause chemical burns.
- Take out the chimney filters. And place them in the tub. Caustic soda should be sprinkled on top of the filters.
- Pour boiling water over it. Keep a safe distance from the tub. The fumes from caustic soda will be released.
- Soak the filters for 2 to 3 hours in it. When working with caustic soda, wear gloves to protect your hands from chemical burns.
- If necessary, scrape with a scrub brush.
- Wash it with water. And return the filters to their original positions.
Method 3: Clean Chimney With Dishwashing Liquid
If you’re seeking different ways to clean kitchen chimney mesh filters, look no further than your dishwashing liquid. These cleaning chemicals are designed to efficiently remove oil and grease, and they work well with chimney filters.
Dishwashing liquid, a scrub brush, and boiling water are all required. You can also use baking soda in it. It is entirely optional.
- Removal of filters from the chimney: First and foremost, we must remove the filters from the chimney. Most filters feature a lock that allows them to be removed from the chimney. Simply remove it with that lock.
- Fill a bucket with boiling water: A bucket of boiling water is required. The hotter the water, the more effective it will be.
- Add dishwashing soap: Add 4-5 tablespoons of dish soap and stir with a scrub brush. Because the water is hot, do not mix with your hands.
Method 4: Clean Chimney With Paint Thinner
Paint thinners are strong cleaning products made up of organic solvents including acetone, toluene, turpentine, and other mineral spirits. Because these solvents evaporate quickly, you’d end up inhaling a lot of vapor if you tried to clean entire filters with them.
Instead, use it to remove the most persistent grease that has become lodged in hard-to-reach spots such as cracks and folds; particularly when any of the other cleaning techniques has failed to entirely remove the grease.
- Take the filters out of the chimney.
- Using a brush, apply paint thinner on it.
- Use the brush to scrub.
- Reapply paint thinner to the filthy spot and scrub it one more time.
- Wash it with water. And return the filters to their original positions.
FAQ’s:
We can clean chimney filters at home using the ways I stated above. However, with time, the inside of the chimney becomes oily and greasy. Professionals are required to clean chimneys from the inside.
Chimneys should be cleaned at least once every two months, depending on how much load your kitchen handles and the type of food you produce. If you cook a lot of fatty and spicy foods, clean the meshes and filters at least once a month. However, if you have a charcoal-filtered chimney, you will need to replace the filter every 6 months.
Cleaning the kitchen chimney filters with Dishwashing liquid and boiling water is the finest approach. Because it offers several advantages over other ways. Moreover it is available in most households compared to the others
You should clean your chimneys at least once every two months. As previously stated, all of the fat and oil from cooking will become trapped in the chimney filters, rendering them nearly unusable. If you cook a lot of oily foods, you should clean your chimneys once a month.
Sodium hydroxide and nitric acid are the substances used to clean chimney plates. These two compounds are commonly utilised.
Conclusion:
The chimney in your kitchen is very useful but when it comes to cleaning it then it’s a hectic task . The majority of our Indian cuisine uses a lot of spices and oils, both of which produce a lot of smoke. Smoke oil and grease can become caught between the filters, limiting the efficiency of the chimney. We should be able to clean the chimney baffle filter ourselves.
Cleaning the kitchen chimney may be something you dread. However, it is simple to do with just a few kitchen items. So, the next time you pick up the phone to order an expensive cleaning service, think twice and read our how to clean kitchen chimney at home article and then clean on your own. Some underutilized kitchen goods can be used to make your kitchen shine.