What is a Kitchen Hood?
An apparatus that hangs above commercial ranges, fryers, grills, and other cooking equipment is known as a kitchen hood, exhaust hood, or range hood. It has one or more mechanical fans that exhaust odors, smoke, oil, and heat into the air. It attracts dirt and detritus like crazy.
How Does a Commercial Kitchen Hood Operate?
Most kitchen exhaust hoods consist of four main components. What they do and who they are are listed below.
Filters
These ducting accessories, made of mesh or stainless steel, bridge the entrance and prevent debris from blowing into the fans.
Fans
One or more mechanical fans are located behind the filters, sucking air up through the ductwork and out of the building.
Grease Traps
Air that is clogged with debris and smoke rushes up the ventilation system, gathers on the ductwork's side, and drips back down. Small pans on the interior border of the ducting are used to catch the grease. The grease traps are those.
Ductwork
The complete conduit that collects airflow through a flared opening and sends it upward and away is known as the ductwork. The ductwork contains the filters, fans, and grease traps.
Steam Cleaning of commercial kitchen hoods
Steam cleaning is the best option to ensure you have your kitchen germ free. Additionally, steam cleaning eliminates 99.99% of bacteria and minimizes the buildup of allergy residues on kitchen surfaces and equipment. The restaurant kitchen cleaning service is intended to assist you in maintaining the highest levels of hygienic practices. At a time that is convenient for your business, your kitchen's ovens, grills, deep-fat fryers, extractor fans, walls, tiles, grouting, floors, etc. will be steam cleaned, leaving your kitchen germ-free, smelling fresh, and most importantly, in compliance with all health and safety regulations.
We recommend using Fortador PRO Steamer for this task since it is powerful enough to cut through all grease to ensure that your kitchen is clean to the highest possible standards. No harsh chemicals need to be used with it and it comes with variety of attachments that will help make commercial kitchens look their best.
Full guide for Kitchen Hood Cleaning
Switch off every valve and range. Let everything cool off by unplugging it. Nothing should be on or even close to being on around you. Then use plastic sheeting to cover all adjacent surfaces and machinery. Grease drips and flows everywhere because this is a famously filthy job.
1. Kitchen Exhaust System Cleaning
Remove any other parts: To guarantee that each part of your kitchen hood gets cleaned independently, remove any grease traps, filters, and fans.
Combine the cleaning agent: Make a warm water and liquid degreaser solution in a bucket.
Interior cleaning: Using a non-abrasive scrubbing pad, soft-bristle brush, or cloth, scrub the interior of the hood using the solution. Make sure to clear away all grease and other debris.
Interior cleanup: After cleaning, wipe the interior with a moist cloth to get rid of any soap scum. After that, dry the interior with a different towel.
Exterior scrub: To get rid of any extra oil, scrub the hood's exterior with the cleaning solution.
Exterior: Use a moist cloth to wipe away any remaining soap scum. Using a different towel, dry the outside.
Dry: Allow more time for your kitchen hood to air dry.
2. Grease Trap Screens in Range Hood Cleaning
Take off the grease trap from your range hood. Go ahead and wipe off as much grease as you can from them. Make sure the grease is put in a different container and not down the drain.
Remove any leftovers by scrubbing any grease from the traps with a soft-bristled brush or non-abrasive scrubbing pad.
Degreasing solution preparation: In your sink, mix some warm water with a liquid degreaser to make a cleaning solution. Check the degreaser bottle to determine the proper water ratio. After the sink has been ready, immerse the traps in the mixture.
Remove traps from solution: Remove the traps from the sink after waiting 5 to 10 minutes.
Before reinstalling your grease traps in your kitchen hoods, let them dry completely by air.
3. Kitchen Hood Filter Cleaning
Remove filters: To clean your range hood's air filters, remove them.
Mix the degreasing solution: Combine the liquid degreaser and warm water in a large tub or sink. Make sure the bottle contains the right amount of water by checking it.
Place the filters in the water to soak them. Consider letting the filters soak for two to three hours or perhaps overnight because there is a potential they will draw in more grease.
Remove filters from cleaning solution: Take the filters out of the cleaning solution after letting them soak.
Scrub filters: Lightly scrub any remaining residue from the filters with a soft cloth before rinsing them in water to remove it. After you have finished the cleaning process, let them dry.
4. Kitchen Hood Fan Blade Cleaning
Disconnect and remove the fan from the range hood to begin cleaning it.
After the blower has been taken out, use a drill to separate the fan blade cover. You can now see the individual fan blades thanks to this.
Fan blades should be detached so that they can be cleaned individually. If your hood has more than one fan, be careful to identify each fan separately.
Blade soaking: Soak the fan blades in warm, soapy water for a few minutes.
Dry: After giving the fan blades time to soak, take them out of the water and let them air dry. You might want to use a microfiber cloth or let them air dry.
Safety precautions or guidelines
When performing restaurant hood steam cleaning, it is crucial to prioritize safety precautions to ensure a safe and efficient process. Begin by switching off all valves and ranges, allowing them to cool down and unplugging any electrical equipment.
It is important to create a safe environment by ensuring that nothing is on or near you during the cleaning process. Use plastic sheeting to cover adjacent surfaces and machinery to prevent grease from dripping and flowing.
During the cleaning process, it is recommended to wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles to protect yourself from potential hazards. By following these safety guidelines, you can maintain a secure environment while achieving optimal cleanliness and hygiene standards for your kitchen hood.
Start Kitchen Hood Cleaning Services or call for PRO
Consider hiring a kitchen hood cleaning service if you're not sure whether you want to clean your hood system yourself. You can have your hood system cleaned by a team of experts using these services, which may or may not be offered where you live. Depending on your tastes, professional cleaning might be the best option despite the cost.