Why Is It Necessary To Clean Vent Hoods For A Safer Kitchen?

Do you know vent hoods play a major role in our kitchen? Let’s break down exactly why it is necessary to have clean vent hoods in our kitchen.

I think you are also searching for the nagging odor in your kitchen, it could be from the Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Microwave Oven or stovetop.

You’ve got all your kitchen essentials nailed, but you might be forgetting one critical piece for keeping your space clean and safe. That’s the Kitchen vent hood.

A vent hood in our kitchen is a very powerful appliance even though overlooked but it takes charge in fading away noxious fumes and odors.

The result is a better odor and most importantly a better-looking kitchen.

 

What is the role of the vent hood in a regular kitchen?

Here is the role of the vent hood in our kitchen:

1. Vent Hoods Keep Things Cool & Comfortable

While cooking, the heat produced will spread your entire kitchen not only making things uncomfortable but also spreading odors.

This might be tempting before your meal but becomes foul in next morning.

Here vent hoods play a key role in throwing away excess heat from your kitchen during or after cooking.

They lap out fumes, smells, and smoke so you can keep your kitchen cool, comfortable, and fresh.

 

2. Vent Hoods  Protect Your Health

When we are cooking unknowingly gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide will be released and occupy our kitchen area as they are colorless, odorless difficult to detect.

Cooking can result in harmful gases which can further lead to serious illness.

People with asthma and respiratory problems can suffer more along with children below 10 years.

Common symptoms can range from whooping cough to frequent headaches and skin rashes.

Vent hoods help to avoid the growth of bacteria, mold, and grease and also run these particles away from your kitchen.

 

3. Vent Hood Helps to Keep Your Kitchen Clean

The kitchen vent hood helps cut unnecessary time spent in the kitchen by cleaning cabinets, countertops, and floors after cooking.

As they lap up grease before there may be a chance of spilling into your food, cabinets, or countertops and sticking around.

It contains mold and bacterial development. Once you start enjoying the vent usage you’ll wonder about its advantages.

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Health Implications Of Not Cleaning Vent Hoods

Are you ignoring cleaning the kitchen vent hood regularly? So you are welcoming bacteria and mold into your kitchen which causes severe health implications.

Don’t leave your dirty vent hood to compromise your health and comfort! Here are the possible implications of not cleaning the vent hoods.

1. Chemical Exposure In Kitchen

Products we use for cleaning purposes in kitchen vent hoods can contain harmful chemicals.

If we fail to address this and clean periodically that would lead to chemical exposure and can cause severe health problems in the future.

 

2. Allergic Reactions On Skin

The sustained exposure to the remains, dust, and the small debris in the vent hoods can cause allergic reactions on your skin.

This can progress more if you have sensitive prone skin and the symptoms can range from sneezing to skin rashes.

 

3. Food Contamination In the Kitchen

There is a possibility of the micro debris of the grease accumulated on the kitchen vent hoods to enter into the food.

The accumulated things can contaminate the food which can have high implications on your health. The basic symptoms can range from vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

 

4. Exposure to Carbon Monoxide 

If you are not cleaning kitchen vent hoods properly it can result in inadequate ventilation, which allows the formulation of harmful gases like carbon monoxide.

Exposure to this gas can short run turn you into headaches, nausea, and severe dizziness.

With its colorless and odorless nature, carbon monoxide is very hard to detect in regular kitchens.

 

5. Bacteria and Mold Growth

A warm and damp environment in the kitchen leads to the ideal conditions for the formation of freezy grease.

This grease further formulates the growth of bacteria and mold in the kitchen.

The formed molds and bacteria can help food to pollute crease respiratory problems in the long run.

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Why Is It Necessary To Clean Vent Hoods: 5 Reasons

Being one of the vital aspects in the kitchen, vent hoods can remove excess moisture, grease, heat and also foul odors.

However, this is often one of the most neglected areas in any house. Here are a few reasons why it is necessary to clean vent hoods:

 

1. Clean Vent Hoods: To reduce the Risk of Fire

Grease deposits often build up inside and outside of a kitchen hood vent.

Once a fire starts, the grease inside the kitchen hood vent can cause the fire to rapidly spread throughout the building.

 

2. Clean Vent Hoods: to Avoid Sanitation Risks

Grease deposits are more than just a fire hazard, they can also trap debris and bacteria.

When the grease inside the vent builds up, it hardens, sticking to the sides of the vent.

However, it liquifies once that grease is exposed to heat while cooking or using the vent.

This leads to small grease and bacteria falling out of the vent and onto the food below.

 

3. Clean Vent Hoods: To Enhance Efficiency

Investing in kitchen hood grease cleaning can help your kitchen hood run more efficiently.

When the essential components are covered with sticky materials, the kitchen hood needs to bear added power to remove odors.

Regular cleaning is recommended to enhance its efficiency by removing the excess materials from the kitchen vent hood.

 

4. Clean Vent Hoods: To Improve Air Quality

The time when your kitchen vent is filled with grease stocks, it can’t stay effective in removing excessive heat and odors while cooking.

Instead, these odors get trapped in the grease inside your exhaust fan. There, they can fall back into the kitchen which causes stinky odors.

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5. Clean Vent Hoods: To Increase Life Span

Without proper maintenance, the equipment is more likely to break down.

The grease caked on the parts of your exhaust fan makes it hard for it to function correctly.

This leads to small mechanisms wearing down sooner than they would otherwise. Then, the entire kitchen hood can start to malfunction.

 

5 Best Techniques To Clean Vent Hoods

Here are the best techniques to clean your vent hoods:

1. Eliminate The Dry Layers Of Dust

Start your ‘Range Hood Cleanliness’ task with dusting. For this, get a dust brush cleaner and eliminate all the dry, dusty particles from the surface.

The best cleaning brushes reach the delicate and narrow places, corners, and outer edges of the Range Hood, for efficient cleaning.

 

2. Wipe The Outside Of Range Hood

You might have heard a proverb, “The first impression is the best impression,” which is true even when we are talking about your home.

The first look always captures the outer appearance. So, if your cooking hood is muddy and dirty from the outside, how can you satisfy yourself with only its functionality?

So, wiping out the outside of the oven hood is important. For this mix soap with warm water to make a foamy liquid. Rub the surfaces with the scrubbing brush and soap.

You can also use a vinegar solution if there are tough, sticky, and greasy particles. Just spray it over the place and clean the outer side of the exhaust hood.

 

3. Rub The Stains Away That Reside Under The Hood

Cleaning the stains and marks from inside is, undoubtedly, a careful act while dealing with the kitchen hood.

The filters can be sharp, not to mention when you wipe out the inside, you’re pretty close to its electrical components.

Thankfully, your filters can be taken out with ease. For this, first, wear gloves to protect your hands from chemicals.

Mix the baking soda with water and also keep the degreasing soap near you. Just soak the scrub brush in the liquidized soap and scuff the inner area effortlessly.

Baking soda neutralizes the acidic compounds and breaks the grease stuck on the place.

That’s why, for better results apply its paste to the concerned areas, leave it for half an hour, and as an outcome, enjoy a crystal shine on your range hood.

 

4. Detach The Filter From the Range Hood  and Clean It

Many people don’t remove hood filters before scouring. But, we recommend detaching it before cleaning the inner side of the range hood.

However, if your exhaust hood doesn’t need deep cleaning, then it’s okay to take out the filter after cleaning the interior.

Speaking of the filters, they need to be cleaned so the polluted air can vent outside your home efficiently.

Wipe off the large debris stuck in your filter with a towel or scrubby sponge.

Then, soak it into the water-filled sink or tub for around 15-20 minutes.

Rub the range hood filter gently with the help of a scrub brush by soaking it in a mixture of water and 1/4th baking soda.

Rinse the hood off again with warm water and let it dry for some time. Then, spray a vinegar solution on the filter and clean it with a towel or microfiber cloth.

 

5. Keep A Mandatory Check On Your Vent

The vent or duct is the long pipe that is installed right above the cooking range that connects to the oven hood.

It helps to exhaust out all the strong smells and heavy smoke.

You might not have checked its internal condition for years where grease and grime might have made a living.

Just grab a flashlight, hop on a ladder, and remove your vent cap on your ductwork. Check for debris.

 

why is it necessary to clean vent hoods: FAQs

1. how often should hood vents be cleaned?

Regular cleaning and maintenance every three to six months is very essential depending on usage and also to maintain safety in the kitchen.

 

2. is a vent hood necessary?

A clean vent hood is necessary in the kitchen area to maintain fresh space it also helps to remove smoke, steam, grease, and odors while cooking.

 

3. Are there regulations mandating vent hood cleaning?

Yes, many jurisdictions have rules and regulations about cleaning vent hoods to avoid fire accidents and to maintain a safe and healthy environment.

 

4. Can dirty vent hoods affect kitchen efficiency?

Yes, dirty vent hoods will affect our kitchen atmosphere by restricting airflow, increasing fire hazards, reducing cooking efficiency, compromising air quality, and raising energy consumption.

 

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