If you use an Auto-clean chimney or even a baffle filter chimney, you know cleaning the chimney oil can be a challenge. But tackling the oily collector or filter is easy with the right strategies. Keep reading till the end to explore the top 5 ways to clean kitchen chimney oil.
How To Clean Kitchen Chimney Oil:
| Method: | How To Do: | Effectiveness: | Considerations: | Best For: |
| Caustic Soda + Dishwasher Powder | Soak filters in a mixture of caustic soda dishwasher powder and water for 5-15 mins | Most effective for removing sticky oil deposits | Caustic soda needs safe handling as it can burn skin | Stubborn, old oil deposits |
| Paint Thinner + Brush | Dip toothbrush in paint thinner and scrub chimney surface | Effective for regular oil deposits | Apply pressure while scrubbing | Regular cleaning |
| Soaking in Drain Cleaner | Soak filters in drain cleaner solution for 5-6 hours | Effective for removing old oil deposits | Avoid removing it from the solution too early | Deep cleaning oil deposits |
| Chimney Cleaning Spray | Apply spray, let sit 10 mins, wipe clean | Works for regular dust and oil | Lay newspaper to avoid spray spreading | Quick and easy regular cleaning |
| Vinegar + Baking Soda | Make a paste with vinegar, baking soda, and lemon; scrub chimney | Effective for monthly oil deposits | Rub with pressure | Regular cleaning without chemicals |
#1. Caustic Soda With Dishwasher Powder – Most Effective Method
How To Do:
- Take a plastic tray/tub and put your baffle filters or oil collector inside.
- Wear gloves and sprinkle the caustic soda powder and Vim dishwasher or any detergent powder.
- Be careful, as caustic soda harms the skin and causes severe skin burns. So wear gloves and handle carefully.
- Then, add hot water inside the plastic tub and keep it for 5-10 minutes. If it’s old dirt and oil deposits, keep it for up to 15 minutes.
- Now, gradually remove the filter and oil collector from the tub, and you will see them smooth and shiny, as if new.
Is It Effective?
- This method effectively removes the most sticky oil and grease on the kitchen chimney. And it takes only 15-20 minutes at the most to apply and see the results. So, it works fast.
What To Consider:
- However, the only major thing to consider is that it uses caustic soda, which is not readily available in homes. Plus, it’s very tricky to handle as caustic soda is harmful to the skin and needs special care while handling.
For whom this method is best?
- For stubborn dirt and oily deposits, this method works like a charm. If no other cleaning method works for you, this one will indeed work.
- However, if you don’t want to handle caustic soda, you can look for other options in the following sections.
While we are talking about kitchen chimneys, it is also worth mentioning that the exhaust pipe of a kitchen chimney can be difficult to hide and blend in the kitchen interior properly. I recommend reading this guide on the best ways to cover a kitchen chimney pipe.
#2. Paint Thinner And Brush – Most Convenient Method
How To Do:
- Take a cup or bottle of Turpentine (known as paint thinner).
- Now, dip an old, worn-out toothbrush inside the thinner so it soaks some of it.
- Then, apply some pressure to rub the chimney and filter surface rapidly.
- Finally, wash off the surface of the chimney under running tap water, and you’ll notice the oily deposits getting off the surface.
Is It Effective?
- Yes, it is an effective method to clean oily deposits from the baffle filter and the kitchen surface. The main advantage is you don’t need to handle hot water or caustic soda-like tricky substances. All you have to do is dip the toothbrush in turpentine oil, which makes cleaning the chimney convenient and easy.
What To Consider:
- Apply a bit of pressure while rubbing the toothbrush on the chimney surface and apply the thinner properly. It will allow the thinner molecules to react with the oily deposits and remove them from the chimney surface.
For whom this method is best?
- This method is best if you don’t have sticky, oily deposits on the kitchen chimney. For regular and convenient kitchen chimney cleaning, this method is perfect.
Related: Kitchen Chimney Fitting On Window: All You Need To Know
#3. Soaking In Drain Cleaner Mix – Best Deep Cleaning Method
How To Do:
- Take a tub of normal water, add drain cleaner powder, and mix it well.
- Then, dip the oily baffle filters of the kitchen chimney or the oil collector tray and let it remain there for around 5-6 hours. During this time, gradually, you will notice the water in the tub changing into an oily mix. It indicates that the drain cleaner (unclog powder) reacts with the grease and slowly removes it from the filter surface.
- Now, you can take out the filters and the chimney parts and thoroughly wash them under running tap water to remove all the residue and dirt particles.
Is It Effective?
- It is a unique and effective method. It helps clean oil deposits that have been stuck for a long time on the filter surface. It wouldn’t be as effective as the caustic soda and dishwasher powder method. But still, it can give better results if you let it soak for a long time, as recommended.
What To Consider:
- Avoid removing the filter from the water too early, as the drain mix needs time to react with the oil particles and remove them from the chimney surface.
For whom this method is best?
- Drain cleaner powder is normally available at home because it is often used to unclog the kitchen sink’s drain pipe. So that makes it a simple and readily available method to consider. It’s better than buying thinner or caustic soda powder if you already have a drain cleaner mix present at home.
Do you know about filterless chimneys? Interested to learn more about them? Then, I highly recommend reading this guide on the disadvantages of a filterless chimney.
#4. Using Kitchen Chimney Cleaning Spray – Best Quick Method
How To Do:
- Take a kitchen chimney cleaning spray.
- Apply the spray on the kitchen chimney filters properly and let it soak for 10 minutes.
- Then, take a wet cloth, wipe off the surface, and enjoy the shiny kitchen chimney parts.
Is It Effective?
- This method is effective for regular dust and oil deposits. It may be less effective than caustic soda or soaking in a drain cleaner to clean sticky, oily deposits. But it’s still a suitable method, given that it only takes a few minutes.
What To Consider:
- Keep a newspaper and then place the filter on it so the spray material doesn’t spread on other surfaces. Doing this will help you to clean the chimney neatly.
For whom this method is best?
- This method is for you if you want a handy way to clean the kitchen chimney. You don’t have to worry about soaking it for long hours or handling trick substances like caustic soda powder. However, there may be more effective options for deep cleaning. The spray method is better for regular, quick and easy cleaning.
#5. Using Vinegar And Baking Soda Mix – Best For Easy Cleaning
How To Do:
- Take a small bowl and add 8-10 caps of vinegar.
- Squeeze one lemon juice and add it to the mix.
- Finally, add one tablespoon of baking soda.
- Now, clean the chimney with a wet cloth to remove dust particles.
- Then dip and soak that cloth in this vinegar and baking soda solution properly and start rubbing the chimney parts.
Is It Effective?
- This method is highly effective for regular cleaning of oily deposits. It may not be effective in cleaning six-month or one-year oily deposits. But for 1-2 months oily deposits, it’s sufficient.
What To Consider:
- Rub the chimney surface and the filter with some pressure to remove those sticky, oily deposits.
For whom this method is best?
- If you don’t like using chemicals like drain clog or caustic soda and prefer using things you can easily find at home, then this method is for you. You can easily clean it just by rubbing it. It’s best for regular cleaning and not for deep cleaning of oil particles from the chimney parts.
Note: About kitchen chimneys, you know that they are effective in keeping the kitchen clean by taking in all the oily particles and smoke from the kitchen. But are kitchen chimneys effective in reducing heat in the kitchen? Check out the guide to learn more.
How To Clean Oil From The Kitchen Chimney Surface?
So far, the methods we discussed are primarily helpful in cleaning sticky oil deposits from the kitchen chimney filters or the oil collector (removable parts).
But what about the chimney itself?
Well, for that, here’s the best method to follow.
- First, prepare a mix using a tablespoon of baking soda, lemon, warm water, and a bit of dishwasher gel (you can also use detergent).
- Then, take a soft and smooth scrubber (to avoid adding any scratches on the kitchen chimney surface while rubbing).
- Dip the soft scrubber inside the baking soda, lemon, warm water, and dishwasher gel mix and gently rub it on the kitchen chimney surface.
- After rubbing the required chimney surface, let the solution mix soak for 5-10 minutes. This time will allow the mix to react with oil and remove them from the chimney surface easily.
- Then, rub a damp cloth on the chimney surface to clean the mix. The result will be a smooth and shiny kitchen chimney surface.
Speaking of kitchen chimneys, you might have heard a lot about the word “Auto Clean Chimney.” But do you know exactly what an Auto Clean Chimney is and its pros and cons? Check out the guide to learn more.
How Often To Clean Kitchen Chimney?
Kitchen chimneys should be cleaned monthly to keep them in good condition. It prevents the simple oil deposits from turning into stubborn, oily deposits.
You can clean it even after every 2-3 months, but then you will need more effort in your cleaning session, which is a hassle.
As far as servicing goes, you need to do a deep clean of your chimney every half to one year to ensure the chimney remains in proper working condition. No matter which method you apply, some oily deposits get stuck deep inside with usage over time. And these oily deposits can be hard to clean without the help of a technician.
What’s Next? Have you ever considered the right size of kitchen chimney? Then check out this guide on kitchen chimney size calculator with suction power capacity to get a complete guide.