Extractor fan filters are an essential part of every kitchen but they’re often overlooked when it comes to cleaning schedules and can quickly become clogged with grease and grime
Tackling the stubborn grease and grime on extractor fan filters is often one of the most daunting tasks in kitchen cleaning. These essential but often overlooked components play a vital role in preventing grease marks and vapours from clogging up extraction vents, which can lead to issues if they become blocked.
To breathe new life into your cooker hood filters and bring back their sparkle, sustainability guru Kate, known as @my_plastic_free_home on Instagram, suggests using natural bleach, also referred to as sodium percarbonate. This eco-friendly cleaner remains potent for hours and eventually breaks down into oxygen, water, and sodium carbonate upon mixing with water.
Kate shares her enthusiasm for this versatile cleaner: “Natural bleach (aka sodium percarbonate) has so many uses and I can’t wait to show you how easy it is to remove that disgusting, greasy buildup on your extractor fan filters.”
She instructs: “Just add one tablespoon to hot water, leave for a few hours whilst it’s active and watch it work its magic.”
In her instructional video, Kate begins by displaying the extractor fan filters laden with brown grease spots, reports the Express.
She then places them in the sink filled with hot water and scatters one tablespoon of natural bleach across them.
The sodium percarbonate starts to act when it encounters warm or hot water, releasing trapped oxygen through a reaction with the water.
This process results in a fizzing reaction that tackles stains, dirt, grime, and bacteria effectively.
Following the soaking period, the water became murky with grease particles floating on top; evidence of the grime being drawn out from the filters.
She shared her amazement at the results, saying: “The dirt lifts so easily. You don’t even need to scrub them. Just rinse them off and they’ll be perfectly clean again.”
Sodium percarbonate is an alkaline agent that excels in breaking down and dissolving stubborn grease and oil-based stains, ideal for cleaning greasy extractor fan filters.
In addition to its prowess in cutting through grease, this eco-friendly cleaner also helps maintain laundry’s brightness, preventing fabric discolouration due to limescale accumulation.
