You can make cleaning your kitchen chimney easier by doing certain things. This post will show you how to clean kitchen chimney and make it look new again. We will also give you tips on keeping your kitchen chimney clean year-round.
The chimney is one of the most important parts of your house, but it’s also one that you don’t see every day. This means that it can easily become dirty and cause problems.
Fortunately, cleaning a kitchen chimney isn’t as hard as you might think. With these few steps, you’ll be able to keep your chimney in good shape for years to come.
Kitchen Chimney Cleaning: Why You Should Do
When your kitchen chimney is not maintained regularly, a substance called creosote accumulates in the smoke and lead to a long-lasting foul smell.
When not cleaned on time or at all for an extended period – it becomes difficult to remove these deposits with household cleaners because they are so thick. As such, if you notice any strange smells coming from inside your home’s rooms that seem out of place, then don’t hesitate: get yourself some professional help as soon as possible before anything else happens again.
Kitchen Chimney Cleaning: How Often Should You Do It?
One of the most frustrating things about cooking Indian food is that it’s so rich and spicy. This means you need to clean your kitchen chimney regularly, or else dark stains will start accumulating on the walls inside.
Fortunately, there are ways around this problem- just make sure not to forget before they’re full after boiling them with water every few months (the same amount as tea).
The kitchen chimneys with cassette filters need to be cleaned once a week, while the ones that use baffle and charcoal types of system can go without washing for about two months. After 3-4 months, these will start releasing black soot onto your food which is not good if you do not want them replacing those often enough.
Scientists have linked the smoke from cookers because it contains carbon monoxide gas, which means all cooking appliances should have regular maintenance on their components.
Chimney cleaning: 3 simple steps
Every part of the kitchen chimney requires different material or method to clean. However, you may not always need professional help with basic maintenance tasks such as cleaning and maintaining your own home.
Let’s learn about some effective methods that are easy enough for even those who don’t consider themselves handy around the house can handle on their own:
Step 1. External Body of Kitchen Chimney
The exterior of the kitchen chimneys is polished and glossy, making them simple to clean.
Cleaning tools required
- Dishwasher/ paint thinner,
- water to dilute and
- 2-3 cotton cloth pieces.
Steps to clean
- Add a few drops of dishwasher detergent or paint thinner to water and dilute it.
- For a minute, soak a cotton cloth/towel in the diluted solution.
- Gently rub the surface of the chimney with a clean, damp cloth.
- Leave the foam for several minutes.
- Wipe out the filthy foam from the surface with a clean wet towel.
- Allow drying before using.
Step 2. Filter cleaning
Filters are the main part of kitchen chimneys that require major cleaning and can be a little fussy. These removable pieces will help keep your house clean, but they’re not difficult to take out once you know how.
Cleaning materials
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- brush/scrub
- Cotton cloth /towel
- Hot water
Method – 1
- To make a paste, add 1-2 spoons of baking soda to a few drops of vinegar.
- Using a brush, apply the paste throughout the filter mesh.
- Let it soak for 5 minutes, then rinse with mild water.
- Keep the filters in direct sunlight and allow them to dry fully before using them again.
- You may also use a cotton towel to dry the filter.
Method – 2
- In a large tub, dissolve a few drops of vinegar in boiling water.
- Fill the filter with water and allow it to soak for half an hour.
- Use the brush or scrub to clean the mesh.
- Allow drying after removing any residual detergent.
Step 3. Internal Parts Cleaning
Internal parts of the kitchen chimney are a bit more technical, so they need expert help. It might be difficult to clean them properly without any liquid or water used in cleaning and could lead you to fire.
Too many people scrub at their vents with soap then let them set before removing all traces; this risks having acid come off onto other materials nearby, such as these liners that protect carpeted floors against fires caused by escaping toxins.
You can use toothbrushes for dusting but not liquids because it is dangerous around electrical wires, which may short circuit when there’s too much moisture near those areas where flammable gas lines run through as well as ducts inside your fireplace.
Dry clothes work fine if there are no chemical solutions
An Automatic Chimney’s Cleaning Process
Automatic chimneys are perfect for those who love the idea of a fully automated fireplace. You can control them from anywhere with an internet connection, and they will operate on their own.
Thanks to advanced filters that remove all dirt in one go every time; there’s no need to bother yourself by manually doing anything like sweeping or vacuuming. There’s nothing left up to you when it comes to when it needs cleaning- which typically happens automatically anyway.
Thermal-based chimney
The heat from your chimney during the auto-clean process helps melt out all of those impurities. The oil vapour gets heated up and then goes into contact with an attached collector to make sure you don’t have any leftovers.
You just need to remove this one part for cleanliness purposes only, not because there is anything wrong with how it looks on its own or whatnot.
Cleaning the Kitchen Chimney: Safety Tips
Here are some safety precautions to take when cleaning the kitchen chimney at home.
- Before you begin cleaning the chimney, unplug it. The chemicals will not be able to harm the chimney if you turn off the appliance before starting.
- Cover the kitchen chimney properly since it is located over the heating source or stove. In addition, any pots or pans that are kept under the chimney should be removed.
- Remember not to touch your face when cleaning the chimney with chemicals. It is harmful to your health to do so.
- Before you begin any of the procedures, as previously said, put on rubber gloves. This ensures that your hands are protected during the harsh cleaning procedure.
- It would be best if you disposed of the excess water and chemicals used outside the cleaning process. Make sure it is not near any of your plants or flowers that could end up badly affected after getting into contact after you are done cleaning it out. Wait at least two hours before re-plugging the chimney back in.
- Another thing that is recommended before beginning any of this is to turn off all sources of ignition within the kitchen. This includes the stove and oven since they could burst into flames during this time if left on.
FAQs
Can we use vinegar to clean a chimney?
Vinegar is an acidic compound that can work well when cleaning a fireplace. It does not need to be combined with any other substances and cleans away dirt and grime without damaging the mortar in the process. When it is mixed with water, vinegar breaks down into two main components: acetic acid and alcohol. Both are safe for use in a chimney for cleaning purposes and help to maintain their quality and efficiency. The main downside of using vinegar is the potent smell after doing so.
Is it ok to clean the chimney inside?
It is better to clean the chimney from the outside. There are a lot of chemicals involved, and it is a dangerous job that also requires a lot of experience.
 It is crucial to have a professional clean your chimney every year from the inside. You can’t do it yourself, as this would require dismantling and cleaning the appliance, which may not be easy for someone who isn’t very familiar with these things.
Does vinegar remove grease?
Vinegar is a great way to eliminate grease on any cooking surface. Simply spray the mixture onto your stovetop, let it sit for 10 minutes and then scrub away with soap. You’ll be impressed at how easily all that gunk comes off when you use this simple trick.
How to clean the exteriors of the chimney hood?
Cleaning chimney exteriors are equally important as cleaning the inside. You can do it by using a soft, damp cloth, but if you notice more dirt or grime on its surface, clean off any grease with some detergent before wiping it away. In applying these methods, the user manual should always be referred to.
How do I stop the smoke smell?
To stop the smoke smell, you can use baking soda.
Conclusion
If you want to get the most out of your chimney, you have to clean it regularly. There are several reasons you should clean your chimney, but the main one is that if you don’t clean it, it will cause your home to smell bad. In addition, if your chimney gets dirty, it could be a fire hazard.