Introduction
Having an unsightly sticky mess on your cooker hood is annoying and unhygienic. As a homeowner who loves cooking, I’ve dealt with this problem myself many times. After years of trial and error, I’ve finally found reliable methods to banish sticky splashes and keep my cooker hood clean for good.
In this guide, I’ll share the root causes of sticky hoods and explain step-by-step solutions that really work. You’ll learn handy cleaning hacks, the best products and tools to use, and preventative steps to stop splatter building up in the first place.
With my tips, you can say goodbye to ugly sticky splashes and enjoy a grease-free cooker hood that looks as good as new. Let’s get started!
Why Do Cooker Hoods Get So Sticky?
Whenever you cook foods like meat, oils, sauces, or anything starchy, tiny food particles get airborne and land on your cooker hood. Over time, these particles build up and create a tacky film that attracts more grime.
The culprits that cause stickiness include:
- Oils and fats – Grease from cooking oils, butter, meat fats, etc.
- Sugars and starches – Foods with natural sugars or starches can leave residue.
- Steam and moisture – As steam condenses, it bonds particles to the hood.
Splatter sticks best to greasy surfaces. So once you have a light grease coating, it acts like glue for anything else airborne in your kitchen.
How to Clean a Sticky Cooker Hood
Getting rid of sticky buildup requires a good deep clean. Here are my tried and tested steps for cleaning a greasy cooker hood:
1. Remove the Filters
- Most cooker hoods have metal grease filters that can be taken out. Remove these first to clean the hood interior.
- Soak the filters in hot soapy water or a degreasing solution to remove stuck-on grime.
2. Prepare a Degreasing Solution
- Mix a solution of warm water, dish soap, baking soda and white vinegar.
- Alternatively, use a degreasing agent like Mr Muscle Kitchen Degreaser or Goo Gone.
- Apply the solution generously to the interior hood surfaces.
3. Scrub Away Stickiness
- Use a sponge or non-scratch cleaning pad to scrub firmly.
- Razor scrapers or kitchen degreaser sprays also work for stubborn splatter.
- Scrub until all visible grease and sticky spots are gone.
4. Disinfect the Surface
- After degreasing, apply a disinfectant spray inside the hood.
- This kills any bacteria from food residues.
- Wipe down thoroughly with a clean microfiber cloth.
5. Replace the Filters
- Once the hood interior is clean, put the grease filters back.
- Run the fan briefly to ensure any cleaner residue is vented out.
Preventing Future Buildup
Cleaning a cooker hood thoroughly is hard work. To avoid frequent deep cleans, here are my tips for prevention:
- Use your hood fan whenever cooking. This captures particles rather than allowing them to settle.
- Clean filters monthly. Don’t wait for visible grease buildup.
- Use cooker hood liners or splashguards when frying or sautéing. This saves your hood from the worst splatter.
- Degrease the hood surface periodically using my cleaning method. This stops grease layers sticking.
- Avoid positioning your cooker hood too high. The closer to your cooking, the better it captures grease and steam.
Conclusion
With the right techniques and tools, you can permanently banish sticky residues from your cooker hood. Regular cleaning and using cooker hood features effectively prevents grease buildup over time.
I hope these comprehensive tips give you confidence to tackle sticky hood splatter for good. Just follow my cleaner hood routine, and you’ll be able to enjoy spotless, sparkling kitchen extraction again. Let me know if you have any other great cooker hood cleaning hacks!
