Cleaning grease build-up on kitchen hood exhaust fan filters - baking soda solution
About twice a year, the kitchen stove exhaust fan grease filters get clogged with greasy "gunk"
I used to try to just use dish soap and a dish brush, but the brush would just load up with the gunk, and not really remove it from the filters well, and now the brush would likely be thrown out.
So, I did some searches, and a few DIY folks said to combine baking soda with dish soap and hot water, then soak the filters in that solution.
I was skeptical, but tried it. It works!
In a large plastic tray, large enough to cover a filter with about half an inch of water, put enough water to cover the grease filter completely. Hot water works best.
Add about 1/4 cup of baking soda to the water. Stir to dissolve.
Add a tablespoon or two of dish soap to the water. Stir to mix in.
Place the greasy gunky filter into the solution, such that it is immersed completely.
Soak the filter in the solution for one hour.
After the hour has elapsed, you should see the water darkened with grease particles. Some of the gunk may float to the surface. Some of the gunk may drop to the bottom of the container.
Using a dish brush, with light effort rub all over the outside of the grease filter. The idea is just to knock loose the grease residue that has been chemically "attacked."
Rinse the filter with fresh water, then inspect. If still too gunky, discard the now-dirty soak liquid, make a fresh batch, and put the filter in.
Do as many one hour cycles of soak, brush, rinse, inspect, until the grease filters are clean enough.
At the end of the last cycle, rinse the filter(s) with fresh water very well, to remove any soak liquid. Then dry and reinstall.
