Extractor fans do a great job of pulling away smoke, grease, and steam during cooking. But while we rely on them to keep the air clean, many homeowners forget how important their maintenance can be. Despite being somewhat hidden, these devices can become clogged with grime, which ends up reducing their performance over time.
Neglecting to clean the cooker hood filters not only affects how well they function, but it can also contribute to lingering kitchen odours. Cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie – also known as the Queen of Clean – is a familiar face on ITV’s This Morning and a trusted name among her 300,000 Instagram followers.
In partnership with Dr. Beckmann, she recommended a practical, low-effort method to keep filters fresh and functional.
She said: “Cooker hood filters are often forgotten and can lead to the kitchen smelling if they aren’t clean, soak these in warm soapy water and white vinegar.”
If your filter isn’t dishwasher safe – something you can confirm by checking the manufacturer’s manual – then soak it in the mixture for at least 10 minutes.
AO appliance expert Nick Small, who often shares advice on how to properly look after key parts of the home, also stressed the importance of upkeep.
He noted: “Ensure you are cleaning this around every three months as it could be full of grease and grime, making it not only dirty, but less effective.”
Nick advises to “let the filter soak in hot soapy water for at least 10 minutes then scrub with a brush.”
This easy step can enormously improve your extractor fan’s performance, making it both cleaner and more effective at removing smoke and odours.