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How To Clean Chimney

Kitchen chimneys are one of the smartest assets you can own for your kitchen. Not only does it keep your kitchen tidy, but it also would enhance the look of your kitchen.

Many Indian households have installed kitchen chimneys to keep their kitchen clean and free from grease, as a lot of greasy food is cooked every day with oils and spices. The primary task of kitchen chimneys is to absorb all the fumes and smoke and throw them out.

Earlier, most of the kitchens were equipped with exhaust fans that would absorb the cooking fumes but till a certain limit. Later, with the invention of kitchen chimneys, the kitchen remained smoke and odor-free.

Modern-age chimneys with high suction power have now replaced the exhaust fans, and have made the modern kitchens look much better than before.

Auto clean chimneys vs. traditional chimneys

There are two types of chimneys available in the market- Auto clean chimneys and traditional chimneys with no auto clean features. What makes an auto clean chimney better than the traditional ones is that the maintenance is comparatively lower than the auto clean ones.

The auto cleaning chimneys are designed using a non-stick aluminum turbine blower that allows the cooking fumes to pass. The oil particles get attracted towards the chimney blower due to the centrifugal forces and get collected in the collector bowls.

Once you press the “auto-clean” function, the chimney automatically gets cleaned. The traditional chimneys do not have an auto-clean function but perform the same amount of work and with equal efficiency.

How to clean the kitchen chimneys?

As most of the Indian dishes are cooked using oil and spices, cooking fumes may get collected frequently in the chimney meshes. It is not possible to clean it every day, and therefore, a few steps can be followed as and when required to clean the cooking oil collected inside the meshes.

  • Step one: Remove the filter meshes from the chimney wall/hood

Most of the mesh filters are made of aluminum, and washing them can be time taking. Make sure to remove the filter meshes from the hood safely before you start cleaning.

  • Step two: Soak the filter meshes in a solution of detergent and hot water

Soaking in a solution of hot water and detergent loosens the oil and prepares the mesh for deep cleaning.

  • Step three: Use a mix of vinegar, baking soda and dishwashing gel to clean

Scrub the mesh gently using a soft scrubber and a solution made of vinegar, baking soda, and dishwashing gel. Keep the solution for some time on the mesh and rinse off.

  • Step four: Use a soft fabric to remove the water

Once the washing is done, make sure to use a soft fabric and wipe off the water and the remaining dirt. Ensure that the mesh is reinstalled well to the hood and the locks are tightened so that to avoid any accidents.

Frequency of cleaning your chimney

Cleaning your chimney depends on how much you are cooking. A big household with many members and a lot of cooking requires frequent cleaning, while a family with fewer members and less cooking may require less frequent cleaning of chimneys.

If you are into cooking with less oil and spices, that would also require less cleaning. If you are not much into Indian cooking, perhaps you are not using much spices and oils. This means even if you are using your kitchen chimney, it is less likely that the oil is accumulated in the mesh.

What is the importance of kitchen chimneys?

Most of the people would say that there is no requirement of a kitchen chimney, as the kitchen is well-ventilated and airy enough. Many would say it is a waste of money. But is it you might a waste of money? Let’s find out.

A kitchen chimney keeps your interiors clean, as the oil fumes may sit on the walls, ceilings, and furniture. Moreover, a stylish kitchen chimney can enhance the look of your kitchen. If you or any of your family members are prone to sneezing due to the cooking fumes, a kitchen chimney can be a great help.

A kitchen chimney is helpful when you are cooking something and in that case your kitchen chimney would absorb the fragrance/odor of the food items

Almost every modern kitchen nowadays has installed chimneys in their kitchens and many appliance stores have kitchen chimneys in various designs, styles, and colors. You can find several online stores that stock kitchen chimneys in various designs and most of them are also available on attractive deals and discounts.

If you are purchasing it online, you may check the user reviews before purchasing one.

What are the various types of chimney filters and how to clean them?

Most of the chimneys have filters installed to collect oil and cooking fumes. These filters are the ones that are affected the most, so you must know what the different types of filters are and how to clean them.

  • Baffle filters

Baffle filters are made of panels of stainless steel curved in such a manner that it attracts cooking fumes and oil particles easily. baffle filters are ideal for the Indian kitchens as they can be cleaned once a month if moderate cooking is done.

Even if they are not cleaned every day, the oil or grease built-up would not affect the suction power or cause extreme noise.

  • Mesh filters

Mesh filters are designed using aluminum threads knitted together to form a mesh. It cannot be said that it is suitable for the Indian cooking as it attracts oil & grease and is quite difficult to maintain unless you clean it every alternate day.

  • Charcoal slate filters

The charcoal slate filters are designed using charcoal slates that have holes in it to absorb the cooking fumes. However, it is not washable.

Using various solutions to clean the chimneys

You can use professional products to clean the chimneys or can use the ingredients that are available at home. Given below is a comprehensive list of ingredients and solutions that you can easily use and prepare at home to clean your chimney mesh- 

  • Caustic soda and hot water solution

Sprinkle caustic soda on the filter mesh and keep it for some time. Pour hot water on the filter mesh and keep it for a few hours. Make sure to stay at a safe distance while pouring hot water as the mesh may release fumes. Wash it afterward.

  • Soaking the mess in nail polish/paint thinner

Put a soft fabric in nail polish remover and rub it on the mess. Keep it for some time and wash it off.

  • Using vinegar and baking soda

A solution of baking soda and vinegar can be of great help in removing the strains and stubborn oil built-up.

  • Using dishwashing liquid

Every household uses dishwashing liquid, and so it is one of the easily available cleaning products for your chimney meshes. Use a gentle sponge to cover the mesh with the dishwashing liquid and keep it for some time. Wash off with hot water.

Do's and don'ts while cleaning kitchen chimneys:

  • Make sure to wear gloves while using cleaning solutions
  • Put off the filter mesh carefully and gently
  • Keep the filter mesh away from the reach of children
  • It is recommended to keep the meshes in standing position on used newspaper so that the oil gets drained well
  • Reinstall the filter meshes safely and tighten the mesh keys to avoid any accident
  • You can also use professional cleaning services for deep cleaning

Professional services to clean your kitchen chimney

kitchen chimneys are designed in such a manner that cleaning is really difficult. In that case, it is recommended to hire professional services to clean your chimney. Make sure to hire renowned cleaning services or the ones that are well-tried and tested.

It is not difficult to find one. You can ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations or can search online with good user reviews. You can also negotiate with rates and services if you find a trustworthy and well-recommended service provider.

A professional service would save your labor and make your chimney look like new in no time.

A kitchen chimney is your best companion

A kitchen chimney installed in your kitchen can keep your kitchen clean and tidy. whenever you have cooked anything, in that case your kitchen chimney would absorb the fragrance/odor of the food items.

Moreover, if you or any of your family members are prone to sneezing, a kitchen chimney would be a blessing for you. Since the kitchen chimney absorbs the cooking fumes, none of your guests would get into sneezing.

So a kitchen chimney is your best friend and would keep your atmosphere around the kitchen amicable. So make sure to maintain it well so that it provides you the best of services for a long time.

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