Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.
Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.
Summary
The metal filter under a range hood traps grease before it coats your cabinets, and it sits in the path of every bit of steam and smoke from the cooktop below. Left dirty, that same filter is a grease-loaded surface directly above a heat source: NFPA's own research on home cooking fires found that a grease hood or duct exhaust fan has the highest injury rate per 1,000 fires of any cooking-equipment category it tracks, even though fires involving hoods are less common than fires that start on the burner itself.
Not every hood filter is the same, and that difference is the reason this page exists. A metal mesh or a metal baffle filter is washable, by hand or in a dishwasher, and manufacturers do not fully agree on how often: GE Appliances says about every six months for normal cooking, Broan-NuTone's own guidance says every three to six months, so this page gives both figures and sends you to your own owner's manual rather than picking one. A charcoal (carbon) filter, found in a hood that recirculates air back into the kitchen instead of venting outside, is a different part entirely and is never washed. Water ruins the carbon, and Whirlpool, GE Appliances and Broan-NuTone all describe it as a replace-only part, on a schedule of roughly six months.
Safety
A GREASE FILTER WITH A HEAVY GREASE LOAD IS A FIRE HAZARD.
The grease can catch fire from the heat of the cooktop below.
Necessary equipment
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Sink or a large container | The container must hold the whole filter. |
| Soft brush optional | Use it on grease that stays on the filter after it soaks. |
| Work gloves optional | The edge of a metal filter can be sharp. |
| Towel | Dry the filter before you put it back. |
| Mild dish detergent material | Do not use an ammonia product. |
| Replacement charcoal filter material | Buy the exact part named in your owner's manual. |
Identify your filter
Estimated 1 min
No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.
- Find the grease filter in your range hood.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Identify your filter
- The grease filter sits under the bottom of the hood, above the cooktop.
- Examine the material of the filter.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Identify your filter
- A metal filter is rigid, with small holes or slots.
- A charcoal filter is a soft pad or a dark cartridge.
- Look for a second, hidden filter beside or behind the metal filter.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Identify your filter
- Some hoods that recirculate air back into the room have an added charcoal filter.
- Read the owner's manual if you are not sure.
Prepare the range hood
Estimated 2 min to 6 min
SET THE RANGE HOOD CONTROLS TO OFF BEFORE YOU TOUCH THE FILTER.
The fan blade can move and the light can be hot.
- Set the range hood controls to OFF.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Prepare the range hood
- Wait for the range hood to cool before you touch the filter.1mReport a problem with step 2, Prepare the range hood
- If the filter has a latch, release the latch.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Prepare the range hood
- Remove the metal filter from the range hood.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Prepare the range hood
Clean the metal filter
Estimated 18 min to 24 min
No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.
DO NOT PUT A CHARCOAL FILTER IN WATER.
Water ruins the carbon and the filter no longer removes odor.
- Put the metal filter in a sink or a large container.<1mReport a problem with step 1, Clean the metal filter
- Fill the sink or the container with warm water.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Clean the metal filter
DO NOT CLEAN THE FILTER WITH AMMONIA.
Ammonia can damage the metal finish.
- Add a mild detergent to the water.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Clean the metal filter
- Soak one side of the filter in the water for 15 to 20 minutes.15mReport a problem with step 4, Clean the metal filter
- Broan-NuTone gives this time for each side, not for the whole filter.
- Turn the filter over after the first side.
- Soak the second side for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Scrub stubborn grease with a soft brush.1mReport a problem with step 5, Clean the metal filter
- Rinse the filter with clean water.<1mReport a problem with step 6, Clean the metal filter
Dry and reinstall the filter
Estimated 3 min
- Dry the filter completely with a towel.1mReport a problem with step 1, Dry and reinstall the filter
- A wet filter left in the hood can drip and can hold odor.
- Slide the filter back into the range hood.<1mReport a problem with step 2, Dry and reinstall the filter
- If the filter has a latch, lock the latch.<1mReport a problem with step 3, Dry and reinstall the filter
- Set the range hood controls to ON.<1mReport a problem with step 4, Dry and reinstall the filter
- Make sure that the fan runs and the light is on.<1mReport a problem with step 5, Dry and reinstall the filter
- Record the date that you cleaned the filter.<1mReport a problem with step 6, Dry and reinstall the filter
Terminology
This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.
- grease filter
- Also called: hood filter, vent filter, extractor filter, range hood filter, cooker hood filter
- range hood
- Also called: extractor fan, cooker hood, exhaust hood, vent hood, kitchen hood, stove hood
- charcoal filter
- Also called: carbon filter, odor filter, odour filter, activated charcoal filter, activated carbon filter
- over-the-range microwave
- Also called: microwave hood, OTR microwave, above-range microwave
When to use a professional
Stop if grease reaches the duct or the wall inside the range hood. Call an appliance technician. A specialist company has the equipment to reach the duct.
Stop if the fan does not run. Stop if the motor makes a new sound. Call a qualified technician to examine the motor and the wiring.
Never wash a charcoal filter. Buy the exact replacement part named in your owner's manual. Contact the manufacturer if you cannot find the part number.
Common questions
Can you put range hood filters in the dishwasher?
Often yes, for a metal mesh or a metal baffle filter. Whirlpool, GE Appliances and Broan-NuTone all say the dishwasher is fine for their metal grease filters, though GE and Broan-NuTone both note it can discolor the metal over time. Never put a charcoal (carbon) filter in a dishwasher or in water of any kind; it is a replace-only part. Check your own owner's manual if you are not sure which filter you have.
Is a cooker hood charcoal filter washable?
No. A charcoal filter, also called a carbon filter, absorbs odor and cannot be restored by rinsing it. Whirlpool, GE Appliances and Broan-NuTone all describe it as a replace-only part, on a schedule of roughly six months with normal use, sooner if you cook a lot. Washing it does not clean it; it only ruins the carbon inside.
My extractor fan filter is really greasy. What's the best way to clean it?
If it is a metal mesh or a solid baffle filter, soak it in warm water with a mild detergent for 15 to 20 minutes a side — Broan-NuTone's figure is per side, so turn it over and soak it again — scrub any stubborn spots with a soft brush, then rinse it and dry it before it goes back in. Broan-NuTone gives that soak time on its own support site. Skip ammonia-based cleaners: GE Appliances specifically advises against them because they can damage the metal finish.
How often should I clean my range hood filter?
Manufacturers do not fully agree, and this page does not pick a winner between them. GE Appliances says about every six months for normal day-to-day cooking, and Broan-NuTone's own guidance says every three to six months. Clean it sooner than either figure if it looks greasy, feels sticky, or the hood seems to be pulling less air than usual. Your own owner's manual carries the number for your exact model.
Do I need to clean the charcoal filter in my range hood?
No. A charcoal filter is never cleaned, only replaced. If your hood recirculates air back into the kitchen rather than venting it outside, it likely has one beside or behind the metal filter. Buy the exact replacement named in your owner's manual and change it on the schedule the manufacturer gives, typically around six months.
Is a greasy range hood filter actually a fire risk?
Yes, and it is worth taking seriously. NFPA's own research on home cooking fires found that a grease hood or duct exhaust fan has the highest injury rate per 1,000 fires of any cooking-equipment category it tracks, even though these fires are less common overall than fires that start directly on the stove. A grease-loaded filter sits right above your heat source, which is exactly why keeping it clean matters.
Related procedures
- How to clean a microwave and check if the door and seal are damaged
- How to clean a clogged dryer vent and lint duct
- How to clean the lint filter in a tumble dryer
- How to remove and clean the filter in a dishwasher
- Decide why water is standing in the bottom of a dishwasher
- Clean an oven cavity by hand and choose a cleaner that will not damage the coating
- Is it safe to run the self-cleaning cycle on my oven?
Sources
Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.
- Tier 1How do I clean my Range Hood's Grease Filters?
- Tier 1Range Hood Filter Guide: How to Clean, Replace and Improve Your Kitchen Air
- Tier 1Vent Hood - Cleaning Metal Grease Filters
- Tier 1Kitchen Hub - Charcoal Filters (Recirculating Venting Only)
- Tier 1Clean or Replace Filters - Vent Hood
- Tier 1Home Cooking Fires
- Tier 1Cooking Fire Safety
Revision history
Current version 1 · updated 2026-08-04 · next review due 2027-08-04
- v1 · 2026-08-04First draft. Hazard spine from NFPA's Home Cooking Fires research report and the manufacturers' own cool-down instructions; cleaning method from Whirlpool, GE Appliances and Broan-NuTone product support documentation. Metal-filter cleaning interval and charcoal-filter replacement interval both publish as consult-the-manufacturer; the metal-filter interval carries a conflict_note naming the two manufacturer figures found.
Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.
Comments and corrections
Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.
Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.