One of the most important appliances in any modern kitchen, rangehoods keep the air in your kitchen and home clean, protect your kitchen finishes and ensure a great cooking experience for you.

Your rangehood soaks up oil fumes, steam and smells from cooking. It keeps your air clean by removing airborne grease, excess heat and smoke, and also provides better kitchen lighting.

However, to ensure your rangehood performs optimally, mesh filters should be cleaned at intervals of a few weeks and replaced every 1-2 years (depending on usage). Carbon filters, on the other hand, need to be replaced every 3-4 months (or every 120 cooking hours).

Read on to know more about selecting and replacing your rangehood filters.

Charcoal filters Vs Mesh filters

Charcoal filters are used for ductless rangehoods, which are typically installed in apartments or other small accommodations where ducting is not an option. The charcoal/ carbon filters work by collecting airborne grease, smoke and smells while cooking, and recirculating the fresh air back into the kitchen.

Mesh filters, on the other hand, are used in ducted rangehoods and have a filtration system that extracts grease, smoke and other particles from the kitchen through the duct to the outdoors, removing the dirty air right out of the kitchen.

Replacing your charcoal rangehood filters every few months is vital and important for the performance of your rangehood, as is cleaning your mesh filters regularly.

Make cleaning and replacing your rangehood filters a habit, and your rangehood will love you for it.  

How to clean and change your rangehood filters (stainless steel or mesh)

Cleaning or changing your rangehood filters will ensure your rangehood functions optimally.

How to clean your rangehood filter:

  1. First remove the filter/s out from the hood by pulling the tab.
  2. Hand wash your filters or place them in your dishwasher on a hot cycle for added convenience. To hand wash, submerge and soak your filters in a sink with warm soapy dishwashing liquid or baking soda for about 10 minutes. Then scrub the filters using a brush or scourer until clean. Avoid using harsh chemicals when cleaning your filters as they can tarnish the mesh.
  3. Leave your filters out to dry (before refitting your filters, make sure they are completely dry).
  4. Place the filters back into the hood sockets.

To replace your rangehood filters:

  1. Simply remove and discard the old filters. To remove the filter/s out from the hood, pull the tab.
  2. Fit your new filters into the sockets. You can also purchase our universal UNILUX range of filters here.

How to know when to clean or replace your filters?

If your rangehood is not performing optimally, it could mean your filters are clogged or damaged. Make sure to clean your filters every few months, if not weeks, depending on your rangehood usage. Selected rangehoods also have a warning light to prompt you to maintain your filters.

Your filters need cleaning or replacing if:    

  • Grease or grime starts to build up on surrounding cabinetry or walls.
  • Cooking odours stay in the kitchen and are not being soaked up by the filters.
  • Smoke stays in the kitchen even after you have your rangehood running.
  • You can visually see grease or cooking residue on your filters.
  • Your rangehood suction or filtration seems compromised due to warping or bends in your filters, or dents or holes in the mesh or stainless steel.

If you have never cleaned your filters, it’s time to start now.

Filter guide

Very importantly, make sure you use the right filter for replacement. Check the filter guide below to see which filter fits your rangehood.

Click here to find your rangehood filter replacement