We all know Coca-Cola as a soft drink, but would you ever think of using it to clean your extractor hood filter? It may sound unbelievable, but cola can break down stubborn grease far better than many kitchen cleaners. If your filter is clogged, oily or smelling unpleasant, this simple trick might completely surprise you.
Extractor hood filters collect grease every time you cook. Over time, that buildup becomes sticky, thick and extremely difficult to remove. Even strong degreasers often struggle to dissolve the old layers of oil and dirt. That’s why many people end up scrubbing for ages, soaking the filter in hot water, or even thinking about buying a new one. But there is an unexpected solution and it’s probably already sitting in your fridge.
Don’t do this
Many people try to clean their extractor hood filter with hot water and dish soap alone. Don’t do this anymore. Dish soap removes fresh grease, but it barely touches the thick, baked-on layers hiding inside the metal mesh. Boiling water can help, but it usually isn’t enough to loosen years of buildup. And scrubbing too hard can even damage or bend the filter. This is exactly why the cola trick is so interesting. The acids in cola can loosen old grease in a way regular soap simply can’t and the results may surprise you.
Want to know how Coca-Cola cleans a greasy filter? Read the next page to find out.