Kitchen deep clean: extractor hood, oven and stainless steel

Why kitchens need a deep clean before winter

Over a long summer of barbecues, salads and takeaways, many kitchens are used lightly. As autumn arrives, the oven goes back to work and the stove runs for hours, and any grease already sitting in the hood or oven turns into smoke and smell.

Cooking grease is sticky and attracts dust and, near the coast, a fine film of salt air. Left alone, it hardens into a layer that is much harder to remove.

The extractor hood and its filters

Switch the hood off at the wall first. Most metal grease filters can be removed and soaked in very hot water with a good squirt of washing-up liquid and a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda, then rinsed and dried fully before going back. Check your manual: some filters are not dishwasher safe, and charcoal filters cannot be washed at all and must be replaced.

Wipe the underside and the edges of the hood with a cloth wrung out in warm soapy water, working along the grain of the metal. A hood with clogged filters pulls air poorly, so it is worth doing every month or two if you cook daily.

Oven and hob without harsh fumes

For a lightly soiled oven, a paste of bicarbonate and water left for a few hours, then wiped out with a damp cloth, does a good job without strong chemicals. For baked-on grease, repeat rather than scrape hard, and never use abrasive pads on enamel or glass.

Take out the racks and soak them in the bath or a large tub. On the hob, lift off the burners or grates and clean the parts underneath, where spills collect. On induction or ceramic glass, use a cleaner made for it and a soft cloth.

Stainless steel without streaks

Stainless steel shows fingerprints and water marks, especially with hard water, which is common on the Costa del Sol. Clean with warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid, always wiping in the direction of the grain, then dry straight away with a clean microfibre cloth.

For a final shine, a tiny amount of oil on a cloth can help, but wipe it thin. Avoid bleach and steel wool, which can leave marks or rust spots.

When to bring in help

A deep kitchen clean is slow, detailed work, and it is one of the things people most often hand over before guests arrive or before a property goes on the rental market. Lavanda can include a thorough kitchen clean in a visit, using gentle products suited to your surfaces.