Help. New home with uncleaned extractor

[treesntrees]

I've never owned a cooker hood before moving into my new home so yesterday took off cover to clean it. OMG. I don't think it has ever been cleaned since the house was built seven years ago. I have ordered a new filter but need to clean the cover and controls. I feel the best way to clean it is to soak it in something. Problem is the sink is one of those silly round one and I don't have a bath. The only thing that is a suitable size is the wheelbarrow. I am worried though that anything suitably strong to clean seven years of grease might damage the wheelbarrow ie. take the paint off, probably silly. Also what would be the best product to use. Have tried vinegar, soda, borax ect.

How about trying that oven cleaner that comes with a bag to put the shelves in? Oven Pride? That cuts through burnt on grease so it ought to work on just thick not-baked-on grease as well.

was thinking about those bags too but wondered if they would be big enough as the cover is slightly L shaped. Will research the sizes. Thanks

Sugar soap is ace for degreasing. You can get it in spray bottles from B&Q. That's what I use. Beats Cillit Bang hands down...

I'd try biological washing powder first, then sugar soap, as All said above.

Treat yourself to a professional clean so you don't have grimy traces of other people's 7 year old food?

before you do this - just to check that it ventilates to the outside? If it doesn't don't bother - they are useless. Just remove it, throw it away and redecorate to cover any damage.

yes it does vent to outside and a professional clean sounds ace. Thanks

Is it one of the steel mesh ones? The filters fron our last 2 hoods with these have fitted in the dishwasher (just, with some shelf rearrangement).

you haven't got to immerse it, you can sponge and scrub it with general purpose cleaner (flash etc) and a brush. It will probably sprawl accross your draining board and sink, with some newspaper on the worktop. If you can read the make and model, you can probably download the instructions from the makers website.

If it has a foam filter, you can scrunch it up and wash it in the sink, or buy a one-size foam and cut it to fit with scissors. It is worth having a spare one.

Thanks. Have gone with the cut to size option for the filter. Will have to start saving up newspapers as the recycling bin has just been emptied. The sink and draining board are those silly little round ones so I will need a lot of newspaper.

I've become a big fan of bicarbonate of soda for nasty greasy things - combined with a sponge scourer it seems to cut through the gunk without scratching.

BTW filters from ebay are the way forward, under a pound each and just the same.

washing soda (soda crystals in the green bag) would also do it. It would need quite a lot of GP cleaner if it is very greasy.

Don't use washing soda on aluminium as it will take the surface off.

Thanks PJ. I might have used soda crystals without your warning. It is very, very greasy.