How to Clean a Kitchen Canopy (and When to Upgrade Your Filters)

Knowing how to clean a kitchen canopy is essential to keeping your commercial kitchen safe, efficient, and compliant. Over time, grease and grime build up inside the canopy and ductwork, slowing airflow and significantly increasing fire risk. For many restaurant, bar and café operators, a neglected canopy quickly turns into costly downtime and safety issues.

Regular, correct cleaning is the solution—combined with quality filters and, where needed, a custom-made canopy or filtration solution.

At Hospitality Connect, we work with commercial kitchens across Australia to design, supply and support complete exhaust and ventilation systems. We can supply new canopy filters, arrange custom-made canopy solutions, and connect you with trusted professional cleaners to keep your system in top shape.

👉 Learn more about our commercial kitchen canopy and exhaust solutions

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key steps for cleaning your kitchen canopy and filters, and show where Hospitality Connect can help you upgrade, replace or customise components for better performance and compliance.

Grease Buildup Slowing Your Kitchen? Here’s How to Fix It

• Get the Right Gear:
  Warm or hot water, a commercial kitchen degreaser, scrub brushes, non-abrasive pads, cloths, gloves, buckets, and ideally a steam cleaner or pressure washer. Have replacement hood filters ready if yours are damaged or worn.

  👉 Browse our commercial hood and canopy filters for replacement or custom-sized options.

• Clean All Major Components:
  Clean the exhaust system, canopy/hood, filters and condensate hoods to remove grease, dirt and airborne dust. Frequent cleaning keeps airflow consistent and reduces fire risk.

• Inspect & Maintain:
  After cleaning, inspect for damage, leaks and poor airflow. Schedule professional cleaning where needed and replace filters that are no longer effective.

  
  

Step 1: Collect the Tools You’ll Need

Having everything ready makes kitchen canopy cleaning safer, easier and more effective.

You’ll need:

• Warm or hot water

• Commercial degreasing detergent (food-safe, stainless-safe)

• Scrub brushes and non-abrasive pads

• Microfibre cloths, buckets and protective gloves

• Steam cleaner or pressure washer (if available)

• Replacement hood filters (if existing filters are damaged, worn or warped)

Once you have these, you’re ready to start with the exhaust system.

Step 2: Clean the Kitchen Exhaust System

Your kitchen exhaust system includes the ducts, exhaust fan and fan housing. If these areas are not cleaned regularly, grease buildup becomes a serious fire hazard and can reduce extraction performance.

Steps:

1. Turn off and isolate power to the exhaust fan.

2. Access the ducts and spray with hot water and degreaser.

3. Scrub internal duct surfaces carefully to remove built-up grease.

4. Clean the fan housing and blades, removing all visible grease and dirt.

5. Rinse thoroughly and allow all components to dry before reconnecting.

For guidance on ventilation and duct design, see our commercial kitchen exhaust and ducting solutions.

For additional safety information on ventilation and fire risk, you can also refer to:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing risks of plant in the workplace

• Your local fire authority, such as Fire and Rescue NSW

Step 3: Clean the Exhaust Hood / Canopy

The canopy (range hood) sits above your cooking line and is the first point of contact for grease, smoke and steam.

Steps:

1. Spray a commercial degreaser on both the interior and exterior of the canopy.

2. Allow it to sit briefly (following the manufacturer’s instructions).

3. Scrub with brushes and non-abrasive pads to remove heavy grease.

4. Wipe down with warm water until all residue is gone.

5. Dry thoroughly to prevent mould and corrosion on stainless steel.

If your canopy is poorly designed, undersized or hard to access for cleaning, Hospitality Connect can help with custom-made canopy solutions that improve capture, airflow and serviceability.

Step 4: How to Clean Kitchen Canopy Filters

Canopy filters (hood filters or baffle filters) trap grease before it enters the ductwork. Blocked or damaged filters restrict airflow and increase fire risk.

Steps:

1. Turn off the exhaust system and ensure the area is cool.

2. Carefully remove the filters from the canopy.

3. Fill a sink or tub with hot water and degreasing detergent.

4. Soak filters for 15–20 minutes to break down built-up grease.

5. Scrub each filter with a soft brush or non-abrasive sponge.

6. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and allow to air-dry completely.

7. Wipe off any remaining moisture with a clean towel.

8. Inspect for damage, warping or corrosion. Replace if needed.

9. Reinstall by sliding or lifting the filters back into the canopy, ensuring they sit flat and secure.

Clean filters maintain consistent airflow, reduce fire risk and prolong the life of your canopy and fan.

.

Step 5: Clean Condensate Hoods

Condensate hoods are designed to capture moisture, especially in high-volume or steam-heavy operations. If not maintained, they can cause mould growth and damage equipment.

Steps:

1. Switch off and isolate the ventilation system.

2. Remove the condensate drain tray or hose and carefully empty any liquid (it may be hot and contain food particles).

3. Wipe the tray and piping with a clean sponge or cloth.

4. Clean tray and drain lines with a kitchen-safe, non-allergenic degreaser.

5. Rinse with warm water and ensure no chemical residue remains.

6. Dry thoroughly with towels and allow components to air dry.

7. Reinstall the drain tray or hose, restart the system and check for leaks or unusual noises.

Clean condensate hoods help maintain better air quality and reduce moisture-related damage throughout your kitchen.

Step 6: Improve and Maintain Air Quality

Once your canopy and components are clean, focus on keeping air quality safe and efficient. This helps prevent airborne grease, smoke and odours from building back up quickly.

Do this by:

• Setting a regular cleaning schedule based on your cooking volume.

• Routinely inspecting ducts, fans and filters for grease or damage.

• Replacing filters when they’re no longer effectively trapping grease.

• Booking professional deep cleans at intervals required for your operation and insurance.

👉 For help with airflow issues or redesign, visit our kitchen design and ventilation services or talk to our team.

For general guidance on workplace air quality, you can also review Safe Work Australia – Airborne contaminants information.

Step 7: Run a Detailed Post-Clean Inspection

A thorough inspection after each clean ensures your canopy system is safe and operating as intended.

Check for:

• Any remaining tough grease on canopy, filters or ducts

• Loose parts, damaged seals or leaks in ductwork

• Exhaust fan performance (noise, vibration, airflow)

• Compliance with workplace safety, health and insurance requirements

Regular inspection and documentation help keep your commercial kitchen canopy aligned with fire safety expectations and insurance conditions.

For a more technical overview, you can refer to ventilation and fire safety standards such as those published by Standards Australia.

Professional vs DIY Canopy Cleaning

There’s a clear line between daily/weekly surface cleaning and full commercial kitchen canopy cleaning.

• DIY / In-house:

  • Wiping external canopy surfaces

  • Cleaning and soaking filters

  • Light cleaning of accessible areas

• Professional cleaning:

  • Deep cleaning inside ducts and fan housings

  • Heavy grease removal with specialist equipment

  • Detailed reporting for compliance and insurance

Professional cleaners use specialised tools such as high-temperature steam, pressure washers and food-safe chemicals to reach deep into the system and remove combustible grease.

👉 Hospitality Connect can work alongside your chosen cleaners or recommend trusted partners, and we can supply or upgrade canopies and filters so your system cleans more effectively and lasts longer. Learn more about our commercial kitchen equipment and solutions.

How Often Should You Clean a Kitchen Canopy?

Cleaning frequency depends on how much and what type of cooking you do:

• Low-volume cooking (day camps, seasonal venues):
  Clean canopy and ducts at least every 6 months.

• Moderate-volume cooking (typical restaurants, cafés):
  Clean canopy, ducts and filters every 3 months.

• High-volume or solid-fuel cooking (charcoal, wood, heavy frying):
  Clean monthly or as required by safety regulations and insurance.

Skipping recommended cleaning cycles can lead to fines, increased energy costs, equipment damage and higher fire risk.

.

Final Thoughts

A clean kitchen canopy isn’t just about appearance—it’s about safety, airflow, compliance and profitability.

By:

• Using the right cleaning tools and methods

• Maintaining your exhaust system, canopy, filters and condensate hoods

• Monitoring air quality and scheduling professional deep cleans

…you protect your staff, your equipment and your business.

👉 Where Hospitality Connect Fits In

• Supply and replace commercial hood filters – see our canopy filter range

• Provide custom-made canopy and filtration solutions – learn about custom canopy design and stainless steel fabrication

• Assist with system design, upgrades and airflow performance – explore our kitchen design & ventilation services

• Support compliance with health, fire and insurance requirements – stay informed via Safe Work Australia and your local fire authority

If your current canopy is hard to clean, constantly greasy or not extracting well, Hospitality Connect can help you review, redesign or replace key components so your kitchen runs safer and smoother.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clean a dirty canopy?

A dirty canopy usually means heavy grease and smoke buildup.

1. Turn off and isolate the exhaust system.

2. Apply a commercial kitchen degreaser to internal and external surfaces.

3. Scrub with non-abrasive pads and hot water to loosen grease.

4. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

If grease has penetrated into ducts or fan housings, it’s best to engage professional canopy cleaners to ensure the system is cleaned to compliance standards.

👉 For replacement filters or a better-designed canopy, see our canopy and exhaust solutions.

How do you clean a stove canopy?

1. Switch the system off and let surfaces cool.

2. Spray the canopy with a food-safe degreaser.

3. Wipe with non-abrasive pads to avoid scratching stainless steel.

4. Rinse with warm water to remove all chemical residue.

5. Dry completely to prevent mould and corrosion.

This should form part of your regular daily or weekly cleaning routine to prevent expensive breakdowns and performance issues.

How do you clean kitchen canopy filters?

Filters block grease before it reaches ducts and fans, so keeping them clean is vital.

1. Turn off the exhaust system and remove filters.

2. Soak in hot water with degreasing detergent.

3. Scrub with a soft brush or non-abrasive sponge.

4. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air-dry.

5. Replace any filters that are damaged or heavily clogged.

6. Reinstall securely.

Clean filters maintain consistent airflow, reduce fire risk and prolong the life of your canopy and system.