Carbon Filter In Cooker Hood - Can These Be Washed And Re-Used?

[Mosaic]

They seem like a shocking waste to chuck away - so is there a particular reason why I shouldn't wash them out, leaving to dry for a few weeks and re-use them?

[sandyRoe]

I don't know but I'll be watching this post. I never knew they needed replaced.

[boxtops]

I know you need to replace them, but I don't remember - I've had the same one for at least 8 years.

[Mosaic]

Sandy, if your cooker hood is vented to the outside then you won't need these additional filters - in fact having them in would reduce the effectiveness of your extractor motor. They are intended for hoods that are not vented to the outside and so are re-circulating air above the cooker, the idea being that the charcoal inside them absorbs the worst of the cooking smells.

[sandyRoe]

The hood isn't vented to the outside. I'll get one the filters out and look for a reference number. They must be there more than 10 years.

[sandyRoe]

Could you buy them in somewhere like B+Q?

[whistonian]

If your cooker gets a lot of use then I believe filters should be changed every 3 - 6 months.

[Garibaldi2]

A quick on-line search has drawn a blank on cleaning the carbon filters.

Since the filters work through absorption of the contaminants onto the carbon material, any cleaning method must extract the absorbed material. One possible route might be to heat the filter to a sufficient temperature such that the absorbed material is given off. Alternatively a suitable solvent might be available – with the contaminants having a greater affinity for the solvent than the carbon.

But I suspect either proposed cleaning method (if proved to work) would be more expensive than manufacturing a new filter.

[Mosaic]

I have found that wickes, ebay or amazon are the best sources - I know the firms recommend changing them every 6 months but the point I'm making is, why is it necessary to purchase new ones - isn't it possible to de-grease, dry and re-use these components.

[Mosaic]

We crossed over Gari -- the majority of the airborne grease is trapped in the metal filters that are in front of the carbon filter. So the carbon filters are slightly greasy but their main intended purpose is to remove cooking smells not the bulk of the grease.
So surely diluted washing up liquid and hot water will remove the gunk from the carbon pieces?

[Connemmara]

I have washed mine a few times with luke warm water and fairy liquid and dried naturally. Have done so for a few years/

[Connemmara]

Mosaic you and I have crossed.

[Mosaic]

Thanks Connemara - interesting, and I will do the same if it has worked for you.

[heathfield]

The activated carbon in the filters contains a truly vast number of microscopic pores that absorb gases and vapours. It is estimated that one cubic inch of activated charcoal contains 200,000 sq ft (18,580 square metres) of microscopic surface area. How could you ever clean out these pores ?
There are filters commonly available that are overprinted with inks that change colour when filter replacement is needed, so that you don't have to remember when they were last changed.

[Mosaic]

How could I clean out those pores?
By swishing the whole thing vigorously in dilute detergent and hot water then running under a hot tap, then leaving to air dry somewhere warm.
Surely that will unbung some of the poorly pores?

[heathfield]

Er, nope, it won't.

[Johnboy99]

Having read all of the comments, I decided to try and clean my charcoal filter. Before cleaning, the charcoal granules were a soled lump. I placed hot water (not boiling) in a bowl, a hand full of washing up powder and a splash of bleach into the water. Having immersed the filter in the solution for 5 minutes and lightly brushed the fabric cover and the back side of the filter with a washing up brush, WOW! Do they get that dirty! After rinsing the filter with hot (not boiling) water, swishing the filter in the garden to get of most of the surface water, I put it out to dry in the sun. The first thing I noticed was the charcoal granules are now loose and rattle about when I shake the filter. It also feels clean and much lighter.
Can You Clean The Filter? Most definitely YES!