If your kitchen feels greasy no matter how much you wipe, check the range hood filter. Mine looked like it had been dipped in honey, and I had been wiping everything around it instead of cleaning the actual problem.

I used to spray degreaser and scrub for an hour. Then I found the boiling water method, which takes ten minutes and almost no effort.

How the boiling water trick works

Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add a generous scoop of baking soda. Turn off the heat, drop the filter in, and let it soak for ten minutes. The hot water and soda melt the grease, and it floats to the surface.

Scrub the loose bits after soaking

After ten minutes, the grease is soft and loose. A soft brush or sponge wipes it right off. Rinse the filter with hot water and it looks new. No harsh chemicals needed.

Do this every month

Range hood filters catch grease so it does not land on your cabinets, but they only work when they are clean. Once a month is the sweet spot for regular cooks. If you fry food often, do it every two weeks.

Dishwasher works too

If your filter is aluminum and fits, run it through the dishwasher on the top rack. The hot cycle breaks down the grease. This is the lazy option, and it works fine, though boiling water is faster.

Why it matters

A clogged filter means the fan works harder and moves less air. Your kitchen fills with smoke and steam, and grease builds up everywhere else. Clean filters keep the whole kitchen cleaner.

My range hood looks new after a ten minute soak, and the cabinets stay cleaner too. I put a reminder on my phone, and the degreaser spray sits unused under the sink.