Kitchen exhaust cleaning (often referred to as "hood cleaning") is the process of removing grease that has formed on the walls of ducts, hoods, fans and vents in restaurant kitchen exhaust systems.
Several processes are used to clean kitchen exhaust systems. The most common is the use of chemicals to break down the grease, and hot water to rinse away the residue. Chemicals are generally applied with either a garden type sprayer, downstream injection through a pressure washer or with a chemical foamer. [1]
Currently the kitchen exhaust cleaning industry is unregulated. The guideline that most kitchen exhaust cleaners follow is the National Fire Protection Association Standard 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations.
Kitchen exhaust cleaners generally have a bad reputation in the restaurant industry, mainly caused by companies performing shoddy work.
Several bodies have been formed to help educate kitchen exhaust cleaners on the NFPA 96 standard, and the best standards and practices to use in performing kitchen exhaust cleaning. Among these are the Grease Police, Phil Ackland Associates, International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association, Power Washers of North America and Certified Hood and Duct Cleaners Association .
