Being MORE than a conscientious recycler, I am always compulsively thinking about how to use every single item that crosses my path, if at all possible, because I hate America's waste:
Replace the filter every 3 months or more often if cooking/frying often. It helps to prevent vent fires. (Make lint layers as even as possible and remember to check the "filters" often to gauge how often to change with the "free" ones you have made!)
Most exhaust openings can be covered by some sized picture frame. The whole homemade frame and filter then slides out of the more permanently attached frame-brackets for easier filter replacement.
With a little thought, the whole thing can be attractive and fairly cheap! Don't over layer or overfill with lint, remembering that the grease filled air must be able to be pulled through it for filtering. Think of the thickness as like the better A/C filters one must purchase. The thin A/C filters don't work as well, but, then one doesn't want the filter to be too thick that it destroys the fan, either.
By Lynda from Richardson,TX
Be careful about washing greasy metal ventahood filters in the dishwasher. There are tough bacteria/virus/mutations that thrive and easily survive in high heat, aren't destroyed by soap because they are embedded in the hydrocarbons that can dislodge and reattach themselves to dishes. Lucky you to have something to recycle, but
I'd wash them in their own "dishpan" with something
like EasyOff oven cleaner, but don't breathe any, don't let it sit on the filter too
long(no more than 5 min.)prior to the dishpan wash, if the filter is aluminum because it might corrode it.
In rinsing, this high heat weather should give the 2 min. "first water " from the outside hose's blast (wear rubber gloves) enough hot water to flush out a lot of the greasy residue. Another solution is to wash it daily. That sticky goo that builds up is bad stuff, not the "ususal" greasy we're familiar with. With my recycled lint/dryer sheets I can remove and toss like a Swiffer and they're safe, long lasting(had this one 15 yrs.), and free after the initial picture frame/wire mesh is in tact.
