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This is one of those home maintenance issues that we ignore 'cause out of sight, out of mind. It's not until we look up while standing in front of the stovetop that we see the issue.
The issue in Steph's kitchen was mold and grease! And lots of both on the underside of the vent hood. It was time to deep clean under there! 
The vent over Steph's cooktop is used daily so there was a lot of built up grease on the filter and lightbulb, as well as a lot of mold growing under the hood. Moisture that doesn't get vented fully, stays around to provide an excellent environment for the growth of mold. Time to take care of this mess.
That white patchy stuff is mold. If you're going to replace the filter rather than try to clean it, that sticker will provide the information you need to find an exact replacement.
Despite being covered by a shade the bulb still had a buildup of grease. Steph replaced this incandescent lightbulb with an LED that won't get hot.
This filter has seen better days, so Steph ordered a new one rather than try to clean this one.
Before proceeding with the cleaning, Steph turned off the power to the hood so she could safely remove and clean the fan.
There are two screws holding the fan in place. Steph removed these and then disconnected the fan from the hood.
The fan is not hard wired, but simply plugged in. Steph simply unplugged it for cleaning.
The manufacturer of this vent hood does not recommend harsh cleaning chemicals, so here Steph is cleaning the grime with kitchen wipes.
There was so much gunk on the fan blades. Steph's friend took charge of cleaning this with kitchen wipes.
What a difference a little cleaning did for the fan. Not more soot-like grime on the blades of the fan. Steph reinstalled it by plugging it in, then reattaching the two screws, this time using a slotted screwdriver.
Old filter on the left, fresh new one on the right! Filters can be cleaned, but do take a bit of patience and elbow grease and in my opinion, never ever fully clean up well. (I know this as I just cleaned the one at my house!)
It looks so much better with the new filter and bright lightbulb as well as the removal of all the mold and grime.
If there had been damage that could not be cleaned or if the fan no longer worked, replacing the cooktop hood is something most DIY homeowners can attempt. Steph and her friend installed this one when she moved into the house in 2013. Just remember, when dealing with anything electrical to turn off the power. Safety first!
After seeing this video, I decided to investigate the situation at my house. I have a downdraft range hood that is very difficult to clean, and in order to get to it, I have to take off all the grates. It's not a quick, spur of the moment endeavor. Anyway, I found even more mold and grime than Steph had so I took an afternoon, and cleaned all the parts of the cooktop at my house. I'll share that in an upcoming video. Please note: This is not a sponsored post. FYI: We are not professionals, and we don't claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first! FYI: Affiliate links are being used on this page. Purchasing via these links help support MDP Related Projects
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