Kitchen Exhaust & Duct Cleaning Process: Step-by-Step Explained

The full process at a glance

Here's the order a proper kitchen exhaust & duct cleaning job follows, from first visit to handover:

1. Site survey and planning
2. Hood degreasing
3. Duct rotary brushing
4. Exhaust fan cleaning
5. Filter replacement support
6. Before/after photos
7. Fire-safety log
8. Walk-through and handover

Step 1: Hood degreasing

Our crew completes "hood degreasing" using the appropriate equipment — typically diamond grinding and polishing pads for marble/granite floors — and the right safety gear for this step, before photographing the result and moving on.

This is usually the step that reveals the real condition of the site, which is why the earlier site survey matters — it sets expectations for what this step will actually involve.

Step 2: Duct rotary brushing

Our crew completes "duct rotary brushing" using the appropriate equipment — typically surface-appropriate chemicals (avoiding acid on stone, avoiding ammonia on certain acp coatings) — and the right safety gear for this step, before photographing the result and moving on.

Getting this step wrong is one of the more common ways a rushed job falls short: facade cleaning attempted without rope-access training risks a fall or a dropped-tool injury to someone below.

Step 3: Exhaust fan cleaning

Our crew completes "exhaust fan cleaning" using the appropriate equipment — typically rope-access kits, harnesses and anchor points, or a bmu/boom lift for height work — and the right safety gear for this step, before photographing the result and moving on.

Getting this step wrong is one of the more common ways a rushed job falls short: facade cleaning attempted without rope-access training risks a fall or a dropped-tool injury to someone below.

Step 4: Filter replacement support

Our crew completes "filter replacement support" using the appropriate equipment — typically pure-water fed-pole systems and squeegees for facade glass — and the right safety gear for this step, before photographing the result and moving on.

Getting this step wrong is one of the more common ways a rushed job falls short: facade cleaning attempted without rope-access training risks a fall or a dropped-tool injury to someone below.

Step 5: Before/after photos

Our crew completes "before/after photos" using the appropriate equipment — typically rotary brushes/robots and vacuum extraction for duct interiors — and the right safety gear for this step, before photographing the result and moving on.

Getting this step wrong is one of the more common ways a rushed job falls short: facade cleaning attempted without rope-access training risks a fall or a dropped-tool injury to someone below.

Step 6: Fire-safety log

Our crew completes "fire-safety log" using the appropriate equipment — typically hot-water extraction and ulv fogging machines for sanitization — and the right safety gear for this step, before photographing the result and moving on.

Getting this step wrong is one of the more common ways a rushed job falls short: facade cleaning attempted without rope-access training risks a fall or a dropped-tool injury to someone below.

Crew size and duration

Facade and duct jobs typically run with a crew of 3–6 trained technicians, including a dedicated safety supervisor for any height work, over one to several days depending on building height or duct length. Floor polishing and post-construction cleaning crews scale from 4 to 15+ people depending on site size and handover deadline.

Quality checks during the process

Our supervisor checks for these before marking any step complete:

• No streaks, residue or missed patches on facade glass when viewed in daylight
• Duct interior is visibly grease-free on camera/torch inspection, not just the hood
• Floors have an even sheen with no dull patches or swirl marks
• Post-construction areas have zero cement film or paint specks on glass and fixtures
• A signed completion report with photos is provided before final payment

Handover and reporting

The supervisor walks through the completed work with you, shares before/after photos and a written report, and agrees the next service date before the crew leaves.

What goes wrong when steps are skipped

Facade cleaning attempted without rope-access training risks a fall or a dropped-tool injury to someone below. Kitchen duct cleaning that only wipes the visible hood and skips the duct interior leaves grease exactly where fire inspectors look. Post-construction cleaning that skips a final dust pass leaves cement film on glass and fixtures that hardens and becomes far harder to remove later.

For kitchen exhaust & duct cleaning, that's not a generic rule — it's where most shortcuts actually happen.