How Can I Make the Ventilation Better in my Kitchen? 6 Tricks for Cleaner, Healthier Air

Ventilation might not be the most glamorous aspect of designing a kitchen, but thinking about ways to make kitchen ventilation better is crucial to a clean and healthy cooking space.

Certain cooking processes, like frying, and power supplies, like gas, can create air pollutants and toxins that effective ventilation will help mitigate.

'Good ventilation is essential in a kitchen, especially where a lot of cooking is done,' confirms Jayne Everett, Creative Director of Naked Kitchens. 'Ventilation is all about airflow that removes cooking smells, steam, toxins in the air and grease build-up on appliances. 

'Ideally an extractor hood is used, either above or integrated into the hob. The extractor's motor draws the air through a series of filters which removes the majority of the nasty cooking emissions, cleaning the air. 

'Extractors either vent to the outside or recirculate the air back after passing through the filters. Generally speaking, the better the extractor is, the more efficient it will be at removing grease, smells etc. With poor ventilation, you will be staggered at just how much grease accumulates over all the kitchen surfaces close to the hob.' 

6 Ways to Make Ventilation Better in a Kitchen

Installing an efficient extractor is the best way to optimize ventilation, but there's a handful of ways to make ventilation better in a kitchen that can be used in conjunction with each other for best results.

Keep scrolling to discover the different techniques and steps you can take to improve your kitchen ventilation and, ultimately, create a healthier and more pleasant cooking space.

1. Install a range hood

An extractor fan over your oven or hob is a top way to improve ventilation in your kitchen.

There are a few different types you can choose from depending on preference, one being a chimney hood, where the hood stands out above the oven and is attached to a tall 'chimney' that reaches the ceiling. 

Stainless steel options, like the one seen above, can offer a modern take on more traditional-looking versions.

Another common extractor type is a canopy hood, which sits neatly underneath a kitchen unit above the hob (seen below).

As these can be built-in to the kitchen cabinetry, they offer a seamless look and fit well into a modern kitchen scheme.

'The kitchen has been seen as utilitarian space for a long time, but our lifestyles and family units have changed,' says Linda Hayslett, Principal, LH. Designs. 'This has made the kitchen become more than just a place to cook, it's become a place to hangout with friends, eat with the family, watch TV, play board games and more, so this space is getting more incorporated into being the place to be instead of tucked away. 

'Therefore, having a hood liner, so you can create whatever type of hood design you'd like, helps make the space feel more inviting and cohesive with the home as a whole and not feel like a working restaurant with stainless steel.'

She adds: 'The heart of the home means that it's a warm and inviting space. So having a hood that blends into the background and isn't just metal or stainless steel, helps to make the room feel softer and more like a comfortable space instead of a work area to cook in.'

'A range hood works really well as this sits directly above the hob or stove,' says Jayne. 'Generally the hood should house an extractor that is wider than the cooktop and the manufacturer's guidelines must be followed for correct height positioning to allow for the most efficient extraction. 

If you don't want a hood or canopy above the hob you can opt for an extractor to be built into a wall above the oven instead, if this architecturally possible.

You can also use an integrated extraction when your oven is situated elsewhere, like in a kitchen island.

Jayne says: 'An integrated hob extraction, such as BORA is great, especially when the hob is on an island, as there is no need for an overhead or pop up extractor which results in a seamless design.'

Always turn your range hood on when you begin cooking (as opposed to after), to efficiently trap toxins in the air and eradicate odors.

2. Clean your extractor filters

Whichever extractor is used, it is essential to clean or change the filters regularly.

'Most people don't realize that your hoods need to be cleaned on occasion,' says Linda Hayslett. 'The vent drafts get dirt, grease and food in them as well. So, if you don't clean them, occasionally, they don't function as well and therefore can cause your kitchen and home to smell. Just like anything else in a home, maintenance is key, even in the kitchen.'

Jayne expands: 'How often you clean the extractor filters will depend on how much cooking is carried out, but it will need to be more frequent if lots of frying is carried out,' says Jayne.

Why? 'The grease filters trap and collect grease particles produced during cooking and they need to be cleaned regularly,' she explains.

'If they are allowed to clog up you will notice that grease will start to build up on surfaces close by. The charcoal filters remove cooking odors and need to be replaced regularly to ensure they  keep on functioning efficiently.'

So how often should you be cleaning the extractor filters? 'If you cook a lot, and especially with lots of oil, you will need to clean the grease filter more regularly. Usually this is just the case of popping it in the dishwasher and it’s very easy to remove and do this yourself. Once a month should be fine for this. 

'The charcoal filter removes the odors and this needs to be changed around every six months or so. Again, this depends on how much cooking is done; if you start to notice the air isn’t as odorless as usual, it’s time to change the filter.'

3. Open a Window

It might sound obvious, but opening a kitchen window will always improve the ventilation.

Opening a number of windows and simultaneously keeping doors open will help create a draft, which not only brings fresh air in, but gets stagnant air out.

'If you don't have a hood or good venting, then opening up windows throughout your home will help when cooking,' says Linda Hayslett. 'Often people will just open a window that's in the kitchen, which can help, but having air flow throughout the home helps way better. So, open up all the windows throughout to help with cooking and getting fresh air.'

Jayne suggests that having a vent installed is a one step to help improve kitchen ventilation, but that opening windows is also helpful.

She says: 'It's always a good idea to have a vent within the kitchen to allow for fresh air to be drawn into the kitchen to replace the extracted air. 

'Where the extractor is on its most powerful setting, it's quite a good idea to open a window as the more powerful the extractor is, the more airflow is needed.'

4. Invest in an Air Purifier

If you don't have a range hood, or want to step up your kitchen ventilation game, try placing an air purifier in the space.

A HEPA-filtered air purifier is great if you're cooking with gas thanks to their ability to efficiently clean toxic particulates.

Jayne adds: 'Air purifiers can be used in a kitchen, a simple counter standing purifier is great or other air fresheners but, with an efficient extractor this is not always necessary, as the charcoal filter will help to absorb and neutralize odors.'

5. Use a Window Fan

Placing a basic fan near or in a window can greatly help to improve your kitchen ventilation.

You can buy specific window fans, like this one from Walmart, that can manipulate the direction of the airflow so that you push stale air out and bring fresh air in.

An ionizing oscillating fan will also help purify the air and move the air more efficiently.

6. Introduce Some Air-Purifying Plants

Not only will pot plants look pretty and make your kitchen a nicer place to be, some varieties can actually help to improve air quality, too.

'Some of my favorite houseplants that are scientifically proven to help detoxify the air include the spider plant, snake plant, aloe vera, peace lily, Boston fern, and golden pothos,' says Andrew Gaumond, Editorial Director of Petal Republic.

'These plants effectively remove toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and trichloroethylene. 

'Plus, they're all relatively easy to care for and will thrive in most kitchen environments. Many also look great on open kitchen shelving or on top of cupboards if you're short on available space.'