Care and cleaning

Zinc is a reactive metal. There, we said it.

Now, what does it mean in practical use? It means that zinc reacts to its environment and in the kitchen this includes fingerprints, humidity, and natural acids such as lemon juice or tomato sauce. Typically, zinc will age darker. You will notice fingerprints first – sometimes within a day, and as you wash it (mild soap, soft cloth, see below), the zinc darkens slowly.

We do not recommend buying a zinc range hood if you want the zinc to maintain an even, spotless finish. We are happy to make one in stainless steel if that is your preference.

Caring for a zinc hood

If you begin your relationship with your zinc hood with the understanding that it will change in appearance, then you are much more able to allow the zinc to “do its thing.” Fingerprints can be removed quickly with paint or lacquer thinner. This is particularly interesting to the installers – make sure they do it. After that, wash with a mild dish soap and a soft cloth. When clean, dry off any excess water.

You can follow that with applying a light polish, such as Pledge, to create a shine.

These cleaning instructions apply whether you order a hood with either our matte finish or a patina (acid wash).