If your home is not as warm as it should be, then you may need to clean your radiators. Radiators often become dirty when they heat up.
As the temperature drops, making sure your heating system is functioning correctly becomes crucial. If your property isn’t reaching the warmth it should, you might need to give your radiators a thorough clean. Radiators frequently accumulate grime when they’re switched on.
Warm air ascends whilst cooler air descends, and this continual circulation draws any particles in a room toward the radiator. This debris then gets burnt onto the heated surface and becomes challenging to shift unless you’re wiping your radiators down at least monthly, reports the Express.
It’s crucial to ensure radiators stay clean because particles will lock heat within your radiator, preventing it from efficiently warming a room, resulting in a chillier property and elevated energy costs.
Nevertheless, the specialists at Trads Cast Iron Radiators have revealed that eliminating particles can be remarkably straightforward, requiring just one item you probably already possess in your bedroom.
They explained: “Yes, you can use a hairdryer to get the dust out from the inside and down the back of the radiator. It’s also useful with column radiators, such as our cast-iron models.
“This will help you as part of a larger cleaning method, as you will have a lot of the leftover dust on the top, in between the columns and behind your radiator.
“The hairdryer will blow the dust into the air or onto the floor, so have your vacuum cleaner ready, too.”
Employing a hair dryer on a radiator is amongst the most effective methods to blast away any particles stuck between the fins or other difficult-to-access spots. Just ensure you avoid using the hot setting when employing your hair dryer on a radiator, as it can trigger dust to ascend into the air and disperse across the room, creating more of a mess that will likely settle on the radiator later.
Here’s how to properly use a hair dryer to clean a radiator.
You will need:
- Hair dryer
- Vacuum cleaning
- A long brush to clean with (such as a duster)
- Bucket of soapy water (warm water and washing up liquid)
- Old towel or sheet
- Sponge and cloth
Firstly, ensure to switch off your heating. A warm radiator will attract dust to it and can be unsafe to touch.
Then simply wipe the surface of the radiator with a damp sponge and vacuum underneath the radiator to remove any of the outer dust.
Next, place a towel under the radiator. Grab a duster and attempt to clean as much of the back of the radiator as you can, ensuring to get into the grooves.
Try to also get between the columns to clear the dust.
Set your hair dryer on a cool or low heat setting and blow any remaining dust off the back of the radiator.
Ensure to aim the nozzle at the top air vents to blow the dust downwards, and it should fall onto the towel.
Finally, wipe down the radiator. Add some washing-up liquid in a bucket of water and clean the radiator surface.
Ensure to also clean any surrounding walls as dust can stick to them as well.
Dry the radiator with a cloth and ensure it is fully dry before switching it on again to avoid any potential rust.
Your radiator should now be thoroughly cleaned, so your home will become toasty warm much more quickly.
