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BEFORE you turn on the heating, when was the last time you cleaned your radiators?
Cleaning the inside of a radiator is a job that is often overlooked.
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But dust and dirt build up inside and can make the radiator work less efficiently.
It may seem like a daunting task, but it is actually quite simple (if you try a few tricks) and is also important if you want to keep your energy costs down.
Clean radiators could reduce energy bills by up to 25 percent.
Experts warn that a dirty radiator uses more energy to heat a room, which equates to more costs – up to £225 more.
“With the average gas-fired central heating bill now sitting at around £900 a year for a two to three bedroom home, ensuring your radiators are working efficiently is one of the most effective ways to cut costs,” explains Nancy Emery, heating expert at Drench.
Research shows that you can save up to 25 percent on your bills by keeping your radiator system clean. That’s around £225 a year.
How do you clean a radiator?
1. Heating off
If you haven’t turned on your radiator yet, now is the perfect time to do so.
If you’ve been affected by the recent fall chill, turn off the heat and wait a few hours for things to cool down before cleaning.
Andrew Collinge, a heating products expert at BestHeating, explains: “Not only is it safer, it also prevents more dust being sucked up while you clean.”
2. Vacuum cleaner
Before cleaning every nook and cranny, I used a vacuum cleaner to clean the area around and under the radiator.
This helps trap the dust, rather than sweeping it away with a feather duster and blowing it back into the air.
Andrew added: “Use a vacuum cleaner to remove as much dust as possible from inside and around the radiator. If your vacuum cleaner has one, use the smaller attachments to get inside the fins.”
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3. Go inside
Specific radiator brushes can be purchased on Amazon for a few euros.
Before moving the radiator between the fins, place a towel under the radiator to protect the floor and catch any dust that comes out.
Andrew also suggested, “Take a stick or piece of wood and wrap a microfiber cloth or a fluffy feather duster around it and secure it with tape.
“To remove the smaller bits stuck to the radiator mountings, you can use a hair dryer on a cold setting to blow them onto the towel.”
4. Wipe with soap and water
Unlike the cleaning trick of pouring soapy water or disinfectant inside the radiator, Andrew advises only giving the outside a thorough wet cleaning.
He told Ideal home: “Make sure there is plenty of soapy water on your sponge and wring it out so that it is damp, but not dripping.”
Why do radiators get so dusty?
According to Radiators only“When your radiators heat the air, the warm air rises.”
“When warm air rises, cold air flows into the space where warm air used to be, pulling in all the dust, hair and other particles.
“This means that your radiator is essentially a big vacuum.”
Then dry the radiator with a microfiber cloth or an old towel to make sure the metal doesn’t rust from the water droplets that are still on it. But don’t use anything too abrasive, as that can cause scratches.
5. Check your skirting boards
After cleaning the radiators, check the skirting boards and the walls around them to see if any radiator dust has fallen. These may also need a quick wipe down.
6. Turn the heating back on
And enjoy efficient, warm radiators all winter long!
