Cleaning tips: Expert shares tips on how to easily clean your radiators this Summer
RADIATORS can accumulate lots of dust particles which can go unnoticed and can be harmful to allergy sufferers. Heating experts have revealed the best way to clean your radiators to remove all of the dirt.
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Radiators are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning as there are parts of the radiator that are hard to clean. As many more people have been spending more time indoors, dust has been piling up and radiators are a hot spot which can catch dust particles.
Andrew Collinge, Heating product expert at BestHeating has told the Express.co.uk the best way to clean your radiators as dust piles up inside them.
He explained how you should regularly clean your radiators each week to help cleanliness, allergies and even your heating bills.
Andrew said: “Dust forms from a number of sources, including humans, pets, smoking and cooking. The majority of dust, about 60%, comes from the outdoors and things we bring inside.
“Now that we’re spending more time at home and in our garden, it’s likely that the amount of dust settling in our houses is higher than normal.
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“Dust settles on radiators easily but keeping it clean can help lower heating costs as the build-up can prevent heat from escaping, therefore making your radiators work harder and longer to keep a room warm.
“A few minutes spent dusting your radiators every time you do a weekly clean could result in a large cost saving over time.”
Step one
Andrew said: “Turn off your heating. Before you begin cleaning your radiators, it’s important that they are turned off as it is not only safer but prevents them drawing up more dust while you clean.”
Step two
The expert said: “To start the clean, use a vacuum to clear as much dust in and around the radiator as possible. If your vacuum has them, use the smaller attachments to get inside down the fins.
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“Make sure you don’t miss underneath the radiant and where it meets the wall.”
Step three
Andrew then recommends to place a towel underneath your radiator and then to use a special radiator cleaning brush or create your own to push out the remaining dust and dirt from inside.
He says: “To make your own brush, take a stick or piece of wood and wrap a microfibre cloth or fluffy duster around it and secure with tape.
“To get rid of the smaller pieces that get caught on the radiator fixings, using a hairdryer on the cold setting is an effective way to blow these out down onto the towel.”
Step four
Andrew said: “When deciding which cleaning products to use, make sure not to use anything too abrasive. Brillo pads for example may scratch and damage the surface of your radiator.
“Fill a bucket with warm soapy water and using a sponge, wipe down the outside of the radiator. Ensure you have a lot of soapy suds on your sponge and ring it out so that it is damp but not dripping.
“If there are any tough stains, leave a spray solution on for a few minutes and then wipe it away vigorously with a cloth.”
You can then use a microfibre cloth to dry the outside of the radiator, making sure to not miss any corners so that the radiator doesn’t go rusty.
Step five
The expert said: “Now you have cleaned the radiator, look at the surrounding surfaces like the wall above and the skirting board below.
“These may need wiping down too as sometimes the heat can cause dirt and dust to stick to the wall. Give any marks a rub with the soapy sponge being careful not to damage any paintwork.”
Andrew says: “Summer is the perfect time to give your radiators a really good clean. The amount of dust and dirt that collects in our radiator from things we bring in on our clothes from outdoors, cooking and smoking can often go unnoticed.
“Set some time aside to push out the dust from the fins inside the radiator and give them a good wipe down on the outside so they look shiny and new.
“It can be quite satisfying removing all the particles but we’d recommend dusting them down each week to keep on top of it.”
The heating expert says that this will not only save money on your heating bills, but dust allergies may decrease as pollen and pet dander can be found in dust.