How to Clean Your Radiators in these few Simple Steps

How to Clean Your Radiators in These Few Simple Steps

Over the past few months, we have all been aware of the importance of keeping all things clean and hygienic. Your radiators are no exception. Mucky radiators can cause issues and hinder the efficiency of your central heating system. Keeping on top of cleanliness inside and out, will save time in the long run. Over time a lot of dust, cobwebs, pet hair and general grime will accumulate on your radiator. This is particularly true of radiators in high traffic areas such as hallways. Inside, sludge and debris can build up causing your radiators to produce less heat and eventually may cause corrosion and leaks. Here, we will run through the easiest and quickest way of keeping your radiators in top notch condition, inside and out.

How to Clean Your Radiators.

The first step would be to turn your radiator off. It might be tempting to give it a once over whilst it is warm. However, it is much safer for it to be off, especially when cleaning it internally. It could be attracting dust whilst warming so it would not have as much of an effect. Spring and summer are therefore the perfect time to give your radiator a proper deep clean.

Dusting the Outside of Your Radiators.

To remove dust from your radiators, we recommend dusting or vacuuming as much as the surface as you can. Obviously, this will be much easier with a detachable hose or a car vacuum so you can get into the nooks and crannies and try and lift as much as the dust as possible. You can also use a feather duster, but it can be less effective. Start with a once over and then work between the crevices. If your radiator has a cover, this is a great time to take it off so you can get to the inside.

Wipe the Surfaces Down with a Soft Cloth or Radiator Cleaning Brush.

Third, if you really want to maintain the efficiency of your radiator it might be worth investing in a proper cleaning brush. Specialist radiator cleaning brushes can be found cheaply online. These are built specifically to brush away the dust, dirt and grime that can build up inside your rad and prevent the heat travelling properly. If you do not want to purchase a radiator brush you can make your own with a duster and a coat hanger. You may also want to think about putting a dust sheet under the radiator to ensure any fall out does not ruin your floor. Depending on the regularity of your deep clean, there may be some debris. Wipe down your radiator with some warm soapy water. To avoid damaging any paintwork or surfaces, we recommend a small amount of washing up liquid and a microfibre cloth to wipe down the front, sides and top of your radiator of any excess dust and stubborn stains that you may have missed. Make sure you give the pipework and valves a wipe with this soapy water to keep them clean too as they can also get grubby. This step is best suited to traditional radiators and cast iron radiators. We do not advise using this cleaning method on electric radiators.

Dealing with a Rusting Radiator.

Have you noticed some rusting and corrosion on your radiators? If it is not too extensive, you can give them a makeover with some specialist radiator paint. This is quite an easy DIY job if you want to keep the costs down. If you are concerned at the level of rust, contact a professional for more advice on how to clean your radiators internally.

Flushing Your Radiators.

You should now have a sparkling radiator! Now to work on the internal clean and flush through. Doing this regularly will maintain the health of your whole system from the inside out. We stock some great system cleaning products, but if you are not sure, contact a professional for more information on how to clean your radiators internally. You can also ask them about general maintenance to ensure your radiators give you the best performance for years to come. This additional maintenance can improve the efficiency of your radiators and therefore help reduce your heating costs.