With spring just around the corner and the clocks changing later this month, many households will be thinking about finally switching the heating off. The turn of the season doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the chilly weather, however, so some may opt to keep their radiators on for a little longer.
But if your radiator takes a long to heat up or is not as hot as it should be, you might not have to call the plumber just yet, as it might just need a good clean. A buildup of dirt and debris can block heat, putting a strain on the radiator. This in turn can result in higher electricity bills, as it takes more energy to warm your room.
Luckily, there is an easy way to clean your radiators by using one simple household item.
Posting to TikTok, @cleanwithgeorgiia shared seven ways she keeps her home free of dust.
Her first tip was to use a hair dryer to “blow out” dust from your radiator.
She also shared tips for keeping dust from your walls, headboards and surfaces, using common cleaning staples including a lint roller and damp duster.
Georgia isn’t the only cleaning enthusiast to recommend using a hair dryer to clean your radiators.
Cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie, who is also known as the Queen of Clean, also suggests using this method.
In a past Facebook post, she wrote: “Use your hair dryer to blow out trapped dust from those hard-to-reach spots.”
Dust, pet hair and cobwebs can easily build up in radiators, with a hair dryer able to reach crevices you probably wouldn’t be able to reach using a vacuum or cloth.
To start, turn your radiator off and place a towel down underneath. Make sure you have your vacuum ready to collect the dust as it blows out from the radiator.
Keeping your hair dryer on the cool air and high airflow setting, point it at the radiator’s fins, panels or vents.
Avoid using the hot air setting as this could cause damage to the radiator’s components.
Repeat this process until your radiator is clear of all dirt and debris.
Finally, use a soft brush to clean out any dust on the outside of the radiator.
