Nobody wants a freezing house in the middle of winter, and as the weather is expected to be windier this week, it is essential to make sure your radiator is working properly. If your radiator is taking ages to heat up or is not as hot as it should be, you may be relieved to hear you do not have to call the plumber just yet.
It might just need to be cleaned. Dirt build up can block heat, so it will take more energy to warm a room.
This can raise electricity bills and put more strain on the radiator. Lynsey Crombie, a cleaning expert also known as the Queen of Clean, has shared that the best way to clean radiators is to “blast away trapped dust and debris” using one simple object in the home.
In a Facebook post, Lynsey wrote: “Use your hair dryer to blow out trapped dust from those hard-to-reach spots.”
How to use a hair dryer to clean a radiator
Radiators can have dust, pet hair and even cobwebs on their fins, and using a hair dryer can reach crevices inside the radiator that might be hard to clean with a vacuum or cloth. To begin with, make sure your radiator is completely turned off, reports the Express.
Then, place a towel down and make sure you have a vacuum nearby to collect the dust as it blows out the radiator. Then, use your hair dryer on cool air and a high airflow setting.
Do not use a hot air setting to avoid damaging the radiator’s components. Then, simply point the hair dryer at the fins, panels or vents in the radiator. Repeat until all the dirt and debris has been removed.
You might need to gently brush off any dust that’s settled on the exterior of your radiator, ensuring it’s now free from grime. If a hairdryer isn’t your tool of choice, Lynsey has another tip: “A quick burst of steam can help dislodge hidden dust.”
Should that fail, she recommends investing in a specialised radiator-cleaning brush for those hard-to-reach spots, describing them as “perfect for getting into the nooks and crannies.”
It’s crucial to keep the insides of your radiators spotless, and just a few minutes spent removing dust can make your home more snug when the cold hits. Lynsey added: “Clean radiators [mean] more heat and energy efficiency.”