With central heating season approaching, a simple 10-minute radiator clean this month could make your home warmer and help reduce energy bills. Autumn is underway in the UK, and now is the ideal time to start preparing radiators for colder weather to keep your home as warm and comfortable as possible.
Most British households begin switching on their heating once temperatures consistently fall below 15°C outside, which typically happens around early October. Journalist Katherine McPhillips has shared the one tip she swears by for keeping her home warm throughout the cold months.
Why use a hair dryer to clean a radiator?
Radiators push warm air outwards, which can trap dust within the fins. If left unattended, this dust will obstruct heat from circulating around a room, leaving it feeling bitterly cold. The prospect of cleaning a radiator may seem daunting, but it generally takes less than 10 minutes, as all that dusty residue can be eliminated simply by using a hair dryer.
It may sound rather unconventional, but over the course of a year, dust, pet hair and fluff tend to accumulate inside radiator fins, which can be notoriously tricky to reach. This build-up can act as an insulator, preventing warm air from entering a room, meaning not only will it fail to heat up adequately, but the radiator will also have to work considerably harder, ultimately resulting in higher energy bills.
McPhillips said: "I live in an old Victorian house in Scotland, where it can be really draughty, so it is really important to me that my radiators are working properly."
How to get rid of dust inside a radiator
To start, place a towel beneath the radiator as it makes collecting any falling dust much easier. Next, set your hairdryer to the lowest heat setting and the highest speed setting available. Avoid using a hot setting on the hairdryer, as this doesn't assist with dust removal and can actually cause the debris to emit a slightly burnt odour.
Direct the hairdryer nozzle towards the top air vents and grille of the radiator to blow the dust downwards and outwards. Afterwards, simply dispose of any dust collected on the towel and use a vacuum cleaner to pick up any fluff that may have landed on the floor.
McPhillips said: "I like to clean out my radiator now in late September, before I need to switch it on, and then do it once a month during the colder months to make sure it stays as hot as possible." She added: "I then like to use a wet cloth to wipe the outside of the radiator if there is any dust, and then my radiators are ready just in time for the colder seasons ahead."
