As cooler weather approaches, households are preparing to switch the heating back on. A common issue is the hot, dusty smell that fills the home when radiators are first used after summer. That smell can indicate that heating is being blocked from working properly.
While the fronts of radiators may be wiped regularly, the inside can accumulate heavy dust. This causes the odour and interferes with airflow. If airflow is affected, radiators may not run as intended and could end up costing more.
Simple steps to remove dust
Nigel Bearman, director at commercial cleaning company Daily Poppins, explains how to clean the areas most people miss. Ensure the heating is off and the radiator has cooled completely before starting.
Place an old towel underneath to catch debris, then look down through the top and behind the radiator to assess the dust buildup. The first step is to use a vacuum cleaner with a long attachment or radiator brush to remove the bulk of the dust. Do not add water, as this makes dust stick and harder to remove.
Using a hairdryer for hard-to-reach dust
Nigel said: "If you wet a thick layer of dust, you can turn it into grime that is much harder to remove. Get as much loose debris out as possible first, then wipe the outside afterwards."
Another method involves no cleaning product at all, but a hair styling tool. A hairdryer can blow dust out from the bottom of the radiator. Nigel recommends using the hairdryer on the cool setting and directing the air downward so loose dust falls to the floor, where it can be vacuumed up.
He said: "Use cool air and expect a bit of mess. The idea is simply to shift the dust somewhere you can reach it. Put the towel down first or you may just end up blowing months of dust across the floor."
