One professional has shared her ‘simple but effective’ method to get radiators warming up faster during the colder months
February is regarded as the UK’s chilliest month, which means it’s more crucial than ever to keep warm, but this is also when radiators frequently become less effective. By late winter radiators have been operating for months and during that period they will have attracted dust, lint and any fibres that have been floating in the air.
This debris tends to accumulate as fluff within a radiator and block the airflow, which means heat becomes trapped inside the unit and will not heat up a room properly. Nevertheless, one cleaner on the Mrs Hitch Facebook page has tested out a simple method to clean the interior of a radiator and ensure it keeps a room heated for the remainder of winter.
A woman named Liz said: “I would like to thank everyone who recommended using a hairdryer to remove fluff from radiators. Just tried it and wow what I got. Very simple but effective.”
Over 150 people liked the post and shared it was a brilliant way to get a radiator to function. One commentator wrote: “Never thought of this. Brilliant idea!” whilst another person wrote: “I’ve done this, it’s quite effective”.
Radiators depend on air circulation to heat a room, and if clogged up they can take ages to work properly, which can push up electricity bills as well as leave a home cold and uncomfortable, reports the Express.
It can be challenging to clean the interior of a radiator as dusters will not be able to shift most of the debris but opening it up can be too complex for most people. However, a hairdryer can deliver a powerful stream of air through the gaps in a radiator to dislodge the debris and then blast all the fluff away.
It’s one of the swiftest and simplest methods to clean a radiator and ensure it’s functioning properly so you can stay as cosy as possible for the remainder of winter.
How to use a hair dryer to clean out a radiator
To start, ensure the radiator is switched off and completely cool. Then, position a towel at the base of the radiator to catch any dust that drops out.
Set the hairdryer on the lowest heat setting or a cool setting if available. If the hairdryer is too hot you risk damaging the plastics or paint on a radiator.
Next, position the hairdryer at the top of a radiator between the fins. Switch it on and gently move it along the radiator to force the dust out.
Continue until no more dust is emerging from the radiator. Then carefully transport the debris-filled towel to your bin and tip all the dust build-up away.
Give the floor a vacuum if necessary, and your radiator should now be far more efficient at keeping a room nice and warm.
