How to clean radiators from dust and dirt - 4 ways

Why do you need to clean batteries? It’s not just a matter of aesthetics and hygiene: a device that doesn’t have a layer of dirt on it gives off heat much better, which is important for owners of cold houses and regions with severe frosts. The method of cleaning radiators from dust depends on their type, age, and degree of contamination. It is also worth considering the covering of the floor and walls.

Vacuum cleaner or hair dryer

House heating radiators are good at collecting dust and dirt, especially since housewives often forget about this part of the apartment when cleaning. It is important to understand that any type of radiator will sooner or later have to be cleaned, regardless of the material from which it is made.

For dry cleaning, use a vacuum cleaner with narrow brush attachments designed for furniture. Or go the opposite way and “blow” all the dirt out of the battery crevices using a hairdryer. To prevent dust from moving through the air, place a damp cloth between the wall and the radiator or ask someone to hold it during the procedure.

Always start cleaning the radiator with a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer, and then proceed with wet cleaning if necessary.

Gloves

An ideal and quick way to clean bimetallic batteries from the inside. The openings between the blocks of such a radiator are very narrow, so using a sponge or rag is not always effective.

To clean a modern bimetal battery quickly, follow these instructions:

1. Take cloth household gloves, not necessarily new ones.
2. Wet them and soap them well. It is recommended to wash the radiator with laundry soap, shampoo or dish gel. It is better not to use abrasive powders.
3. Wear gloves and thoroughly clean all spaces between sections and the batteries themselves. It is very convenient to feel all the dirt and crevices with your hands.
4. Remove the soap layer also using gloves.
5. Repeat the procedure several times if necessary.

Advice
If you don't have gloves, use an old sock.

Steamer

A steam generator and steam cleaner allows you to clean heating radiators in the kitchen, which are covered with dust and a grease film.

Advice from purity-en.htgetrid.com magazine
When washing radiators, protect floor coverings and walls from splashes of water and detergent. Puddles harm parquet, laminate, and linoleum.

Kettle with boiling water

This method is for specifically contaminated cast iron batteries in the form of accordions. How to clean this problematic area in the apartment:

1. We start with dry cleaning, then wash everything with a product and a hard sponge.
2. Then we boil a kettle of water, place a pan or baking sheet under the radiator, and protect the floor and walls with rags.
3. We pour hot water over the thoroughly soaped cast iron battery (slowly and carefully!) to soften old dirt.
4. We wipe it.
5. Additionally, rinse the device with clean water.

Other tricks and useful tips

Inventive housewives have invented many more ways to clean batteries from dirt. Here is a collection of tricks and useful tips that will make the washing process easier:

1. Use paint brushes or long-handled dish brushes, or, in extreme cases, old toothbrushes.They penetrate into the narrowest gaps between the radiator elements.
2. Aluminum batteries and bimetal blocks are smooth, which cannot be said about the old cast-iron Soviet designs. When washing them, always use protective gloves to avoid accidentally damaging the skin of your hands.
3. Try removing marks from pens, markers and other similar stains using a melamine sponge. It cleans almost any surface quickly, effectively and without the use of water.
4. If possible, remove the grill and rinse it under running water. If this is not possible, then try to wash all the gaps with your hands without removing. To clean the thin grate, use cotton swabs.
5. Use special sprays at home, sold in hardware stores. Read the instructions: the product must be suitable for cleaning the metal from which the battery is made. Thus, caustic alkalis and acids are prohibited for aluminum radiators.
6. Once a week, run a clean, damp cloth over the battery grille. This is enough to remove the dust layer. If the radiator in the kitchen becomes covered with grease due to fumes from the stove, wipe it first with a soap solution, and then with clean water and a dry cloth.

Cleaning from the inside

Batteries become dirty not only from the outside, but also from the inside: scale, rust, and mold settle on their walls. Basically, deposits of internal scale attach to the bottom of the battery, blocking the normal flow of water. Plaque inside reduces the flow of heat into the house.

How to clean deposits inside:

1. Close the valves.
2. Unscrew the nuts that secure the battery.
3. Carefully drain the water.
4. Remove the battery and take it out into the open, or at least into the bathtub (cover the enamel with a thick cloth).
5. Using a wooden hammer, gently tap the entire battery to remove any adhering residue.
6. Shake out any solids.
7. Fill the tank with hot water for half an hour. To speed up the removal of plaque, add a little citric acid or soda to the water. There are special washing solutions.
8. Use a hose to rinse the inside of the battery. Continue until the water flowing out is completely clear.

Radiators should be flushed after the end or before the start of the heating season.

By paying attention to external and internal cleaning of heating radiators, you thereby extend their shelf life and improve the heat supply to the apartment. Even minimal effort will be useful.