Over time, radiators, like all other things in the household, become dirty. If you smoke in the room, it turns yellow and dust penetrates into the smallest cracks and holes. This is particularly unpleasant with old finned radiators. But cleaning is quite complicated because most places are difficult to get to. We would like to give you some tips that you can use if you want to clean your radiator.
The best time to clean radiators is before and after the heating season. If you plan to clean the heating in late summer or autumn, keep in mind that during the heating period in winter, dust and dirt will be attracted again by the heat and you will probably have to carry out further cleaning after the heating period. The reason for this is also the air circulation that is created by the heat from the radiator. Cleaning the models with ribs is easier because you can easily get into the cracks with a feather duster or even a vacuum cleaner, but they also have many more cracks and openings that can get dirty. In the newer models, the accumulated dust is not visible. It accumulates in the covered interior. But over time this affects performance, which can become up to four times weaker. That's why it's important that you do it regularly. But how?
How can you clean the inside of radiators? You can remove dust from the insideon the newer modelsjust by removing the covers. This may require removing some screws. On some models the covers are even just attached. Now you have three options to banish the dust from inside. You can do it by using a special radiator brush. This is also called a lamella brush.
So that you don't have to go out of your way to buy a brush, you can also use a hairdryer as an alternative. With its help, you blow out the dust from top to bottom. Now you tell yourself that the dust will fly all over the apartment. And you're right about that too. For this reason, place a damp cloth or sheet underneath beforehand, which will perfectly catch the dust. You can also use this tip with old finned radiators. The vacuum cleaner is an equally good helper when it comes to cleaning radiators. All you need is a suitable attachment that allows you to get inside the heater.
And while you can do it yourself with normal models, convectors should only be cleaned by professionals. You can easily clean the convector with a vacuum cleaner and possibly wipe surfaces yourself. However, the convector should only be opened by a specialist who is well versed and can clean it without damaging the interior.
Another variant is cleaning with a steam cleaner. If you want to clean the heater this way, keep in mind that the water that drips down the bottom can be pretty dirty, depending on the amount of dust. In this case, it is best to lay out a base. An old sheet is well suited for this because it absorbs most of the dirty water. You should also cover the wall behind and around the radiator to avoid splashes. This variant seems very complicated, but it is effective. The steam also kills bacteria and dust mites at the same time. You should also not hold the steam cleaner too close or for too long to the slats. The high temperature of the steam could potentially cause the paint to chip off.
But dirt also accumulates from the outside and should be removed regularly. Radiators in the kitchen, for example, become discolored over time due to the fumes and fats that are carried through the air. The best way to do this is with oven cleaners or degreasers. However, the discoloration and dirt should still be relatively fresh. Finally, wipe the surface again with a damp cloth. You may also want to use a steam cleaner. If it is a smoker's apartment, nicotine causes discoloration over time due to deposits, which unfortunately cannot be removed with cleaners. In this case, you can simply repaint the heater. It will look like new afterwards.
To paint, choose a time outside of the heating season. The radiator should be prepared by lightly roughening the surfaces with sandpaper. This guarantees that the new paint will adhere better later. Get advice about the right color from your hardware store. It should definitely be heat-resistant. In addition, the new color does not necessarily have to be a classic white or beige. There are now a wide variety of color nuances and colored radiators are currently very trendy because they beautify the interior. Acrylic varnish is recommended. This has several advantages. On the one hand, it has less odor and, on the other hand, it is more environmentally friendly and it does not yellow as quickly as some other varnishes, including the commonly used alkyd resin varnish. It is best to paint the large areas of the heater with a roller. Smaller elements such as pipes, connectors and brackets are more difficult to work with the roller, which is why a brush with natural bristles is more practical.
