How to clean radiators inside and out – to ensure better efficiency this winter

Once the cold weather arrives, it's important to know how to clean radiators properly. Mostly, so they work efficiently and help reduce your heating bills, which makes a big difference amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Many of us are guilty of neglecting our radiators outside of our deep cleaning routines, but cleaning radiators regularly is key. They should be on your list of things to clean before autumn and winter if you want to keep your home warm. And keep your heating costs down too, a dirty radiator means less efficiency and higher costs after all.

We've consulted with professional cleaners and industry experts to determine the correct methodology for cleaning radiators both inside and out.

How to clean radiators: an expert guide

Cleaning radiators should be a key part of your cleaning routine because they collect significant amounts of dust that is often visible. Often, the dirtiest parts are on the inside, which is why it’s essential to know how to effectively clean both the inside and the outside of your radiators.

One key thing to remember is not to use too much water when cleaning your radiator, as this can cause rust to build up.

Sam Whigham, founder of cleaning product specialists Wilton London, explains, "Social media is full of viral cleaning hack recommendations, but not all of them are great" (not to mention the viral heating hacks to avoid).

"Recently, we saw a tip to wash radiators by pouring soapy water down the middle of your radiator while catching the run-off water in a big tray underneath. We advise against this method. This involves a lot of water and, over time, could encourage rust."

To clean radiators properly, you will need: 

• A radiator cleaning brush: ideally a microfibre one. We recommend the Microfibre Radiator Brush from Lakeland
• Vacuum cleaner
• Hairdryer (optional)
• Gentle multi-surface cleaner
• Dust sheet/old towel
• Cleaning cloth
• A bucket of soapy water

So with this in mind, grab your cleaning products and follow these simple steps to get your radiators clean and working to their best ability.

1. Switch off your heating

Cleaning your radiator with the heating on is not only dangerous in terms of the risk of burning yourself, the same as cleaning an oven while it's hot, but it also prevents dust from collecting throughout the cleaning process. Ensure you switch your heating off before you start.

"It’s best to start cleaning radiators a few hours after your heating goes off so that the radiators are slightly warm, but not hot," suggests Sam. Of course, if you have a radiator cover, now is the time to remove that, once it's cooled.

2. Employ your vacuum cleaner

Getting your vacuum cleaner out to start with is an effective way of removing accessible dust on your radiator, much like we would when getting rid of dust elsewhere around the home. You can vacuum along the top, sides, and the area below the radiator to remove dust and paint chips that might have fallen off over time.

"To begin with, try and clear as much of the dust from in, around, and under a radiator as possible," advises Jess Steele, heating technology specialist at designer radiator specialists BestHeating.com. "If you have the right attachments on your vacuum cleaner, you may even be able to get down and inside the fins."

Advising on the best vacuum for the job, Barry Whitehead of radiator specialists Renaissance at Home adds, "If your vacuum has a dusting brush attachment, this may be the perfect time to use it."

Jess Steele

Jess is BestHeating’s expert in heating technology. Her time is focused on understanding everything there is to know about radiators and boilers; from the heating hacks to avoid, the exact date to turn the heating back on and how to maximise radiators efficiency especially throughout winter.

3. Lay down a dust sheet or towel

The next couple of steps can get a bit messy, so at this point, once the dust is removed, you should lay down either a dust sheet or a large towel to protect your floors. Ensure the area around the radiator is well-covered with the sheet to prevent any spills or mess.

4. Use a stick duster

While it's a good idea to invest in a radiator brush for this step, a stick duster also works well – try and use a microfibre one if possible, for more flexibility. You can dust and clean walls at the same time; this will help reduce dust in your home.

"Start by spraying the stick duster with a multi-surface cleaner until it’s lightly damp," advises Sam. "Now, with the moist duster, dip it down behind and inside your radiator from top to bottom. The duster will pick up the dust and the multi-surface cleaner solution will clean any muck without getting the radiator too wet."

Repeat this on each section of your radiator until you have cleared most or all of the dust away. "If the duster gets too dirty, wipe it with another microfibre cloth to remove most of the dirt. Then spray and dip again until the duster comes out clean." Sam adds.

5. Grab a hairdryer

For any remaining dust, using your best hairdryer is an effective way of blasting those stubborn traces away. "It may sound simple, but a hairdryer is good at getting dust out from the inside and down the back of a radiator," Jess explains.

"Point the nozzle of the hairdryer into the grooves at the top of your radiator and turn it up to the highest setting. That should get a lot of the leftover dust down and out from in and behind your radiator."

6. Wipe with soapy water

Now that the inside of your radiator is clean and dust-free, it's time to clean the outside. Simply grab a bucket of soapy water and a clean cloth or sponge, remembering not to get the radiator too wet.

Nic Auckland from Trade Radiator explains how being gentle is key for this step. "Avoid using abrasive scourers or household detergents, as they can damage the surface of the radiator," he says. 

Clean around the values and heating setting dials to ensure the entire outside casing is well-cleaned and dust-free.

"Make sure the cloth is damp and not soaking wet to avoid trapping water in crevices and causing discolouration or rust. Use a dry microfiber cloth to remove any excess water once finished." Think similar to cleaning your wooden chopping board to avoid any damage, just enough – not too much water.

FAQ

Does cleaning radiators work?

One of the easiest ways to make your heating more efficient and save energy in your home is by cleaning radiators to keep them dust-free. The dust and dirt that collects on radiators over time not only look unsightly but can also affect the efficiency and heat output. Therefore, cleaning radiators works to keep your energy bills down by maintaining a more efficient heating system.

Ava Pope, an Energy Saving Expert at Love Energy Savings, explains, "A heating system which is dirty can increase your energy bills by as much as 25 per cent." Simply keeping them clean ensures they work better, not harder, to provide optimum heating capabilities throughout the house.

What's the best thing to clean radiators with?

While there are many ways to clean radiators, the best thing to use when cleaning is a proper radiator brush. "These brushes are designed to get in all the nooks and crannies of radiators, ensuring that everywhere can be reached properly," explains Nic.

Cast iron radiators and bathroom designs are easily accessible as they are, however, if your radiator features a casing, it is advisable to carefully remove this to perform a deep clean. This will ensure the brush can tackle every nook and cranny with ease. You can, of course, simply poke the brush through the gaps of the cover when tackling your weekly dusting chores, to make the task easier and quicker.

A multi-surface cleaner will also do a great job of cleaning your radiator without getting it too wet, which can be a problem that results in damaging the metal. Simply spray a small amount of multi-surface cleaner onto the brush to dampen it before using the steps mentioned above to get great cleaning results.

What can you use to clean the inside of a radiator?

As well as using a radiator brush to clean the inside areas of a radiator externally, it is also advised that you get a professional to flush your radiators once a year to ensure the internal areas remain clean too.

"To clean the inside of a radiator, you will need to get a professional plumber to power flush your heating system," advises Nick Duggan, director at The Radiator Centre. "This will remove any debris that might have built up and should leave you with a more efficient heating system."

And Simon Morris, marketing manager at The Radiator Company, adds, "To clean out the actual inside of the radiator, the only way is to add an appropriate inhibitor to your central heating system, which, when pumped around, will keep sludge build-up to a minimum. Your plumber should be asked to do this annually at the service check of your boiler and system."

Will white vinegar clean a radiator?

Cleaning with vinegar can be used as a natural solution to clean a radiator, and it's also great for neutralising odours - but only use white vinegar in moderation and on a chrome radiator; otherwise, it can make the metal rust.

Nic says, "White vinegar can be used to clean chrome radiators. It also helps to remove rust from chrome radiators. However, I don't recommend using it on other types of radiators, as the acetic acid in the vinegar can make the metal rust."

Follow Nic's step-by-step guide on how to clean chrome radiators with white vinegar:

• 1. Prepare the cleaning solution: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
• 2. Spray the solution: Spray the solution on the surface of the radiator, making sure to cover all areas
• 3. Wait for 10-15 minutes: Let the solution sit on the radiator for 10-15 minutes to allow it to loosen and dissolve the dirt and grime.
• 4. Scrub the radiator: Use a soft brush or sponge to scrub the radiator, paying extra attention to any stubborn spots.
• 5. Rinse with water: Rinse the radiator with a damp cloth to remove any residue from the vinegar solution.
• 6. Dry the radiator: Wipe the radiator dry with a clean, microfibre cloth to avoid any water spots.: Use a soft brush or sponge to scrub the radiator, paying extra attention to any stubborn spots.

How often should you clean radiators?

While we may know how often you should clean your house, there is no set rule on how often you should clean your radiators, as with how often you should vacuum or how often you should clean your oven, but to avoid dust build-up, radiators need to be deep-cleaned several times a year.

"It’s surprising how easily radiators collect dust and grime," says Sam. "In a quieter household, twice a year should keep the dust at bay. But if you’re a busy household with pets, I would tackle the radiators every 3 months to help them stop pushing dust and particulates around your home. I always give them a clean at the end of summer to avoid that weird burning smell when you turn them on after their summer hiatus."

Jess added, "Dust in between the fins of a radiator can prevent heat from escaping, so it’s important to take the right measures and thoroughly clean radiators at least once a year, keeping on top of any dust that builds up. Incorporating it into a weekly or monthly cleaning routine will also be beneficial, and mean that a big clean between the fins will require less effort." 

So next time you're cleaning the TV screen or cleaning the windows, it might be worth considering giving your radiators a quick dust at the same time, to prevent a further build-up of dust.

How do you get radiators white again?

Whether you're looking to transform your living room on a budget or are planning an entire house refresh, dealing with yellowing radiators can make a world of difference.

"Yellow radiators can be caused by the likes of heat and UV light, or even cooking grease and dirt. There are a couple of ways you can fix it, including cleaning the radiator or repainting the radiator. I would always recommend cleaning the radiator first, as repainting it can be a little bit difficult and much more time-consuming," explains Nic.

He recommends first trying a mild degreaser to clean the radiator, and if that fails, then using a baking powder and water paste. With the paste method, you should let it sit on the affected area for around 15 minutes before cleaning off.

"If none of the above cleaning methods work, then it could be a good idea to repaint it. Not all radiators will be suitable for repainting, so double-check that your radiator is suitable before you start," suggests Nic.

"To repaint, you'll need to sand your radiator down before applying a metal primer in any bare metal spots. You should then make sure to paint with a water-based radiator-specific paint. This is really important as normal paint won't cut it due to the heat that the radiator emits. Again, always let the radiator dry before turning it back on," he continues.

Can I pour water down my radiator to clean it?

Even when you're trying to clean your living room in 10 minutes, there are some shortcuts you should never take.

"No. I would never recommend pouring water down any type of radiator. It won't clean it; it'll only damage the components. If you pour water into your radiator, you risk water pooling inside the convector fins and running into components such as valves, TRVs, etc," explains Nic.

He also points out that this would eventually cause rust and would mean that the components would probably become faulty and need replacing.

You should definitely avoid pouring water down your radiator if you have an electric model.

The key to keeping your radiators clean and low maintenance is ensuring you're cleaning them regularly. They don't need to be a daily cleaning habit, but wiping and dusting each week will help keep them working and looking their best.