Dislodging dust from behind your radiator has never been easier with this cleaning hack.
We already have so much on our plates when it comes to keeping our houses clean and tidy, and this means many of us forget to do some of the tasks which aren’t immediately obvious. After all, out of sight out of mind, right?
Things like cleaning the inside of your oven, defrosting your freezer, and sorting through that junk drawer where you throw any old bits and bobs are things we really don’t do as often as we should.
Also on that list is cleaning the dust out from your radiator. If you have a radiator with a grill on the top, dust can get trapped inside the appliance over time, and even if your radiator is flat, there’s still plenty of room between the heater and the wall for various dirt and grime to accumulate.
But how on Earth are you meant to get inside or behind the wall-mounted device to clean it? Well, according to one woman on TikTok, there’s an easy way to do it using an item you probably already own.
The TikTok user, known as Washy_Wash, said all you need for dust-free radiators is a hairdryer and a little bit of patience.
In her video, the woman first wetted a towel, wrung it out so that it was damp, and placed it underneath her radiator. Then, she took her hairdryer and ran it along the top of her radiator, waiting for the clumps of built-up dust to drop out through the bottom of the heater, where it would then be collected by the towel.
Alternatively, you can use the hairdryer without the towel underneath and just vacuum up the dust lumps afterwards.
However, the damp towel is designed to help the dust cling to the surface and not be blown away by the force of the hairdryer above. If you opt for the vacuum method, you may need to chase the dust around your home if your hairdryer blows the lumps away from underneath your radiator.
Commenters on the video were quick to thank the woman for her handy hack, with many saying that cleaning out their radiators is a job they often forget to do.
One person said: “Thanks for the tip, I always forget the heating.”
Another added: “Trying this in the gaps between my radiators that the vacuum can’t get to!”
If the hairdryer trick isn’t for you, you can also buy dedicated radiator cleaning brushes that aim to get between the narrow gaps to dislodge and pick up dust and other debris. But if you already own a hairdryer, this hack could help you in a pinch – and will save you the cost of buying a brush.
According to Check A Trade, cleaning your radiators regularly can help enhance their performance, as well as allowing for better airflow and even saving you cash on your energy bills as they’ll be more efficient.
