Did you know that even a thin layer of dust can reduce heating performance by up to ten percent? Conversely, this means that the thicker the layer of dust, the more energy has to be generated to heat up a room. Once the dirt really burns into the radiators in winter, the heating output is said to drop by up to 30 percent. In addition, the dust is repeatedly stirred up by the warm air and thus noticeably worsens the room climate - especially for allergy sufferers. It is all the more important to regularly dust off the radiators. You can find out when the right time is and how it works best in the next section.
In fact, it makes the most sense to dust off radiators before they are (yet) in operation. This will remove any dirt particles from last season that may have accumulated in the spaces between and inside. Another advantage of this is that cold heaters are easier to clean with a special radiator brush because they attract less dust than warm ones - you also don't run the risk of burning yourself when you touch them. In addition, it can (depending on the length of the cold spell) do no harm to dust the radiators at least once more between autumn and winter in order to keep energy costs as low as possible. You can find out which tools are useful here as follows.
Depending on the type of heating installed in your living space, there are different cleaning options. We present a few common methods. A tip beforehand: place an old towel under the radiator to catch the dust and dirt residue. Alternatively, you can vacuum the dirt very easily, depending on the floor covering.
Panel radiators are also called panel radiators whose front is completely closed and open at the top (with an overlying grille). In order to clean them, it is advisable to remove the heating grille - depending on the type of heater, the grille can either be lifted up or unscrewed - and cleaned separately. For example in the shower with a sponge and some washing-up liquid. A radiator brush with goat hair bristles can be used to remove dust and dirt from the fins. Alternatively, there are also models with microfibers or nylon bristles.
The sectional heaters are among the oldest types of heating. In this antiquated model, individual elements (the so-called links) made of sheet steel are lined up - the number can vary depending on the size of the room. The advantage of cleaning is that you usually do not need a special brush. A damp cloth and some washing-up liquid should be sufficient to remove dust and dirt residue from the steel links. If the gaps are more difficult to reach, you can also use an ordinary feather duster - or a special radiator feather.
As the name already suggests, this type of heater is a very flat model. It is usually attached to the wall and not to the floor. While the front can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth, the slats and the gap between the radiator and the wall are difficult to reach. The use of a radiator brush - also known as a radiator brush for panel radiators - can be very useful here. There are even special attachments for standard vacuum cleaners that are supposed to help with dust and water-free cleaning.
So-called tubular radiators, which are mainly used in the bathroom, are particularly popular and modern. They serve not only to heat the premises, but are used as towel warmers. And that's not the only advantage: since there are no open spaces, no dust can accumulate inside the heater. Only the easy-care fins get dirty and can either be cleaned with a damp cloth or dusted with a special ribbed brush for radiators.
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