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Tips for cleaning/dusting radiators

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  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 7,539 Forumite
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    When I moved in here the rads hadn't been cleaned since it was built 20yrs ago.
    I have a cylinder vac that can blow if you change ends with the hose. Excellent for the bathroom fans and i gave the rads a go.
    I found 3 different sizes of long thin radiator brushes for a pound. Excellent.
    But the Lakeland one is a step up from the same thing. I'll be looking for one of those.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

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  • Alanp
    Alanp Posts: 763 Forumite
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    If it’s a fairly modern radiator you can take the ends and top off ( they just unclip) , it makes cleaning easier
  • bob_a_builder
    bob_a_builder Posts: 2,357 Forumite
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    edited 15 December 2021 at 2:02AM
    Depending on the size of the gaps on your rads
    A bit of hose pipe, with some tape wrapped round the end so you can jam it into one the hose fittings of your hoover

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lx73GCCxU5jmStDk9

    it was in lock down - too much time on my hands !!
  • Ant555
    Ant555 Posts: 1,597 Forumite
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    edited 15 December 2021 at 10:43AM
    As an MX-5 Mk1 owner, I have the essential 'trombone cleaner' in my toolkit - many mx-5 owners have one.  I suspect it will do the job on a radiator too.
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/NATEE-Cleaning-Instrument-Maintenance-Accessory/dp/B086MBP7CC

    Often required on these cars to clear out the drain holes to clear out debris and stop the inside of the car turning into a swimming pool.

    PS - I hadnt thought of using it for a rad until just then but im going to try this later on!


  • Apodemus
    Apodemus Posts: 3,410 Forumite
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    Alanp said:
    Lol!  :)

    a) That rad would have passed as "clean" in my house, before she started!

    b) she didn't actually do much and didn't seem to clean down into the fins.
  • badger09
    badger09 Posts: 11,575 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Ant555 said:
    As an MX-5 Mk1 owner, I have the essential 'trombone cleaner' in my toolkit.  I suspect it will do the job on a radiator too.
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/NATEE-Cleaning-Instrument-Maintenance-Accessory/dp/B086MBP7CC

    Often required on these cars to clear out the drain holes to clear out debris and stop the inside of the car turning into a swimming pool.


    The problem I found with those sort of brushes, some sold specifically to clean radiators, was that they were much too stiff. The bristles just scratched, rather than dusted. 

    Lakeland one looks good though. I'll try one when I run out of old tights :D
  • Ant555
    Ant555 Posts: 1,597 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    badger09 said:
    The problem I found with those sort of brushes, some sold specifically to clean radiators, was that they were much too stiff. The bristles just scratched, rather than dusted. 

    Lakeland one looks good though. I'll try one when I run out of old tights :D

    Its great that there are loads of solutions offered - some of them basically free if you already have the bits.

    PS - the trombone cleaner is quite gentle though as I think it probably has to be to avoid damaging the brass instruments.
  • Apodemus
    Apodemus Posts: 3,410 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Ant555 said:
    As an MX-5 Mk1 owner, I have the essential 'trombone cleaner' in my toolkit 


    Where do you put a trombone in an MX-5? 


    .....on the instrument panel!   :) 
  • Ebe_Scrooge
    Ebe_Scrooge Posts: 7,320 Forumite
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    edited 15 December 2021 at 4:45PM
    Apodemus said:
    Ant555 said:
    As an MX-5 Mk1 owner, I have the essential 'trombone cleaner' in my toolkit 


    Where do you put a trombone in an MX-5? 


    .....on the instrument panel!   :) 

    Groaaaannnnnn.  That's the sort of rubbish joke I'd come up with - but it did make me chuckle :-)
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