DIS'ers, how do you clean your hot water radiators???

[wdwmom2]

Starting Monday, we are having our entire 1st floor flooring replaced. So now we are removing the covers off these heaters, along with moving all the furniture out of the first floor. The heaters need cleaned!!! I knew they needed cleaning, but with the covers on, "out of sight, out of mind". With the coils, there is only so far you can get with the vacuum brush and crevice tool. And for the life of me, not sure how to get a good cleaning to the wall behind the radiators. Actually, the only "bad" wall is the one in the kitchen. The other rooms are not that bad.

I know I could probably get a steamer and do them, but really don't have the time for that. So, do you guys have any tips or tricks that you would share with me????

 

[We_Love_Disney]

A small whisk broom and the vacuum hose. I swipe the whisk broom across the coils (careful not to bend them) and as the dust comes out, I vacuum best I can. Wear a face mask or you will be feeling like a cat with a hairball.

It is one of those jobs that if you keep up with it won't be as bad. Putting it off - argh - is bad.

 

[wdwmom2]

A small whisk broom and the vacuum hose. I swipe the whisk broom across the coils (careful not to bend them) and as the dust comes out, I vacuum best I can. Wear a face mask or you will be feeling like a cat with a hairball.

It is one of those jobs that if you keep up with it won't be as bad. Putting it off - argh - is bad.

Oh, I am not worried about bending anything, they are made out of cast iron!!!

I know I shouldn't have put it off, I really was procrastinating. It was calling my name, but I was wearing earplugs!

 

[DisneyKT]

How about a swiffer duster. It might work. What I use to do when I had old heaters like that. My DH has a small air compressor I would blow the air behind and it worked pretty good. Good Luck.

 

[C.Ann]

Oh, I am not worried about bending anything, they are made out of cast iron!!!

I know I shouldn't have put it off, I really was procrastinating. It was calling my name, but I was wearing earplugs!

Are you talking about the really, really old ones - that are about 3 feet long - and there's a valve at the end where you bleed them?

If so, that's what I had in my old house (it was my childhood home) and I had a very, very long radiator brush that was specifically made for cleaning those.. You could get in between each section in the "front" with it, then from the end all the way to the other end, and of course from the back..

Is that the kind you mean?

Quick search found this, although it doesn't show it being used on the old radiatiors like I had.. Same kind of brush though..

http://www.amazon.com/Radiator-Baseboard-Heater-Cleaning-Brush/dp/B000T3E76G

 

[wdwmom2]

Are you talking about the really, really old ones - that are about 3 feet long - and there's a valve at the end where you bleed them?

If so, that's what I had in my old house (it was my childhood home) and I had a very, very long radiator brush that was specifically made for cleaning those.. You could get in between each section in the "front" with it, then from the end all the way to the other end, and of course from the back..

Is that the kind you mean?

Quick search found this, although it doesn't show it being used on the old radiatiors like I had.. Same kind of brush though..

http://www.amazon.com/Radiator-Baseboard-Heater-Cleaning-Brush/dp/B000T3E76G

Yep, the really, really, old ones. Our home was built in 1942, so I guess that counts as old! I am only guessing that they have been here since the beginning!!! And yes, valves at the end to bleed the air out.

The brush you gave the link to, we have something VERY similar. We use it to clean the coils underneth the refrigerator. After I posted this thread, I remembered it and got it out. It worked well. I sure did have the dust flying though!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Oh, I am not worried about bending anything, they are made out of cast iron!!!........

How about that hammer, Sharon????

 

[wdwmom2]

How about that hammer, Sharon????

Oh, Dan, that is just an accident waiting to happen. The hammer would ricochet off the heater and come back and conk me in the head!

 

[golfgal]

Just an FYI, don't put the covers back on the radiators-it DRASTICALLY reduces their efficiency. We used the vacuum with a crevice attachment to clean ours.

We had radiators growing up and I miss them. They were great for putting wet mittens and boots on to dry them. We had one in our bathroom and would put our towels on it while we showered and it would be toasty warm when we got out .

 

[wdwmom2]

Just an FYI, don't put the covers back on the radiators-it DRASTICALLY reduces their efficiency. We used the vacuum with a crevice attachment to clean ours.

I hear what you say, but I prefer the look of the covers. They are very ventilated. Still dropping the efficiency, I know.

In cold weather when the heat is on, my 2 cats pretty much live on the covers. Right now with the covers off, they just stand there staring at the bare radiators!! Poor kitties!