What is the best way to clean a cast iron radiator?

Over time, dust, debris, grime, and even rust, can accumulate on your cast iron radiators, and if allowed to build up, they will look dull and dirty. Not only that, but if left uncleaned for a long period of time, your cast iron radiators will not be as efficient, taking longer to heat up and increasing your energy bills too. Read on to find out how often you should be cleaning your cast iron radiator, how cleaning can improve energy efficiency and of course, a handy step-by-step guide on how to clean a cast iron radiator.

How to clean a cast iron radiator

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean your cast iron radiator:

What you’ll need:

Drop cloths or plastic sheeting to cover the floor
Soft bristle brush or vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment
Radiator cleaning brush or a long stick
Mild detergent or a specialist cast iron radiator cleaner
Sponge or cloth
Bucket of warm water

1. Turn off your cast iron radiator

Before making a start on cleaning your cast iron radiator, make sure it’s switched off and is cool to the touch.

2. Vacuum the radiator

Next, use the vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment and get behind, under and in between the columns of the radiator. Once done, take a drop cloth or some plastic sheeting and position under the radiator. You may also want to protect your walls using painter’s tape.

3. Select the right radiator cleaning brush

A radiator cleaning brush has a flexible design and looks like a chimney sweep tool, making it easier to clean your cast iron radiator. But, if you don’t have a radiator cleaning brush, then you can make your own with little effort. Just take a long stick and wrap a soft cleaning cloth around it, and secure in place with some strong tape.

4. Cleaning your cast iron radiator

Take a bucket and fill it with warm water, and then add in a small amount of dishwashing liquid. Next, dampen the radiator brush or cloth and start to clean between the columns. You’ll be surprised at how much dirt and grime comes on to the brush and falls on to the plastic sheeting on the floor. Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the radiator, take a separate dry clean cloth, and dry the radiator, ensuring it’s completely dry to prevent rust from developing.

If your cast iron radiator is not working effectively after a good clean, then you may need to call out a plumber to carry out a power flush. This will remove any sludge that’s built up inside the columns and get your radiator working to its full potential once again.

How often should you clean a cast iron radiator?

The best way to keep on top of your radiator cleaning and to prevent a larger accumulation of dust and grime, is to include the task in your weekly home clean.

A quick wipe down with a cloth and water once a week, is a simple yet effective way to keep your cast iron radiator looking like new. But if you’re going for longer periods in between cleaning, then a deeper clean will be required.

Tips for improving the efficiency of your cast iron radiators

A cast iron radiator that is functioning effectively ensures a comfortable and consistent room temperature, as well as helping to reduce your energy bills too. Here’s some ways that you can improve the efficiency of your cast iron radiators.

Keep your cast iron radiators clean – the easiest way to improve the efficiency of your cast iron radiators is to clean them on a regular basis. Built-up dust prevents the heat from escaping and so dusting the surface with a soft cloth will ensure your radiator functions at its best.

Regularly bleed your radiators – if you’ve noticed your cast iron radiator is cooler at the top than at the bottom, when your heating is switched on, then it most likely needs bleeding. This is a simple task you can carry out yourself – find out how to bleed a radiator in our handy step-by-step guide. Most radiators require bleeding at some point, and this helps to release air that has become trapped inside. Trapped air prevents the water from circulating effectively and so the radiator does not fully warm up.

Don’t block your radiators with furniture – sofas, cupboards and other furniture items are often placed in front of a radiator, but this means your radiators are working to heat up that object, rather than the room. In some cases, it’s not always possible to avoid covering up a radiator, so leave as much space as you possibly can between the furniture item and radiator to help improve efficiency.

Power flush your radiators – if the bottom of your cast iron radiator is cold to the touch, or if brown or no liquid comes out when bleeding, then it may need to be power flushed. This is recommended once every five to six years and the work should be carried out by a professional plumber. Over time, dirt and rust builds up inside, preventing the water from properly circulating and so flushing a radiator is a highly effective way to clean the inside.

Regularly cleaning and maintaining your cast iron radiators will help to prolong their lifespan and keep them looking and functioning at their very best for years to come.