The following instructions are specific to forced hot water radiators. Please see the entry Radiator heating system for identification information.

 

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Convection currents around radiators make it a sure thing they’ll attract plenty of dust over time. Dust and dirt on the outsides of radiators is unsightly, of course, but dust that gets between the fins reduces efficiency, increasing heating costs over time.

While you may dust the exterior metal trim of a hot-water baseboard radiator, it’s much more effective to vacuum the fine fins on the inside with a brush attachment. That means some disassembly is in order, but this is easy to do any time the radiator is cool or cold. (Wait until the radiator has cooled to avoid burns.)

The front panel (it’s vertical, facing out into the room) is removable. Start by removing the “end caps” or trim strips. Raise trim strips at both ends of the radiator by grasping the bottom tabs, just above the floor, and gently pivoting or pulling upward. The trim strips are 4-6 inches wide and either hinged or loosely clipped at the top. End caps may be gently pulled away from both ends of the radiator, along the wall. Remove as appropriate.

Now you can remove the front panel. On shorter sections of six feet or less, spread your hands wide and grasp the front panel with both hands, hooking your thumbs over the top of the panel and other fingers underneath. Gently pull upward, parallel to the wall, until the upper bracket hooks release the panel. Pivot the panel slightly away from the upper hooks and lower it until the lower bracket hooks release it. (You may need a second pair of hands to help you remove panels longer than six feet.)

Gently vacuum under, over and in front of all fins and adjacent flooring using a brush attachment and crevice tool as necessary. Replace the front panels and trim strips in reverse order from the way you removed them.

Don’t try to clean the aluminum fins on baseboard radiators with liquid cleaning solutions. While it’s not hazardous to do so, it’s a lot of work for something that shouldn’t be necessary, anyway.

To clean away stuck-on grime on exterior radiator surfaces, shut down the boiler if necessary and wait until the radiators are completely cold. Use a spray of any mild, all-purpose household cleaner applied to a sponge or soft cloth to wipe the metal surfaces. Place towels or drop cloths under and around radiators to catch drips. Wipe away cleaner and soil residue with a second cloth or sponge dampened with clean water. Dry with a soft cloth or towel.

Don’t use abrasive pads or scouring cleaners to remove stubborn spots from exterior metal surfaces. Instead, leave cleaning solution on spots or stains for several minutes, then scrub with a cloth or sponge.