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Cleaning whizz shares six tips to save you hundreds on your energy bills, and they’re totally FREE
Don't forget to put a towel or dust sheet down to catch any mess
ENERGY bills higher than ever and temperatures outside are falling even lower.
So we're all looking for cheap hacks to keep the house warm without turning the heating on.
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But if we do have to resort to turning it on, there are some steps we can take to save ourselves hundreds in bills.
According to one expert, ensuring your radiator is thoroughly clean is a game changer when it comes to retaining heat inside the home.
"We don’t always think about cleaning radiators or towel rails during our usual cleaning routines but actually it’s crucial during winter to ensure they work efficiently," Nancy Emery, from , said.
"Poor performance from your heating will drain energy and you’ll start to see bills getting more expensive.
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"In fact, just by keeping your radiators clean during winter could mean saving hundreds on your gas bill every year."
In addition to the cost implications, a dirty radiator could mean that more moisture collects in the room, as the heat output is blocked.
"If left this can start to build up quite quickly, exposing you to damp risk," Nancy added.
"Unfortunately, this will only get worse over time and may even lead to mould.
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"So it’s really important to not only clean your radiators but understand how to clean them properly."
First of all, you need to turn off your heating.
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Turn the TRV (Thermostatic Radiator Valve) if you have one to zero and allow your radiator a couple of hours to cool down.
"This will not only stop you burning yourself, it will help prevent the convection currents drawing any more dust into the radiator as you clean," Nancy explained.
Next, grab your hoover and start vacuuming, starting from behind and getting inside the radiator as much as you can - using the extendable hose if your hoover has one.
If you don't have one, use a long-handled duster or radiator brush.
Once you've cleaned the outside, try and use the vacuum hose to point inside the top of the radiator to suck out as much loose dust as possible.
"A great tip for cleaning behind the radiator is to get a hairdryer and give it a good blast on the highest setting to help push out all the hidden dust you can’t reach," Nancy smiled.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
Once you've removed as much of the dust as you can, get to work with your radiator brush.
The long tool, with a brush on the end, allows you to get to the hard to reach places of your radiator and remove any dust.
But if you don't have one in your cleaning cupboard, you needn't worry, as there's an easy way to create your own.
"Find a long piece of wire, or something similar such as an unravelled wire coat hanger and attach a duster to the end," Nancy advised.
"This should allow you to clear out most of the dust from inside the radiator."
And remember to put a towel or dust sheet under the radiator when you're doing this to catch any dirt that falls out.
Then it's time to clean the outside.
"Mix some washing up liquid inside a bucket of hot water until foamy," Nancy said.
"Dunk your sponge and wring out excess water until damp.
"Wipe down the outside of your radiator, pipework, and valves until they are dust and grime free."
Once you've got your radiator sparkly clean, the last step is to clean up the area around it.
"If you live in a home with smokers or moulting pets, then the heat of your radiator can sometimes cause the smoke, dirt, and hair to stick to your walls," Nancy said.
"In any case, giving the walls directly around the radiator a wash with soapy water is a good idea.
"It's likely you'll have pulled a lot of dust and dirt out from behind the radiator during the clean, so make sure you also wipe down the skirting boards and the floor too."
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The final step is to perform a radiator flush - to get rid of any remaining sludge inside.
To perform a flush, you need to remove the drained radiator completely and run water through it using a hose to flush out the sludge.
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