To be freaked out right now!?

[shoogalypeg]

Just moved into my lovely new home that I was over the moon about until….

I discovered that the previous occupant has shoved some sort of “air freshener” actually INto the radiators so whenever I switch the heating on this sickly sweet smell fills the WHOLE house!

Now I hate these those scentsy wax smelly things as they are full of dodgy chemicals and now I worry this is what’s in the radiators 🤦🏻‍♀️

Any idea how I can clean this shit out (I know there are those feather duster radiator things but doubt they’ll get rid of any waxes or oils)

The other thing that’s now stressing me out is what kinda smell were they so desperate to mask with this as it’s in ALL the rooms

What do you mean inside the radiator?! Like, where the water is?

Won't be in the radiators. Far more likely they've doused the outside of the radiators in essential oils or something. If it was in the radiators, how would you smell it without water leaking everywhere?

I'd give all of the radiators a good scrub down with sugar soap. Or do you mean you have double radiators with the gap and odd bit in the middle?

Try washing the radiators. It’s likely an ‘oil’ has been rubbed on to the radiators externally, it won’t be in the radiators themselves. Other possibility is tumble dryer sheets stuffed down the back of the rads.

‘tic toc’ and its home hacks have s lot to answer for!

Sorry I wasn’t clear enough, I meant it seems to be in between the grills 😔🤦🏻‍♀️

Very long tongs?

Looks like this is my only option only snag is the whole place is carpeted (except bathrooms n kitchen) so will have to place an old towel on the floor to avoid damage

thanks for the suggestion xx

Not sure about yours, but I have couple of radiators of that type, the grill on the top/top cover on mine can actually be removed. You can try that and take out whatever is stuck in between the grills.

Get a long pair of tweezers for aquarium gardening/plumbing tweezers/slimline tongs and fish the things out.

How about unraveling a wire coat hanger and trying to hook it up?

Yeah you can remove them though can be hard at first if the idiot has painted it🙄

Is it wax or oil or some air freshener cards that you stick in the car perhaps they've shoved them down there.

I do like a smelly candle but I must admit I would feel a bit sick or get a headache if an over power smell kept drifting around the house every time I had the heating on.

It's crazy how many follow the ideas of numpty tik tok so called influencers 🙈.

We don’t have radiators but it’s always mentioned on cleaning threads on MN to do this. Can’t be good for you. Just open the windows!

Yeah you should be able to take the top off which will make it easier to get to whatever’s in there. I don’t know how you get them off though you might have to look on YouTube!

As a last resort the smell will eventually wear out.

Hand held steam cleaner? I put an old towel on the floor beneath the radiator, and give it a blast down the middle where the fins are. The dirt that comes out is so satisfying!
My steam cleaner was about £30 from Amazon.

I ordered a grabber on Amazon for our radiator it's thin & opens up once put down, my son has a habit of popping things down it. Flexible grabber with 4 claws should find it,it's bendy & strong & only about £6

I can’t see anything in the grills (besides mucky dust) but it smells like those glade air fresheners or those awful scentsy wax things 🤬

yes, I concur, we’re not evolved enough to use social media responsibly 🤣

You’re a star!! Thank you! Never even thought of using steam xx

Ha haa I have a habit of losing underwear down the back of the radiator 🤦🏻‍♀️

might clean up the litter picker and see if that works xx

How about a long thin feather duster. It might push the thing out the bottom of the rad, and it would clear up that dust too.
My rads have a similar grill on top - it seems possible to get a knife under the plastic retainer at each end and prise them off, which would let you lift off the grill??

Just open the windows? Yes and turn the heating up - money no object!