Getting Your Home Ready for the Heating Season

Why the dust is back within days of wiping in winter

In summer the radiators sit idle while dust collects undisturbed: between the fins, behind the heating units and on the windowsills above them. Once the heating comes on, warm air starts to circulate and lifts that dust around the room. That is why wiping the shelves in winter only helps for a few days: the source of the dust is still in the room.

At the same time, autumn is when we close the windows for months. In winter we air rooms less often and for shorter periods, so whatever stays in the home lives with us through the whole heating season.

Three culprits almost everyone overlooks before winter

1. Radiators that heat the dust

Radiator fins are among the hardest places in a home to reach. Dust gathers in the narrow gaps and behind the unit, where an ordinary cloth cannot get. A thick layer of dust also hinders the flow of air through the radiator, so it gives off heat less efficiently. A long, narrow radiator brush and a vacuum cleaner with a slim nozzle help; finish by wiping the outer surfaces with a well-wrung cloth. The radiator should be cold while you do it.

2. Windows we close for half a year

Over the summer, pollen, rain marks and street dust build up on the glass, frames and sills. Before winter is the right moment for the glass, frames, seals and windowsills: for the coming months the windows will stay mostly closed, and clean glass lets in more light on short days.

3. Textiles that soaked up the summer

Curtains, cushions, rugs and upholstered furniture absorb dust and odours over the summer. Once the heating is on, warm air slowly returns both to the room. Wash the curtains according to the care label or at least air them thoroughly, and vacuum rugs and the sofa carefully. Where dust has been building up for several seasons, an ordinary vacuum cleaner is no longer enough.

Professionals never start with the floor

Because dust falls. Anyone who vacuums first and only then wipes the shelves and radiators does the job twice. That is why our cleaning masters work in a proven sequence: from the ceiling towards the floor and from the farthest room towards the entrance. First curtains, shelves and upper surfaces, then radiators, windows and furniture, and the floor last.

Timing matters just as much. It is best to start before the heating really gets going — usually in October: you can still open the windows wide and remove the dust before the heat lifts it around the room.

What you can do yourself this weekend

If you take on the preparation yourself, split the work into five steps:

• Radiators: vacuum and wipe them before you switch them on for the first time.
• Windows and sills: clean them while it is still warm enough outside.
• Curtains and textiles: wash them or air them thoroughly.
• Vents and extractor hoods: check them and clean where needed.
• Floors and rugs: vacuum thoroughly, including under the furniture.

Five mistakes that can cost more than a deep clean

You can do all of the above yourself — windows, radiators, curtains, rugs and the floor under the furniture will take you a weekend, perhaps two. Even more expensive than lost time, though, is a mistake. The wrong product or tool can cause damage within minutes that no amount of wiping will undo:

• A cloth that is too wet on parquet: water runs into the joints, the wood swells and the edges lift.
• Limescale remover on marble: the acid etches the surface and leaves dull marks.
• A rough sponge on glass or a ceramic hob: the scratches are permanent.
• A harsh cleaner on window frames and seals: the varnish loses its sheen, the seals harden and start to crack.
• Too much water on a rug or sofa: moisture stays deep inside, followed by stains and a musty smell.

Sanding and re-varnishing parquet, polishing stone or replacing a ceramic hob can quickly cost more than a deep clean of the entire home.

Three hours or six? The difference is not effort

An experienced cleaning master with the right machine does in three hours what someone without the knowledge or equipment needs six for. Not because she rushes, but because she knows which product belongs on marble and which on parquet — and has the right equipment for both. That is why, with us, the title of cleaning master is not handed out but earned: through an induction period and an internal assessment.

For a deep clean, the right number of cleaning masters arrive and work at the same time, with their own machines and dedicated products for every surface. Radiators, windows and glass surfaces are included, and the job always ends the same way: with a quality inspection. Meanwhile, your weekend stays yours.

And what if something does get damaged?

Even an experienced cleaning service can have an accident — very rarely, but it can happen. The difference lies in who bears the consequences. If you do the work yourself, you do. If we do it, the insurer does: our liability is insured with Allianz, up to EUR 150,000 per claim. We file the claim; you do not have to arrange anything.

In October there is still time — by November the dust is in the air

If you do the preparation yourself, keep to the top-to-bottom order and clean the radiators before you switch them on for the first time. If you would rather leave it to us, describe the space and the scope you want — floor area and a few photos help, but they are not a requirement. The quote is free and non-binding, and the price is fixed: you pay for the result, not for hours spent. Read how it is put together on our cleaning price page; for high-end apartments and houses with delicate materials there is Prestige cleaning.

October is among our busiest months of the year, so it pays to book your slot in good time.

Let the heating season start fresh from day one. Submit your deep-cleaning inquiry here.