It can be all too easy to overlook the lighting fixtures in our homes during cleaning, but if you haven’t taken a good look at the lights in your home lately, you can bet they’re in need of a good clean.
From table and floor, to overhead lamps, here are some top tips for getting your lighting fixtures spotlessly clean and shining brightly:
Cleaning ceiling lamps
- Wherever possible, removing the lamp shades or covers is going to allow you to clean the lamp itself, more efficiently.
- Wipe the bulb gently with a damp cloth to remove any grime or dust, and do the same to the lamp base. Then, place the ceiling lamp covers into a sink (or tub) full of warm, soapy water, before gently washing, rinsing and drying off with a lint-free cloth. Whether the light fixtures are brass, chrome, steel, nickel or pewter, this method is safe to use.
- For glass fixtures, we all know that a dishwasher would do a great job of getting them clean, and with minimal effort from us, but the heat may break delicate glass covers, or fade the exterior detailing. Not only that, but the detergent can scratch or dull any decorative designs and coatings.
Cleaning chandeliers
Large chandeliers, or even smaller, delicate ones, can be a nuisance to get down – if you can get them down at all – so here are some tips for cleaning them in situ.
- Be sure to turn off the lights first, or even at the breaker, just to be extra safe
- Remove all of the bulbs and gently wipe with a damp cloth
- Fill two large bowls or buckets with hot water, and add dish detergent to one, and ammonia to the other. It’s a good idea to place some cloths at the bottom of the buckets as a layer of protection
- Place the chandelier crystals and saucers into the soapy water
- Wipe the chandelier’s base with a damp cloth, before rinsing and drying all of the parts
- Put the parts back where they belong and replace the bulbs
Cleaning lamp shades
Once dust and grime has been allowed to build up on a lamp shade, it can be a nightmare to remove, so the key is to dust them regularly, even if they don’t look dirty.
- Clean beaded lampshades by vacuuming them carefully and wiping with a damp cloth
- For fabric shades, use the soft vacuum attachment to remove the dust
- Glass lampshades can be washed in warm, soapy water and dried thoroughly to avoid streaking
- Wiping with a soft, damp cloth should do the trick for metal shades
- Lampshades made from paper can be wiped with a dry cloth
- Plastic shades can be washed in warm, soapy water
Grubby and dusty light fixtures can easily be added to the cleaning schedule of a professional cleaning team, who will make sure that everything in your home is kept hygienically clean – so that even the nosiest of neighbors won’t find a spot of dust to remark upon, anywhere!
