How to Clean a Chandelier

Why Clean A Chandelier?

Chandeliers bring beauty and focus to any room in the home. Like anything else, chandeliers need proper cleaning and maintenance, much like an oil change in a car or wiping the dust off the furniture. This helps keep the chandelier looking beautiful and functional. Crystal chandeliers will appear dull if left without cleaning, brass may rust, and glass will look dusty. All of these can actually affect the way the chandelier refracts the light. Chandeliers should be cleaned at least once a year to maintain their beautiful shine.

Wait! Before you Clean…!

Chandeliers are more complex than the average table or floor lamp. In fact, many have rather complex hanging structures and patterns for crystal or glass to sit on or hang from. Because of this, it is always a good idea to take note of how the chandelier is pieced together. Nothing is a bigger headache than trying to figure out why pieces are not properly fitting back together again. Taking a photograph or drawing a diagram may help prevent this. Also, cleaning in sections helps prevent completely disassembling and mixing pieces up. If it seems to be too much, whether the chandelier is too high or too elaborate, calling a professional cleaning service may be the better option. However, most chandeliers can be easily handled without professional help.

And though it may seem silly to suggest, be sure to turn off the power for the chandelier. It can be easy to forget, especially if the chandelier is the main source of light in the room. Extreme caution should be taken around electrical fixtures, especially in cases where there is a possibility of static electricity forming. It would be a bad day indeed to receive an electric shock or have a power outage! Flip the wall switch to turn the fixture off, and possibly even tape it down to prevent it from accidentally being turned on. Temporarily turning off the breaker completely isn’t a bad idea either, so long as there is an alternate light source to work under.

It is also a good idea to make sure the ladder you use adequately reaches the chandelier. Excessive reaching could result in you falling or dropping delicate pieces. Laying down padding can help prevent breakage should something fall. Laying cloth over nearby furniture helps to keep dirt and dust from them, and can also help protect delicate furniture and tabletops should pieces fall on them.

Keep in Mind!

Never rotate or twist the chandelier, especially crystal ones. By rotating it, the support can become loosened and cause crystals or even the chandelier itself to fall. Instead, walk or move the ladder around the fixture as needed.

White gloves or soft, lint free cloths are recommended, especially when cleaning crystal, which easily picks up fingerprints.

Removing The Crystals, or Leaving them On?

Should all of the crystal and glass be removed when cleaning, or it is alright to leave them on? Neither method is wrong, as it depends on the chandelier itself. By removing the crystal or glass, you’re able to perform a more thorough cleaning, allowing access to all parts of the frame, while leaving the crystal or glass on is a faster process. If the chandelier doesn’t require it, then the quicker method may be the route to take.

To clean a chandelier with the glass or crystal on, prepare a cleaning solution of one part isopropyl alcohol to four parts distilled water in a spray bottle. Spray a small amount of the solution on a white cotton glove or lint-free cloth. Wipe the crystal or glass with the damp cloth, and then dry it immediately with another glove or cloth. Work slowly and carefully to avoid damaging any of the hanging glass or ornaments.

When in doubt, completely removing the glass or crystal is a safer bet. This method also allows you greater access to the chandelier frame. You can use the same solution as outlined above for cleaning. For chandeliers with more dirt and grime build-up, you can also try hand-washing the glass in lukewarm sudsy water, using mild dish soap. For this method, rinse immediately in clean water and dry with a soft clean cloth. To stretch the time between cleanings, dust your chandelier lightly every two or three months with a feather duster or lambswool duster.

Once finished, that previously dirty and dusty chandelier will have that new chandelier sparkle once more!

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