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Chandelier
Cleaning Guidelines
After purchasing a chandelier you’ll
appreciate its attractiveness and the extra pizzazz it adds to any
room. Cleaning a piece that hangs from the ceiling, sometimes at quite
high heights is another story. The good news is that chandeliers generally
only require a thorough cleaning once a year. Regardless, a properly
cared for chandelier can be an heirloom passed on from generation
to generation.
If your chandelier has multiple parts, prior to disassembling make
a diagram to guide you to where any removable parts go after cleaning
is completed. Some chandeliers may look simple when you take them
apart, afterwards it can get tricky. We recommend making the diagram
to prevent confusion later on.
The next step is to set up alternative lighting nearby the area you
intend to work. Your chandelier will not be able to provide light
while you are cleaning. Never clean the chandelier with the lights
on. It is even better to turn off the breaker switch to that particular
area of your home to avoid any electrical problems. If you do not
switch off the breaker, cover the chandelier’s light switch
with a piece of tape to avoid anyone switching it on while you are
cleaning. After turning off the chandelier lights, wait for some time
to let the bulbs cool down before beginning to clean it.
While the bulbs are cooling down, put down a thick comforter or drop
cloth on the ground directly below to catch any possible falling pieces.
While cleaning the fixture make sure to keep it stationary. Do not
turn or twist it.
Use a light cleaning mixture (like mild dish soap and water) or special
chandelier cleaning solution. When wet-cleaning the chandelier it
is a good idea to cover the light bulbs with plastic sandwich bags
to avoid getting solution in the light sockets. Use warm water; the
warmer the water the less spots that will be left. For use on the
light bulbs, gently wipe them down with a soft cloth with light cleaner.
Chandeliers that feature crystal pieces will be more labor intensive
to clean, compared to chandeliers made of various metals, which generally
only need a damp cloth to remove dust.
If you’d like to simply spruce up a chandelier’s appearance,
focusing on dusting and cleaning off the lights will make the fixture
look the nicest in the least amount of time.
Wipe down any stray drops of water or solution and replace removed
pieces.
After you have completed cleaning, let the chandelier dry overnight
to insure it is fully dried before turning its power back on.
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