July 20, 2020

5 HACKS - How To Clean A Chandelier Without Taking It Down

Lighting is one of the most important features of interior design.

You've got all the colors and textures right, all the furniture and fittings are perfect. But the lighting has to be just right to lift and enhance the overall feel of the room. Nothing does this quite so well as a chandelier.

They don't have to be grand, or even expensive, but the right one (or two!) will sparkle, adding the coveted 'wow factor' to your home.

how to clean a chandelier without taking it down
how to clean a chandelier without taking it down

However, they can be a challenge when it comes to cleaning them. Dust and cobwebs often accumulate, which diminishes their sparkle. Taking a chandelier down for cleaning is a laborious, and often precarious, task. You want it to dazzle, but without all the hassle of taking it down or removing each crystal.

Help is at hand! Here are some chandelier cleaning tips to make this chore easier:

Crystal Chandelier Cleaning

The drip-dry method

  • Firstly, ensure that the light is switched off. It may help to turn off the electricity supply (or the circuit serving that room) or put tape over the switch to avoid it being accidentally switched on.
  • Spread a thick blanket beneath the chandelier in case any pieces happen to fall.
  • Remember to ready a secondary light source if necessary - you need to see what you're doing.
  • Remove all bulbs and store them safely (give them a wipe before replacing them afterward).
  • Plug the empty sockets with newspaper or any material that will prevent liquid from entering.
  • Place a layer of newspaper or towels on the blanket to catch excess drips.
  • Use a ready-made chandelier spray or glass cleaner to cover it liberally all over.
  • Allow the cleaner to do its work, dripping down and taking the dust and grime with it.
  • Leave it to dry before replacing the bulbs

Glove method

  • Follow the same procedure as above, up to the sixth step.
  • You'll need either a ready-made glass cleaner or even a homemade solution (for example, one part isopropyl alcohol to four parts distilled water).
  • Wearing a pair of white cotton gloves, dip your fingers into the solution and gently stroke each crystal to remove the dust.
  • As the solution becomes dirty and cloudy, replace it with a fresh mixture.
  • Work your way around the chandelier, manipulating the crystals gently, then wipe each one with a damp cloth.
  • Once each crystal has been properly cleaned, use a lint-free cloth to wipe each one dry.

Plastic Chandelier Cleaning

Chandeliers with 'drops' made from acrylic are more prone to scratches than their glass counterparts, so they need to be handled differently.

Also, some of the chemical cleaners used for crystal will not be suitable as they can dull the surface of the drops - which is the last thing you want! You can buy specialist products for cleaning plastic chandeliers or make your own solution at home.

Some experts recommend using a simple combination of soapy water and a microfibre cloth.

Other suggestions include 2 cups warm water and 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, plus 2 tbsp of dishwasher spot remover (optional). This can be stored in a spray bottle for easy use.

cleaning a light with water
cleaning a light with water

A 1:1 solution of warm water and vinegar is recommended for cleaning the bulbs.

Using these solutions, simply follow the steps as given for crystal chandeliers.

Chandelier cleaning hacks

  • Avoid ammonia-based cleaners! Not only will they make acrylic go cloudy, but they could also tarnish the gold/silver plated fittings on all types of chandelier.
  • Wear cotton gloves to avoid smears and fingerprints.
  • Don't be tempted to twist the chandelier round whilst cleaning it. Instead, move the steps around to reach each part in turn. Twisting it could loosen the fitting and result in it falling or damaging the wiring.
  • Try using a feather duster (or lamb's wool) every few months to keep it as dust-free as possible. Then you will probably only need to perform the above cleaning process annually.
  • If your ceilings are particularly high, take the opportunity to replace any bulbs that have stopped working.

By following these tips you will keep your prized chandelier sparkling, adding to the ambience and atmosphere of your beautiful home. Maybe you have a BERM home?

OUR BLOG
February 25, 2022
The 4 Best Floor Plan Apps to Start Planning Your Home

Designing your dream home is more than just fun, it's exciting. There are so many different ideas to consider besides the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, such as floor plan and furniture arrangement. With the modern technology available to us, designing your dream home is easier than ever. There are some applications for your phone […]

February 25, 2022
Can you lose weight in a steam room?

This is a question asked many times by people all over the world. Many are surprised to learn that spending time in a steam room will not help you lose weight, but in fact, you may even gain a few pounds. The reason for this is sweat, which contains a high amount of sodium, will […]

February 17, 2022
The Complete Guide on How to Furnish an Apartment

Congratulations, you have just moved into your very own apartment! But now you have to furnish it. Now apartments can be small and limit your options on how you can decorate and what furniture you can bring into the space. There are a variety of ways you can go about this process with many different […]

February 10, 2022
10 Ways in Which A Steam Room Benefits Your Skin

At Beauty & Mess we know that the steam room is a place that offers many benefits to the skin. It helps with weight loss, detoxification, and can even help improve your complexion or acne! As such, it's important to know how to take care of your skin to reap these rewards. A vapour emits […]

July 20, 2020
5 HACKS - How To Clean A Chandelier Without Taking It Down

Lighting is one of the most important features of interior design. You've got all the colors and textures right, all the furniture and fittings are perfect. But the lighting has to be just right to lift and enhance the overall feel of the room. Nothing does this quite so well as a chandelier. They don't […]

July 20, 2020
Earth Berm Homes Come with Multiple Disadvantages 2020

If you are planning on building a new home, someone might suggest the idea of going in for an earth berm home. The concept is not very novel and berm homes have been around for a long time. The one major advantage usually highlighted in these homes below the ground is that they help you […]

July 20, 2020
What Are Berm Homes? 2020 Update

 If history and archaeology have taught us anything, it's that our ancestors were often far cleverer than we give them credit for. For example, the Romans had underfloor heating. They also made concrete 2000 years ago that still lasts, whereas modern concrete has a life expectancy of up to 120 years. Elsewhere, the Wari culture […]

July 16, 2020
Lush Gorilla Perfume

U četvrtak smo Martina i ja posjetile Lush pop-up store gdje je predstavljena nova Gorilla Perfume kolekcija pod nazivom Set In Stone. Kolekcija uključuje devet novih parfema i dva aromatizirana tamjana. Ono što me posebno privuklo u cijeloj ovoj priči su fenomenalne retro bočice (6 različitih veličina) koje doslovce vrište ‘moraš skupit sveeee!!!’ 😀 Predstavljanje je zaista bilo odlično […]

July 16, 2020
Avon True Color Quad sjenila za oči, slike & swatchevi

S obzirom da trenutno surađujem s Avonom Hrvatska i da sam za njih upravo danas snimila posljednji video tutorijal koji ćete uskoro gledati, odlučila sam danas objaviti swatcheve svih True Color Quad sjenila koje sam dobila od njih. Već ih neko vrijeme imam uslikane, ali sam napokon danas obradila sve fotografije. Ovo je moj prvi susret s […]

July 16, 2020
[INVENTURA] prije vs. poslije

Kao što već neko vrijeme spominjem, znate da već više od tri mjeseca ne kupujem uopće kozmetiku, a nedavno sam u trenutku “ludila” odlučila pročistiti kozmetičku komodu i napraviti inventuru kako spada i riješiti se svih proizvoda koje ne koristim. Da mi je netko rekao da ću jednog dana donijeti ovakvu drastičnu odluku rekla bih […]

1 2 3 5
beauty and mess
We hope you find this site informative and modern, and that you can learn a lot! We would love to work with you as well as engage and create content for the site. This is a collaborative blog and we welcome beauty tips from the world over. 
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram