The sparkling beauty of chandeliers is unmatched, but homeowners often wonder how to best clean a chandelier.
Before beginning any work, be sure to turn the chandelier off and give the light bulbs plenty of time to cool. The next concern is reaching the chandelier for cleaning. Unfortunately, a step ladder is almost always necessary.
After situating the ladder, though, a little creativity makes the job easier. Remember that the delicate nature of these impressive light fixtures means gentle tools are a must, so tape a small feather duster, covered with a cotton sock, to the end of a broom or long handle. This works well for a quick dusting, and feel free to add a spritz of gentle dusting spray or commercial chandelier cleaning solution.
An important note is to refrain from turning the chandelier. To clean the opposite side, it’s much safer to reposition the ladder.
For a deeper clean—which involves removing the chandelier crystals—be sure to diagram where each part goes as it is removed. Like any project, it’s easy to end up with spare parts when it comes time to reassemble. If that’s too taxing, simply clean the fixture in sections.
When cleaning the crystal pendants, remember that simpler is better. After removing the pieces, place them in a plastic colander or in a sink lined with a bath towel to minimize the risk of breakage. A good all-purpose formula is mild cleanser (like dish washing detergent) and water as hot as possible to reduce spotting.
Even a light chandelier cleaning can brighten a room, and, in most cases, homeowners needn’t clean a chandelier more than once every two years.
December 8th, 2006 by Webmaster
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