Cozy Chandelier Cleaning

The next thing that a chic chandelier-owner needs to know (and practice) is chandelier cleaning. Although chandelier cleaning could be intimidating, the glistening effects of a polished chandelier are all well worth it. Here are a few chandelier cleaning techniques to achieve that desired fresh-as-new gloss:

1. Chandelier cleaning must be done at least once-a-year (or every-two-years) as a thicker dust-collection in the chandelier is harder to clean and are at times damaging.

2. For safety-precautions, turn-off the chandelier lights before cleaning. Also, make sure that you give ample time for the light-bulbs to cool-down before you start cleaning.

3. Place a comforter or thick rug under the chandelier to cushion-catch any falling crystals, fragile prisms or minute parts. This may also prevent the sharper chandelier-parts from scratching your floor or furniture.

4. Always make a diagram of the chandelier, clearly illustrating the assembly of all the removable chandelier-parts, before chandelier cleaning.

5. Clean the chandelier by sections. This will be easier especially if you think it too complicated figuring-out where everything goes if you clean and re-assemble the entire chandelier.

6. Carefully remove and replace trimmings and chandelier pendants, placing them in a plastic-container to avoid damaging.

7. Work inside-to-outside when returning the hanging-pieces to the fixture.

8. Do not turn your chandelier as you clean it. It may be damaging and even more difficult if you keep turning the chandelier while cleaning. Keep the fixture stationary while you move around cleaning it.

9. For a quick chandelier cleaning, try to tidy-up the bulbs (firstly especially if you are hurrying for an occasion). The cleaning effects are greater here since it affects the illumination of the chandelier.

10. Dust the chandelier first before cleaning with water. This cuts-down on polishing the chandelier later.

11. In cleaning crystal chandeliers, remove spots by rinsing the pendants in hot water with a small amount of mild detergent (vinegar or ammonia).

12. Also use mild detergent in cleaning the metal-pinnings of the chandelier. Harsh chemical-detergents may have a negative-reaction to the pinnings causing them to blacken or brittle. A mild soap and water also slows down the blackening tendency of chandelier-pinnings.

13. To avoid tangling, festoons should be held at full-length with both hands while putting them under running-water. Again, use little mild dish-detergent and rinse well. You can either lay-out all the pieces separately to air-dry, or leave-in the colander to cloth-dry.

14. In cleaning the body/fixture, dust first with dry cloth then spray on a glass-cleaner onto a cloth to wipe and polish. The bodies of the brass chandeliers need only dusting; do not apply cleaner or polish.

15. Contact local cleaning-services and lighting-stores if you want a cozier chandelier cleaning.