Cleaning your chandelier can make a huge difference not only in the way your chandelier looks but in the light that it provides. The difference can be quite dramatic.
First some do’s and don’ts:
- Never put crystals in the dishwasher. No matter what you have heard it is not safe to do so.
- Never spray cleaning solution directly on the chandelier or its parts. Instead, spray the solution on the cloth or gloves that you are using to clean the chandelier.
- Always use soft, preferably 100% cotton cloth or gloves to clean with. Paper towels and other such materials can scratch the crystal.
- Always put down a comforter or thick soft blanket directly under the chandelier before you start. Should you drop a piece or knock something loose, the blanket may prevent it from damaging your floor. And if it’s a piece of crystal, it is much more likely to survive.
- If you need to remove parts to properly clean them, always take pictures of your chandelier first – preferably up-close and from several different angles. Should there be a problem later when trying to put the pieces back together, you will be able to know exactly where they belong. If no camera is available, you can make cardboard cutouts or at least use a pen and paper to draw a diagram. It may be a bit time consuming but you’ll be thankful later that you did.
- When cleaning your chandelier, always walk around or move your ladder around the chandelier and clean in sections. Never turn or rotate the chandelier which could loosen it and cause it or its crystals to fall.
Before doing anything else, you should make sure that electrical power to the chandelier is off. This should be done at the electrical breaker box – not just by turning off the light switch. Electricity can be extremely dangerous! If you are unfamiliar with your electrical box and how it works, you should bring in a professional. Make sure you have other light sources available while you clean.
After cutting power to the chandelier, prepare a cleaning solution using one part isopropyl alcohol and three parts distilled water. Place this solution in a spray bottle. We have heard many people recommend using ammonia as the cleaning agent. Ammonia can corrode and/or degrade certain metals and finishes and we suggest never using it to clean your chandelier.
You should use white, preferably 100% cotton gloves. You will most likely need more than one pair. Spray one glove with your prepared solution and keep the other one dry. Using the damp glove, wipe and clean the crystal and then wipe it immediately with the dry glove. You should also wipe and clean the light bulbs. Of course, make sure they are completely cool before you touch them.
If it has been many, many years since your crystal was last cleaned or for some other reason it’s just really dirty, you will probably want to remove the crystal for cleaning.
As stated above, you should take pictures of your chandelier before removing anything.
You should hand wash your crystal using a mild dish soap and lukewarm water. If you’re washing your crystal in a sink, you should lay towels down for protection.
Rinse in clean water and dry with a soft, clean, cotton cloth. Do not use paper towels as they can scratch crystal.
Wear white cotton gloves when re-hanging the crystal on the chandelier.
You may be interested in the following short video: The Art of Cleaning the Chandelier in the Springer Auditorium at Cincinnati Music Hall
