We always remember to vacuum the floor and dust the couch but do not often remember to clean the light fixtures. Most of the times, dirty lamps are responsible for the dull appearance of a room. So, roll up your sleeves and attack your dirty crystal chandeliers and lighting fixtures today.
You should always remember to use the appropriate cleaning formula. For some lamps, it is all right to use the regular glass cleaner and the multi-purpose cleaners. But, there are specialized cleaning solutions available for crystal chandeliers. Before you buy a cleaner, check if it is environmentally safe to use. You do not want to pollute the environment with harsh chemicals as a result of your new cleaning project. Check to make sure that it does not release obnoxious fumes.
Before you begin cleaning, turn of those lights and let them cool awhile. Not only will they be hot to touch, if they have been on for some time, you may also suffer an electric shock if you are not careful. Also spraying a special chemical cleaner on a hot metal surface can’t be good. Unplug all the fittings in case they are plugged in. Pull out the plug; do not yank out by the cord.
Try to unscrew and screw back on all the bulbs safely, now while you are doing maintenance. If they are not screwed on correctly, they can slip and fall while you are cleaning or not work properly due to loose contact. If there are many bulbs and you will not be able to clean every single one, you can still achieve good results, by at least wiping them with a damp cloth.
If there are not too many bulbs, cover each bulb with a plastic cover and tie it up at the base. This will stop moisture from corroding the electrical bases. This is crucial as you are going to be randomly spraying all over and the sockets have to be protected from the cleaning solution.
Cover the floor below the lamp to catch all the excess cleaning agent that will be dripping all over the floor. Spread some absorbent towels and probably top with some old newspapers. Some preparation in the beginning will save you a lot of clean up after. You can just throw away the soggy newspapers and toss the towels in the washing machine as against scrubbing and mopping the floor.
Most of the new light fixture cleaning solutions come in a sprayer with or without a pump. They are very easy to apply. Just hold the chandelier steady, hold the can straight, a couple of inches away and spray all over the fixture. Make sure you cover every inch. Go around the lamp. Do not stand in one place and rotate it towards you. It may unscrew or rock and get unstable. You may also inadvertently knock of some parts, breaking them.
Allow the solution to dry for around twenty to thirty minutes and repeat if required, according to the instructions on the cleaning agent, maybe if it is too grimy. After a half an hour, if it is still wet, mop up the excess with a soft cloth and once dry, buff it with a dry soft cloth. This will bring out all the original shine. If you keep up this regimen once every few months, your lamps will glow bright every single day, for a long long time.
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