What Is a Good Way to Clean Lamp Shades?

Never use liquid of any kind on a paper lampshade.

The lampshades in your home can become gray and dingy if you don't clean them. The shades pick up dust and dirt from cigarette, smoke, pet hair and even dead skin floating around in the air. The way you clean the shades depends on the type of shade.

Types

For glass lampshades, it's best to clean with a water solution. For paper and fabric lampshades, you must vacuum off the dust with a vacuum cleaner. The exception are shades with a plastic backing, which can be cleaned with water.

Cleaning

Run a paintbrush across glass shades and pleated shades, which removes any dust trapped in the ridges. For glass shades, remove the shade from the lamp and submerge in water with a small amount of dish soap. Gently dunk the shade into the water and let air dry.

Warning

Never use water on paper shades or painted lampshades. The water can actually ruin a paper shade and significantly damage the pattern on a painted shade.

References

• Creative Homemaking: How to Clean Lampshades
• Lamps Galore: How to Clean Lamp Shades