How to Clean Kerosene Lamps

Cleaning a kerosene lamp properly requires some work.

Kerosene lamps are common camping tools and frequently found at flea markets and antique shops. They provide both light and heat, which makes them useful in outdoor endeavors and as a backup in the event of a power failure. Kerosene commonly causes a waxy buildup inside the lamp that needs to be regularly cleaned off for optimal performance. You may need a lot of elbow grease if you have not maintained the lamp in a long time but it is a necessary step to keep the lamp functioning properly.

Things You'll Need

• 5 gallon bucket
• Hot water
• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles
• Lye
• Molasses
• Brillo pad
• Rag
• Hairdryer

Instructions

1. Disassemble the lamp and place all the components into a five gallon bucket. Completely drain the lamp of kerosene before you start.

2. Fill the bucket with the hottest water you can from the faucet.

3. Pour a can of 100 percent lye into the bucket. This may bring the water to a full boil so stand back and use gloves and goggles as a safety precaution. If your lamp is made of aluminum, use a mixture of hot water and 12 oz. of molasses instead. because lye is very corrosive to aluminum.

4. Soak the lantern components for 24 hours.

5. Remove the components with gloves and goggles on and rinse them off in water and mild detergent.

6. Scrub the components with a Brillo pad. Avoid using SOS pads since they don't work as well. Dry the components with a rag and use a hair dryer for any small components that are difficult to get into with a towel.

7. Repeat as necessary to remove any additional buildup and reassemble.

Tips & Warnings

• Lye is extremely corrosive so use caution whenever using it to ensure it doesn't get on your skin or clothing.

References

• End Times Report: Cleaning Kerosene Lamps and Lanterns
• Lantern Net: Kerosene Lantern FAQ
• Oil Lamp: Kerosene Oil Lamp