Comments on: How to Clean a Crystal Chandelier

on 3/17/2006 I was just reading about that subject at the site of the Schonbek Crystal chandelier company and their instructions differ. In fact they advise to never use ammonia as it will corrode the light's metal structures. They advise using 1 part isopropyl alcohol and 3 parts distilled water.

on 12/19/2005 Divide your fixture into four vertical sections. Take draping crystals off and place in 50% warm water and 50% ammonia. While draping crystals are in the solution, take a soft sponge and place in ammonia solution, wipe down arm dress and vertical stem columns and come back with a soft cloth to dry.
Take draping crystal from the ammonia solution and rinse in cool water, dry and reattach to fixture.

on 1/5/2006 Spraying and dripping may seem a good idea but the result is always a half done job. Besides, any chemical can ruin a chandelier or parts of it as the effect can not be detected immediately. It's the hidden parts that do not get cleaned properly and as most decent chandeliers, are made of brass (often lacquered), bronze, gold plated etc., there is only one way to clean them safely and restore their original looks. The hard but rewarding way.

WARNING!!! Do not start this job unless you know what you are doing when it comes to handling electric wiring. The risk is electrocution which can lead to serious injury or even death.

First, remove all the light bulbs, making sure that they are not hot. Clean them with a soapy sponge and then rinse with warm, clean water. While they are still warm from the washing, dry them well with a dry, clean cloth, making sure that they are really clean and sparkle as they are the source that gives the chandelier its sparkle. Now, put them aside, preferably in a warm, dry place - such as an airing cupboard. This will allow time for them to be completely dry when you come to fit them back after cleaning the chandelier. Next, remove all the crystal and other parts that are easily removable while the chandelier is hanging. Try to keep these parts on a soft surface and avoid them rubbing on each other. They can easily pick up scratches. Now, switch off the power from the main consumer unit and ensure that no one else has access to it while you are working! This is because you will have to bring the chandelier down and undo the electrical connections. Switching off only from the on/off switch is not enough as some of the wires that are connected to the chandelier will still be live! Make sure you mark their positions on the connector. It is easy to forget once you undo them. Once you have your chandelier down and free from any connections. Carefully dismantle the whole chandelier down to its smallest parts if possible. Again, make sure to take notes of where every part came from. A few photos with your camera will help greatly. Once everything is in pieces, proceed in washing each and every part in exactly the same way as you did with the light bulbs, only more carefully as some of these parts might be irreplaceable! Once everything is cleaned and thoroughly dried, reassemble and connect your chandelier in the exact reverse order. Now you can switch the power back on, but it is always a good idea to test the metal parts for any electric leakage with either a multimeter or a testing device (such as a screwdriver with a neon light that can detect mains).
A slight smear of Vaseline on the metal parts of the light bulbs will make them go in easier and certainly a lot easier when you come to remove them for replacement or cleaning.
Now, stand back and admire.

on 11/22/2005 Put the crystals in a bath with Steradent tablets or other false teeth cleaner. All the dirt will fizz off without hassle. Works especially great for the unreachable, narrow, crystal, tubing inside.

on 11/22/2005 My antique chandelier had only 52 prisms, relatively modest, so I cleaned them one by one with a lint-free cloth. Chandelier cleaning gave me a big return on my investment as far as cleaning tasks go. The difference was so dramatic, I could see stray fingerprints on the prisms! It only took me an hour to complete.
I disliked the idea of the smell of ammonia, and didn't want to be spraying alcohol liberally in the center of the room (even with a drop-cloth), so I used Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Window Spray in Lemon Verbena scent. Its ingredients are water, ethanol, plant derived surfactant, solubilizing agent, and biodegradable solvent. I didn't notice any residue baking on afterward, and I love the lemony smell of this cleaner. I didn't even have to use gloves. It's available at Whole Foods and other places. I took the top tier of prisms off, laid them in a circle, cleaned each one, then replaced them all. On the lower tiers, I could reach them from where I stood on the chair, so I didn't take them off. I would have got very tired with my arms raised to clean the top prisms in place, too, I think! The metal parts were pretty easy to give a quick wipe-down too.

on 11/22/2005 I never cleaned my chandeliers before. They were a little dusty, but I wasn't really sure how to do it. The crystals are small and the structure is complicated. I ended up procrastinating for a long time. Today, I left my other pleasant things to do, got myself in a mood for cleaning my chandeliers, and started!
That's all it takes. The secret is to just start doing it. You'll come up with ideas on how to clean it sufficiently.

on 11/22/2005 If the chandelier is difficult to reach, it's wise to change all of the bulbs at the same time. (Use old bulbs in table top fixtures.) Never exceed the recommended wattage. Check to make sure the lights work before removing the ladder.

on 11/22/2005 If you're cleaning an entryway chandelier that requires a ladder, lock the front door. This will prevent someone from opening the door and knocking the ladder off balance.

on 11/22/2005 You will get better results and save on your cleaning solution if you dust the fixture first. Never use a cloth or duster that contains chemicals. It may leave a residue that will bake on to the glass when the light is turned on.

on 11/22/2005 I found that letting your light fixture drip dry does not provide favorable results. I recommend following up with a spray rinse of deionized water. Dry the fixture with a lint-free cloth.

on 11/22/2005 If you have a antique chandelier, use isopropyl alcohol - aka rubbing alcohol - and avoid using storebought cleaner for this might kill the value of the chandelier. Try taking one of the prisms off and testing it with the ammonia and i. alcohol.

on 11/22/2005 No need for a bulky drop cloth under a dripping chandelier. Simply hang an open umbrella from the chandelier to catch the drips.