How to Clean a Crystal Chandelier

A chandelier can be a magnificent addition to any home, adding both light and elegance to a room. However, even the most expensive chandelier crystals will lose their shine. If you’re in this situation, don’t worry – with a little time knowledge and elbow grease, you can easily clean your chandelier yourself. Read on to learn how to clean a crystal chandelier.

What you will need for your chandelier cleaning.

1. Microfibre cloth
2. Protective gloves
3. Dust Sheet or old sheet 
4. Cleaning solution containing isopropyl alcohol
5. Soft cleaning brush

Precautions

Before attempting to take your chandelier down for cleaning, it is always best to take some precautionary measures. For example, taking pictures of the chandelier with your phone can help ensure that you put the chandelier back together precisely. 

Its also very important to understand that you can bear the weight of the chandelier alone, If in doubt get someone to help you or for very heavy chandeliers you may consider having a winch installed to help lower your chandelier at the touch of a button. 

Protect your surroundings

It is crucial to take measures to protect your furniture and flooring. Otherwise, you may end up doing more harm than good. Begin by laying down a large plastic sheet to catch drips or spills. On top of the plastic, place newspapers or old towels to absorb the liquids.

Be sure to remove the light bulbs and cover the bulb area with foil to keep the cleaning solutions out. 

Protect yourself too! Always wear gloves and protective clothing when dealing with any cleaning fluids, especially harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin.

How to clean chandelier crystals

Using a soft cloth, wipe down each of the crystals, taking care. Microfibre cloths are excellent for gently dusting crystals without scratching them.

We strongly advise against placing crystals in a water bath, because our tap water is treated this can cause discolouration to occur.

If your crystals are extremely dirty or if you would prefer an expert handled them, it is best to consult a professional chandelier cleaning company.

Which products should you use when cleaning a chandelier?

Cleaning Solution

To clean your chandelier, place each crystal or strand in a bowl of glass cleaning solution. 

A recommended solution is a cleaning rinse of one part isopropyl alcohol and three parts water. 

If you cannot remove the crystals and strands to place in a bowl, dip a cloth into the solution and safely clean the crystals on a stable ladder. 

Once cleaned, rinse the strands with cold water. 

Change the wiping water regularly, we would say about every ten strands or so to avoid build up on your clean.

Microfibre Cloth

Then, use a clean and dry cloth to carefully dab the strands and crystals dry. 

The best fabric for this task is one that does not shed material as it will get in your way when drying, we recommend microfibre for this. 

Next clean the skeleton of the chandelier, if you have a soft brush or soft bristled tooth, use this to get into any crevices and gaps that may collect dust build up. 

Tip – if you don’t have a soft brush to hand, use a soft bristled toothbrush for the gaps. 

After giving the skeleton of the chandelier a quick wipe, it’s time to assemble it back together. Use your reference photos to place each strand into position, taking care to place the fixings in the correct place. 

How frequently should I clean my chandelier?

Now that you’ve successfully cleaned your chandelier, you’ll be wanting to know how often you should repeat this process. 

The frequency of chandelier cleaning depends on many factors, such as the age and size of your particular model. As a rough guide, cleaning is recommended every 2 – 3 months, which will keep you chandelier looking its best.