With tons of dust, you cannot save your light fixtures from having a layer of dirt gathering around them. It is not only dust, moisture from the atmosphere, smoke from your stove, and other pollutants that collectively find your lighting fixtures a great spot to rest.
You can be generous enough to let the dust sit on your light fixtures for a few weeks, but ultimately it has to go.
It is not as simple as we have made it sound. You’ll have to spend your entire day getting things right. But where to start and how to do it? You cannot either wash your lighting fixtures or use strong chemicals to get all the dirt out.
So, what’s the right procedure? We’ll cover it in this article, so read it through to the end.
But, before we start with the cleaning method; read the list of materials that you will be needing to clean the light fixtures.
- Electrostatic duster
- Ladder
- Microfiber cloths
- Spray cleaning solution
- Dish soap
- Warm water
- Lint roller
Gather all your supplies before starting to clean your lighting fixtures.
Also Read: Do CO Detectors expire?
Type of lighting fixture matters:
What exactly are we cleaning? Is it the bulb or the chandelier? Or do we have a lamp at our disposal? The answers to these questions are important before we get onto the actual method.
We’ll discuss methods for different types of electrical fixtures separately.
Light bulbs:
Many of us might not even think of getting the dust off your light bulbs, but when you do, you’ll realize the brightness of the light, and from that point onwards, you’ll surely do it without failing. Here’s how you can do it:
- Unscrew the light bulb from the fixture
- Use the microfiber cloth for dusting. If it doesn’t work, use damp cloths (not wet).
- Clean the entire bulb with soft hands, or the impact can be disastrous
Also Read: How to choose the perfect light bulbs for each home area?
Chandeliers:
Chandeliers often have multiple crystals and bulbs of multiple sizes, so you can expect to spend a great amount of time cleaning them along with the base structure.
There are two basic options for cleaning the chandeliers. You can either remove the crystals or keep them on the chandelier for cleaning. There are pros and cons to each method. If you leave the crystals on, you’ll have to spend greater time standing on the ladder cleaning. But if you’ll remove them, you’ll have to spend time fixing them back to their original position.
The cleaning won’t be affected by any methods, so you can decide according to your convenience.
If you decide to dismantle your chandelier, do not forget to take a few photos of it from different angles, as it can help you easily reassemble.
Here’s the process:
- Make sure the switch to the chandelier is off. If it was previously on, give it some time. So, the bulbs can cool.
- Once you are on the ladder, use a towel to keep the removed pieces and bulbs safely. You might want to place a cushion, mattress, towel or something similar to avoid mishaps in case something falls on the floor.
- Now prepare a mixture of water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle.
- Spray a section of your chandelier with this mixture.
- Immediately clean the particular section with a dry microfiber cloth.
- You’ll see the results yourself. You might want to repeat the process in a few sections if required.
Recessed Lighting:
Dusting off the recessed light with a duster for general cleaning can do the trick. But if you want to clean it deeper, you must switch off the electric power to the particular area of the room.
- Remove the bulb and clean it.
- Take a damp cloth and clean the inner section of the recessed light completely (go for this technique when the breakers to the particular part of the room are off).
- Let it dry properly for a few minutes.
- Attach the bulb back to the holder
- Switch off the breaker and enjoy the brighter light
Dos and Donts:
Although we have discussed the specific techniques for some common types of lighting fixtures, here are the general dos and donts that you must actively take care of when on the cleaning mission.
- Have your tools and equipment ready before you start the cleaning adventure. It will make the process easy and less time taking
- Know the type of fixture so you can apply the right procedure
- Get help from someone else while you are working with a ladder and near exposed electrical wiring
- Do not forget to clean the bulbs used in all sorts of lighting fixtures
- Do not apply pressure on the bulbs as it can easily break them
- Do not put a shade or cover in a dishwasher for automatic cleaning; it will turn out to be a disaster
Also Read: Is it possible to hear electricity?
Summing up:
The methods mentioned above are best practices to keep your lighting fixtures, including the light bulbs, clean. But before getting on to your cleaning journey, do not forget to take precautionary measures for your safety or get help from a professional electrician.
