Whether your fixtures provide illumination or simply add a decorative element to certain parts of your home, keeping them clean will be crucial to maintaining their look.
This means getting rid of any dust, cobwebs, and bugs that can affect your lighting and reduce the lifespan of your ceiling lights. Below, we discuss in detail how to clean all of your ceiling lights.
Before you can begin cleaning your ceiling lights, ensure that you have your cleaning supplies close to your cleaning station. Since most ceiling lights will also be far out of reach, a ladder will be essential, so make it a point to have it in the right spot. Your ladder should be stable to avoid any mishaps, with a step stool also coming in handy for your elevation needs.
Your cleaning supplies should include a flat head screwdriver, lint-free cloth, all-purpose cleaner, and water. Dusting sheets will also come in handy, along with replacement bulbs to fix any damaged bulbs.
Turning off your power will be another crucial thing to consider before beginning your cleaning process. This will go a long way in maintaining your safety and those around you. Turn off your power at the switch or the breaker to eliminate any risk of electrocution. Since light fixtures also get hot when they are in use, ensure that you turn off your light at least an hour before starting your cleaning process.
You can also remove your light fixtures from their electrical ports to avoid water getting into the electrical points of contact. If, however, you prefer keeping them in place, make it a point to use a dusting tool during your cleaning. Damp clothes can still be used, but use slightly damp towels rather than cloths dripping with water or cleaning fluids.
Many lighting fixtures will tend to be slippery, a factor that could leave you with damaged bulbs and shades after slips and falls occur. Be sure to place protective materials such as towels and newspapers beneath your fixtures during your cleanup process. These will help to prevent breakages, saving you on the costs for replacements. They will also help you soak up any runoff from cleaning solutions and water, allowing an easy clean up process after you are done with your fixtures.
After you are done with the preparation, you can now move on to the cleaning stage. For starters, remove the shades if your ceiling lights have them. Place them on flat surfaces such as towels to ensure they are protected from scratches while also minimizing the spread of dust to other areas in your room. To easily reassemble your lighting fixtures after you complete your cleaning process, take photographs of how each fixture has been assembled. Ensure you do this to reduce the risk of misaligned fixtures in the end.
With your shades out of the way, you can now proceed to clean your frame. Lighting frames often come in different materials and finishes, with the majority calling for a specific set of cleaning guidelines. These include:
If your frame comes in etched glass, opal glass, or porcelain, begin by dumping any dirt from your glass fixtures into your trash bag. Next, use a lint-free cloth or a microfiber cloth to wipe your frame to get rid of dust particles. Ensure you clean both the interior and exterior of your frame. A damp cloth will be a better alternative for fixtures in damp conditions such as bathrooms or kitchens. Ensure that you wipe your light fixture properly to avoid any water spots. A glass cleaner can help with this, as these are designed to spot clean glass materials.
If your lights have removable shades, soak these in warm water. Mild dish soaps will come in handy here, but remember that they will get slippery, so ensure you handle them carefully. After this, wipe them with a dry towel. Avoid cleaning fixtures with gold finishes and those that are painted with water as these surfaces can easily get eroded.
Acrylic and plastic are also other straightforward materials to clean, with a lint-free cloth being the best option for getting rid of dirt. If you still have smudges on your fixtures, use a damp cloth to remove stubborn marks. While their maintenance resembles their glass counterparts, it is best to avoid washing them in water. Acrylic shades tend to spot easily and will likely leave your ceiling lights with water spots.
Metal light fixtures should also be wiped with a lint-free cloth, with a glass or metal cleaner coming in handy when you spot any greasy residue. If your metal fixtures have a patina or rubber finish, avoid using water or cleaners when cleaning them, since such light coatings can easily be wiped off during your cleanup. Liquid wax or non-abrasive paste will be your go-to for polished metal surfaces, helping you keep your polish intact.
Fabric and paper material shades can be wiped using canned air and dusting sheets. The canned air helps you blow away dust particles that have settled on your shade, while a dusting sheet allows you to get rid of any remaining dirt. Numerous fabric and paper materials will get damaged when in contact with damp clothes, so make sure you avoid using any wet cleaning agents during your cleanup process.
Crystal materials require a bit more care, with canned air coming in handy for your fixtures. Direct your canned air towards areas with the build-up to get rid of dirty surfaces. This will allow you to keep your crystal sparkling without causing damage from any abrasive cleaning materials.
If your fixture still has stubborn stains, add a few drops of mild soap to a spray bottle and spray your crystals with your solution. Dry them immediately with a microfiber cloth after wiping each section to help you get the proper polish. Where possible, you can also purchase a customized crystal chandelier cleaner to ensure your fixture remains spotless.
In addition to the above methods, crystal chandeliers can also be cleaned by utilizing the glove method, which will require a bit more work, with its advantage being that it is more efficient. For this, you will need a solution of chandelier cleaner and white cotton gloves.
With a ladder positioned safely beneath your fixture, dip your gloves in the cleaner while wearing them and let it absorb the solution. Next, run along each strand of crystal with your fingertips and clean off any dirt and grime. Based on the dirt level of your fixtures, change the solution as required to ensure you get clean crystals. Unlike microfiber clothes that require you to handle your fixtures with your bare fingers, the glove method ensures you avoid direct contact, allowing you to eliminate any fingerprint residues.
For wooden fixtures, consider using canned air if you have significant dust accumulation and a dusting cloth to wipe off excess debris. If your ceiling lights have raised grain wood, ensure you also wipe within the ridges, as dust will also settle in these spaces.
To clean your fluorescent lights, start by removing the lens, followed by the bulbs. Clean the inner surfaces with a soft and dry cloth. If you still have greasy spots, use a damp cloth and a mild detergent for a thorough cleaning. Remember to wipe your fluorescent tubes, as these will often cause dim lighting and energy waste due to dust accumulation. A slightly damp cloth can also come in handy where your tubes have stubborn stains. Cleaning products with alcohol in them will often result in abrasion, so ensure you avoid these.
Due to their shapes, bowl pendants are magnets for elements such as dust and bugs. Clean the bowl appropriately, remembering to use the correct guidelines for your type of pendant material. While doing this, cleaning your bulbs as dust build-up will also affect their lighting, especially if using halogen bulbs.
Drum-shaped pendants are also other fixtures that act as dust traps. Clean them with the right products while paying attention to the diffusers. For an easy cleaning time, remove the top and bottom diffusers to help you clean all surfaces with ease.
After you are done with your shades, next comes the light bulbs. Wipe each light bulb with a dry microfiber cloth to remove dust. Dryer sheets also work well and will be an affordable alternative to microfiber clothes. Unlike your shades that can be cleaned using damp clothes, light bulbs will likely get damaged when wiped with these materials. Avoid any moist products when cleaning your light bulbs and spraying products that could damage the electronic components of your bulb.
If you have any damaged or dim bulbs, now is the best time to replace them. After completing your cleaning process, switch them up with new ones to ensure you continually benefit from a well-lit room.
Suppose you are looking for ways to reduce your cleaning time, consider working with a cleaning schedule. For starters, your ceiling lights will benefit from both routine maintenance and deep cleaning.
Regular maintenance will require you to adopt a weekly cleaning plan. Some fixtures accumulate dust particles faster than others, a factor that will require you to adopt a weekly cleaning schedule. Some components to keep in mind during your routine maintenance include bulbs, flush and semi-flush lighting, and downlights. To help you clean these items, a long handle duster will be your go-to, with a ladder also coming in handy when you need to clean your fixtures' uppermost surfaces.
Deep cleaning will often take up much of your time, with this type of maintenance being suited to semi-annual cleaning schedules. Fall and spring seasons will be the most suitable seasons for your deep cleaning in readiness for the hot and cold months.
Before beginning your deep cleaning, ensure that you have a plan for cleaning your ceiling lights, since fixtures such as chandeliers will often require a lot of work. You can employ an extra set of hands from family and friends with their help coming in handy during the assembly of your lights.
Cleaning ceiling lights no longer has to be a dreaded task. The tip to making the cleaning easier is understanding the nature of your fixtures while keeping in mind materials that need specialized care. Sticking to regular cleaning schedules will also help during your deep cleaning work. Once you get the hang of it, your ceiling lights are guaranteed to shine throughout the year.
