A chandelier is one of the most elegant furnishings you can have in your home. However, like most luxurious items, they must be properly cared for. Cleaning a chandelier can be tricky and time-consuming because of its many delicate pieces. But doing so properly and often enough will protect your posh investment, and keep it in the family for years to come.
General Tips
In order to maintain their luminosity, chandeliers should be cleaned once every two to three months, perhaps more often if located near a high-dust or greasy area such as the kitchen. Set up alternate lighting to clean by---never leave the fixture plugged in while you're working with the pieces. You'll also benefit from a quilt or some type of padding at the bottom of the fixture to capture all the dirt. Use cotton gloves when cleaning parts, particularly when cleaning crystal, on which fingerprints can be left easily. Maintenance of complicated light fixtures is always a daunting task, but if it has an extremely large number of pieces, or hangs from a very high ceiling, you should seek out a professional.
Dismantling
If your chandelier is an antique, you'll need to dismantle it in order to clean the pieces individually. The most difficult part is determining which pieces go where, so you'll want to establish that prior to taking the chandelier apart for cleaning. It may help to map out a diagram of the fixture, so you have a better idea of where pieces go once you've cleaned them and are ready to reassemble. More modern styles can usually be cleaned without detaching the pieces from the structure.
The Nitty Gritty
Generally a mild, soap-based detergent is used to clean the pieces, but don't use one that's too harsh, as these can sometimes darken the crystals and ruin the original look of the fixture. You can also mix a solution of 1 part isopropyl alcohol or ammonia with 3 parts distilled water. Or, if you prefer not to mix your own cleaner, you can purchase cleaner specially made for the care of chandeliers from a lighting retailer.
Depending on the fixture's size, shape and level of dirt, you can use a couple of cleaning methods. One way is to put some solution in a spray bottle and spray the entire fixture with the cleanser, avoiding wires and other electrical components. Then let pieces drip dry. However, if is too dirty for this process, each crystal will need to be individually cleaned with the solution. Always use soft, lint-free cloths . Newspapers and even paper towels can scratch the pieces.
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