1. Switch Off The Power
Before getting into the cleaning, it's important to first consider your safety.
Remember to turn off the power to the chandelier that you are planning on cleaning.
Chandeliers contain electrical wiring which flows throughout the arms. These electrical wires are attached to a main electrical component which runs through the centre of the chandelier.
Whilst the chandelier is connected to this main, it poses a serious health and safety risk. As you well know, liquid and electricity do not mix so to avoid any electrical hazards, remember to cut all power to your chandelier.
We also strongly recommend not cleaning your chandelier straight away after switching the power off. Many chandeliers are left on for hours (if not indefinitely), and over time the bulbs will begin to build-up large amounts of heat.
To avoid burning yourself, please allow your chandelier a 'cool-down' period before proceeding to clean.
2. 'Cushion' the Chandelier
Even the most cautious and attentive individuals can be clumsy from time to time.
We advise placing a soft blanket or a pillow beneath your chandelier before you begin dismantling it.
Providing a soft surface below your chandelier will act as a safety net and will cushion any pieces that may accidentally fall to the floor when you begin disassembling your chandelier.
The soft surface will absorb any shock from the fall and will prevent pieces of your chandelier from breaking or being damaged if they happen to fall.
3. Don't Forget the Photos
Remember to take photos before you begin dismantling your chandelier. Images are very important as without them you are heavily relying on your own instinct and knowledge.
Before you get carried away dismantling your chandelier, grab the nearest camera and begin taking photos from multiple angles.
Photos are very useful when you begin re-assembling your chandelier as they can be used as a template to help remember which pieces go where.
4. Carefully Remove Pieces One-by-One
Once you have taken all the necessary precautionary measures, it's time to get down to the dirty business.
Carefully remove each individual piece of your chandelier, making sure you remove each section one-by-one. If you have a crystal chandelier, this process may take longer but be sure to take extra care when removing each individual crystal.
Cautiously place each piece of your chandelier into a nearby container to avoid losing any important pieces.
5. Cleanse with Hot Water Mix
Begin by mixing a small bucket of hot water with some detergent - you can find a wide variety of chandelier cleaning detergents online or you can use a standard washing-up liquid.
Once mixed, use a small cloth to begin giving each piece of the chandelier a good thorough clean to remove any stagnant dust or tough stains.
Be careful when handling fragile pieces of the chandelier as certain cleaning motions and pressures of the cleaning could shatter or break the chandelier.
6. Rinse With Cold Distilled Water
Fill a second bucket with some cold, distilled water.
The purpose of this stage is to rinse off any excess detergent which might have been left behind on the pieces of your chandelier.
7. Rinse and Repeat
It may be the most tedious step in the cleaning process, but it is a necessary one.
You might find that a few of the pieces of your chandelier still have some leftover residue or dirt.
If you find some pieces of your chandelier are still dirty, we advise repeating the previous two steps until you are fully satisfied with the outcome.
You might find yourself regularly replacing the water for both steps, but it is important that you are not cleaning your chandelier with dirty water as this could leave streaky marks.
8. Sparkle It Up
Give the pieces of your chandelier a little added sparkle.
Grab a small bowl of distilled water and add a few drops of ammonia to the liquid.
Ammonia is commonly used in household cleaning supplies and is frequently used to offer streak-free results.
Using a small cloth, begin by carefully brushing on some of the ammonia liquid onto each piece of your chandelier.
Once you have completed brushing the ammonia liquid onto the pieces of your chandelier, rinse off any excess ammonia with some distilled water.
9. Time to Dry
Now it's time to dry off your chandelier.
Using a soft towel, begin carefully patting down each piece of your chandelier.
Alternatively, you can take a longer approach and leave the pieces of your chandelier out to air dry.
10. Re-Assemble the Chandelier
Once the pieces of your chandelier are all sparkling clean, only one step remains; putting it all back together.
With the help of the photos you took earlier, begin by carefully re-attaching the chandelier to its original form.
You can avoid getting the chandelier dirty again by wearing some cotton gloves, or by using a soft lint-free cloth. These fabrics will prevent transferring or shedding any materials onto your chandelier and will help avoid getting fingerprints on your newly cleaned chandelier.
If you decided to use our suggested tip earlier of ordering the pieces from left to right, you can begin constructing the chandelier back together using the pieces from right to left.