Cleaning Your Chandelier - Safety Tips

Chandeliers are essential accent pieces in dining and living rooms of homes. Chandeliers bring life to holidays and special occasions, and nothing beats an elegantly set table with crystal, china, silverware and linen like having an equally sparkling and gleaming chandelier.

However, despite its allure and stature, many chandeliers suffer from neglect and improper cleaning. Since these pieces are sensitively intricate, people would resist cleaning them until it's absolutely, positively necessary to do so.

If a chandelier is dirty and filled with dust, grime and cobwebs, it is time to clean it before that special occasion arrives and when should you be in a hurry, you could cause some of the crystals to drop, or probably damage the fixture itself.

Be sure to your chandeliers in advance before any major event, so it will be ready when the special occasion comes.

Ways to clean chandeliers
 

There are a lot of ways on effectively cleaning chandeliers, however there are two standard methods used when it comes to cleaning a chandelier. The methods pertain to the way you clean the fixture and the 2 choices are either to wet clean or dry clean them. Should one have an ornate and opulently designed chandelier or one that is placed too high too clean, you may probably have to wet clean the fixture.

If you have a particularly fine crystal chandelier, you must first contact the lighting center of your choice, or where you purchased the fixture, and inquire about the proper way to clean it. It is also advisable to ask for advice from a lighting professional or an electrician. However, it is also recommend that one uses a spray cleaner or try individual hand cleaning. If one has any concerns at all, hand, or dry cleaning could be the best choice.

Safety tips for cleaning chandeliers
 

Before proceeding with cleaning your chandelier, take note of the following safety precautions:

- Turn off the electricity first at the circuit breaker box, to prevent electrocution.
 

- Plug another light at another outlet, on another breaker switch, to lighten the area and guide you when cleaning the chandelier.

- Move anything breakable away from the cleaning area.
 

- Use a tall ladder so that you won't have problems reaching inner areas of the chandeliers.

- Put a mat or a large of plastic on the floor to serve as a catch basin for any drips, and also place a soft blanket or cloth on the floor to catch any crystals, should one fall

For the proper and thorough cleaning of chandeliers, it would be best to follow these important procedures:

- Take out all bulbs and put them aside.
 

- Lay a large towel above the bottom of a sink or dishpan. Fill this halfway with medium hot water. Add soap, detergent and swish up to create suds.

- Fill up a large container or pan with clean hot water for rinsing and pad this up with a towel to keep fine, crystals or glass from breaking.

- Take the crystal drops and saucers off of the chandelier and wash a one at the time. Wipe the frame of the chandelier with a cloth filled with suds.

- Continue washing, and re-changing parts of the chandelier until the whole fixture is clean. Afterwards, wipe them dry and put them back into their sockets.

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Guide on Expensive Antique Chandeliers Collections

The look and feel of antique chandeliers cast off a certain type of nostalgia, able to instantly transport us back to a simpler time and place. If you have ever seen or purchased an antique chandelier, there is no doubt that you can relate to that feeling. If you are interested in antique chandeliers, it is important to know that they can represent a major investment, and should be treated as such. Because of the delicate nature of antique chandeliers, as well as the care needed to maintain these marvelous items, we are offering this guide on expensive antique chandeliers collections. By following these simple precautions, you will be able to wisely purchase and enjoy these wonderful vintage pieces.

The most important step you can take in building a beautiful antique chandelier collection is to find a reputable dealer. Unfortunately, there are dishonest people out there who won’t think twice about taking your money in exchange for a cheap and fraudulent chandelier. So, how can you protect yourself against making a poor purchase? The best advice would be to contact a reputable antiques dealer in your home town (or state), and they should be able to put you in contact with somebody who deals in antique chandeliers. Another important fact regarding reputable antique dealers: They will possess the knowledge and information to answer all of your questions regarding any antique chandelier. If they can only give vague answers, or use general terminology, it may be best to take your money and interest elsewhere.

It is also a good idea to enlist the services of an appraiser when considering a purchase. As mentioned earlier, these expensive antique chandeliers should be looked at carefully before you actually make a purchase. An appraiser will be able to make an honest determination as to the value and authenticity of the piece you are considering.

What are some characteristics of expensive antique chandeliers? Naturally, the term “antique” implies that the chandelier is more than 100 years old, and they go as far back as the 17th century. However, most antique chandeliers that were preserved until today come from the Victorian Age as well as the Renaissance and the Gothic and Rococo Revival periods. A good number of these chandeliers will be gas, electric, or kerosene, and many of them will contain intricate and elaborate aesthetic characteristics (both on the arms as well as on the globes surrounding the candles). And though it may sound obvious, it is also worth mentioning that many of these antique chandeliers were made of brass, bronze, and crystal, and should certainly have an aged appearance.

It is also important to properly care for your antique chandelier. While it may be fine to use regular soap and water on modern chandeliers, antiques require more involved attention, and it is recommended that you seek the assistance of a restoration specialist. There are several quality services available in this field, and any reputable antiques dealer should be able to properly refer you.

Hopefully, this guide on expensive antique chandeliers collections will help you to better enjoy the wonderful beauty that antique chandeliers have to offer. It is our hope that you will always make smart choices before purchasing any antique chandeliers, and in doing so you will take great satisfaction from your collection for many years to come.

Jo Williams has an interest in Shopping & Retail and Antique Chandeliers, for more FREE information and articles please visit Antique Chandeliers Resources