The fact that many a chandelier falls into a state of neglect comes as no surprise when you consider how difficult and inconvenient they can be to clean. Such a job requires a good ladder, multiple trips up and down said ladder, a number of cloths, a bucket, cleaning solutions, and knowledge of how to clean chandeliers safely. All of this is enough to dissuade even the most determined and ardent of individuals but there is hope. Homeowners with troubled chandeliers have a number of options that they can explore.
Hiring Professional Chandelier Cleaners
Hiring a professional to clean your chandelier is undoubtedly the easiest way to return your debonair illuminator to a respectful and impressive state. Professional window cleaners are not only surprisingly affordable but they come to the job with all of the tools, solutions, and experience required to produce phenomenal results. Moreover, professionals work safely and can clean a chandelier in a fraction of the time it will take you to do it. While professionals are cleaning you can spend the time doing something you actually want to do.
The Do It Yourself Approach
This approach to chandelier cleaning isn't nearly as simple as hiring a professional nor is it more affordable despite what many erroneously believe. It is however a feasible option for those whom truly want a challenge and insist on doing the job themselves. Individuals whom choose this path will require a number of different tools and will need to keep several things in mind. These are as follows:
A Sturdy Ladder - While ladders are commonly found in the majority of homes, not all of these are suitable for service. Ladders that wobble or sit unevenly pose serious risk to those whom ascend and descend them. This is especially true of those whom carry tools up and down their steps. A ladder in questionable or poor condition can result in falls and broken bones. Falls may also cause tools to break, expensive solutions to spill onto floors, and ultimately delay work. Having a dependable and sturdy ladder at your disposable can make or break your efforts.
Soft Cloths - There are those do-it-yourselfers whom utilize old rags, newspapers, or paper towels in the cleaning of their chandeliers. Unfortunately all of these items will not only leave streaks and spots but they have the potential to scratch your chandeliers. Though it's often the glass that falls victim to this type of cleaning, the metal frame of a chandelier can also be affected. The do-it-youselfer is best served by having a few soft lint free cloths on hand for the job. These can be purchased at any retail or home improvement store and are soft enough so as to avoid damaging glass. They are also highly absorbent and will pick up not only cleaning residue but any debris that may have survived your initial cleaning effort. Professional glass cleaners further recommend that laypersons utilize dye free cloths as well and for obvious reasons.
Cleaning Solutions - Choosing a cleaning solutions may well be the most mind numbing part of the chandelier cleaning process. This is because there are a multitude of solutions available and not all of them are good nor safe. More to the point, many of these are made up entirely of harsh chemicals that pose health risks. Fortunately, eco-friendly and non toxic cleaning solutions have become very popular and as such are also readily available. Store bought solutions, be them traditional or "green", tend to be expensive and a bit pretentious and so laypersons can and should consider mixing their own. Wait, what's that you say...mix my own chemicals? Before you get too worked up homemade cleaning solutions do not involve any chemicals and instead make use of white vinegar, water, and sometimes citrus. A vinegar/water solutions that's half and half is a potent cleaning agent that can safely remove dirt and all forms of debris from your chandeliers. Aside from a very pungent taste, this solution won't do any harm to persons nor pets in your home.
Tool Belt - Although chandelier cleaning doesn't require a cornucopia of tools, you'll want the tools you do use to be easily transportable and readily accessible. Tool belts made specifically for glass and window cleaning can be found at retail outlets and are relatively inexpensive. Consider purchasing one to make your work more efficient and less strenuous. Having your cloths and cleaning solution at your hip will save you a good deal of time.
Spray Bottle - While some may view a spray bottle as extraneous or even gratuitous in this type of work, using one will make you question such opinions. As they house your cleaning solution, a spray bottle can help you safely and accurately apply said solution to all the areas of your chandeliers. Furthermore, a spray bottle will save you multiple trips up and down your ladder.
Something For Your Floor - Cleaning chandeliers poses risk not only to individuals who clean them but the floors directly beneath them as well. Not only will loose debris and dirt fall to the floor as you begin cleaning but cleaning solutions inevitably build up and are pulled by a massive gravitational force back down to the floor. Both the debris and cleaning solutions can sully a floor and be considered problematic when they fall on carpeting or hardwood floors. It therefore stands to reason that protecting your floors during chandelier cleaning makes sense, yes? You can effectively shield your floors by utilizing thick towels and mats as both will not only catch falling solutions and debris but prohibit the scratches and scuffs that ladders can leave on floors.
Removing Your Chandelier - It's not always necessary for cleaning but uninstalling your chandelier and bringing it down to ground level will allow you to address all of it's concerns with greater attention to detail and accuracy. Doing so will also make your work far less dangerous though the risk of injury remains in bringing a chandelier to the floor. It's also possible to irreparably damage your chandelier during it's transfer but with some care and planning this can be avoided. Additionally, if you plan on bringing your chandelier down for cleaning you'll want to make this a team effort and a second pair of hands will serve both you and your chandelier well.
Reaching Out For Help
You may be insistent on cleaning your chandeliers yourself but the possibility of hitting a snag is always lingering in the shadows your chandelier casts. Should you ever have questions, run into a problem, or experience unusual difficulty in cleaning your chandelier, contacting a professional for help is highly advisable. In fact it behooves you to seek the assistance of those with more experience than you. Even if you choose not to hire them, most professional window cleaners will happily pass along advice and tips that will help you complete your work.
