Haha.....I had the same concern and that’s why I chose open lanterns with no glass. I LOVE the look of large glass pendants but also know that seeing a constant settling of dust or grime on the glass would drive me nuts.

Phew. Okay. Have been trying to figure out why they’re chosen in so many Houzz pro pics. There isn’t a single thing that I’ve chosen that I don’t think about the cleaning of it, much to my designers chagrin. She told me she’ll give me a housekeeper for my housewarming present. Lol.

My last house had large, glass pendants over the island. I loved the look, but spent many hours cursing them. Cleaning was a bit of a chore -- dusting and wiping them down with no streaks.

I have a feeling they don't stay clean for very long. I always think of cleaning in making a decision in a kitchen or bathroom, the kitchen in particular. I have two dogs, and when I go out, they are in the kitchen with a gate up. Dog hair, grease (no, I don't fry things but cooking a package of frozen peas will produce a greasy film), dirt - bad combination for things that require a lot of cleaning in order to not look good, but just plain sanitary!

Annied75, they probably need cleaning in the inside and outside right? I can’t even imagine!!

Can you think of a pendant--any pendant--which doesn't need cleaning?

You are correct -- it was cleaning inside and out of the pendants. I also made the mistake of getting clear glass, not seeded. I'm not sure if it would have made a big difference or not.

I learned a lot from that house -- no glass pendants or dark stained floors in future homes. It was a cleaning NIGHTMARE ;)

But Virgil, a pendant consisting of a few thin metal pieces compared to solid glass on all sides is like night and day as far as cleaning goes.

Certainly all things need to be cleaned. It’s the amount of cleaning and frequency that is different between the pendants. Specks of dust will be way more apparent in those glass round ball types for sure.

Well...yes, I agree there are lamps of all types and some may need more or less frequent cleaning than others.

But...isn't it really about the architectural character of the house? Would you install lighting fixtures which needed minimal cleaning (whatever that might be) and which would be completely inconsistent with the architectural character of the house? Simply for not cleaning every two weeks?

IMO, the starting point is what is the nature of the architecture. Not what can go without cleaning for a month! I'm all for low or infrequent maintenance. But not when it compromises or conflicts with the architecture.

Surely the OP can find some lights which support the architecture of the house and the maintenance is acceptable.

After all, how acceptable is it to wash dishes, clothes, or other "essentials" when they are needed?

I don't have pendants but I do have a chandy/pendant glass that does need to be cleaned maybe once a week or every other week. Because it is above a table I don't have water splashing on it or really have any issues with cooking.

I do like it. But if cleaning is not your thing you might want something else.

Virgil.....I would think the op can find many pendants that would be architecturally fitting which are NOT completely covered in glass. How many new homes NEED to have large glass pendants in order to be considered architecturally correct.....there ARE other options. I don’t know, but it seems like all these huge clear glass pendants in the typical home today is a fairly new design phenomenon. Several decades ago I don’t recall seeing much along the lines of the glass pendants we see today.

Boxer so pretty. That’s just my problem. Cleaning is my thing and I’m OCD about it. So that’s why I need low stress items.

I have a frosted glass pendant that only needs a regular wipe down with glass cleaner. No streaks. I suppose if it was over a cooktop it would get greasy and need more frequent cleaning.

Can you think of a pendant--any pendant--which doesn't need cleaning?

Well, all pendants need cleaning, but some need it more often than others. Personally, I have vintage stained glass pendants over my peninsula and kitchen table, and -- being colored -- they don't show dust much.

I'm going to have stained glass in my new house kitchen too.

The HUGE pendants over the island are certainly a new-ish design phenomenon. I thought I had saved a photo that had these ridiculously large brass pendants, but I can't find it. When you looked at that kitchen all you saw was the pendants.

Yes I noticed that too Chispa. I’m certainly no pro, and even I can tell that spatially those huge pendants don’t make sense.

Thank you for posting this. I have been looking at the Sorenson clear glass pendants from Remains for years! I have longed for the large one to put over my table. Since we are gutting and remodeling our kitchen, now is the time to consider it. I am wondering about the cleaning, because it has a metal mesh around the glass. I think it is sealed, so that the inside stays clean but the outside glass could be a problem. While it is over a table and not in the cooking area, I am wondering about the cleaning hassle. I am not a perfectionist or a clean nut, but I need to consider this issue also when finalizing the decision. I appreciate this discussion! I do really love the look!!

Thank you, nidnay. That was my point. The glass globes have gotten out of hand, IMO.

I appreciate the desire for lights that are aesthetically beautiful and architecturally appropriate. But many of the closed globe pendants are, in my mind, a design nightmare. In addition to issues of cleaning, the globes need to be removed for bulb replacement. And for disposal of....bugs! Yuck! When I walk into homes with two story foyers and globe chandeliers, I always wonder....”Who changes their light bulbs? Who cleans their fixtures?” I guess they just hire someone, or have a scaffold system stashed in their entry hall closets. Just saying....

Virgil, my apologies. I didn’t read your post correctly the first time. You are correct of course, those globe lights are a new phenomenon as Nidnay noted, and not architecturally sound for most houses. Ever since working on a new build, I find it so fascinating the idea of trends and design choices. It’s also interesting to me the idea of pictures and how when you see more of a certain thing, idea, or “look” you grow accustomed to it...even though it may have an odd look design wise or architectural wise. I was laughing to myself because in essence those globes are really just clear glass wrapped around a light bulb, and yet cost $100s of dollars. And while I was scrolling for lighting this morning, I saw this picture and just thought to myself, how is that even considered a pendant?? It’s just a light bulb on a wire?!!

Yes, Fsal, the lighting industry is just another interior decorating field which encomplasses the classic and timeless, as well as the trendy and off-the-wall. Something for every design taste. And cleaning preference. :-)

I have two large clear glass pendants over my island. Yep, they are dust collectors. My interior designer originally wanted me to get clear glass that were inverted pendants....so the open part was at the top, like a bowl. I said no way because cleaning the inside of them would be a nightmare. So we compromised with the opening at the bottom. Yes, the outsides get dusty, but it takes about 5 minutes to clean them. I use microfiber clothes and just wipe them down. They need it about once a week, but reality is I do it about 2x a month. I do love them though and I've learned to let it go.

My OCD thing is dust bunnies. I have two large dogs so there is a fair amount of dog hair around. My rule with this new house was no furniture that I had to dust under that was difficult to reach. So my cabinets are either floating or completely rest on the ground. I bought a generica robot vacuum specifically for the bedrooms to keep under the bed, dressers and nightstands dust free. I'm currently searching for new living room end tables that have a pedestal base! :)

Jordyn,

I am sure there are those who clean their lights every two weeks, but I am not one of them.

#nokidsjustlazy

LOL

For me, living on a farm, it would be fly specks along with the dust. By the time the annual deep cleaning rolls around it would drive me nutty!

Glad I'm not the only person who thinks these clear glass pendants are entirely *inappropriate* in a kitchen where any actual cooking takes place. (Ah, there we have it..."where any actual cooking takes place.")

Ashley, that would “bug” the heck out of me;)

I have mercury glass pendants because I noticed that the clear glass ones were dirty even in the stores where they were selling them.