How to Keep Your Light Fixtures Shining Bright
Try these 9 tips for cleaning pendants, sconces, track lighting and more
Leslie Reichert
January 14, 2021
Houzz Contributor. Cleaning expert that teaches and encourages people to use greener methods to clean their home. I have books, magazines, and a TV series to show you how to live a cleaner, greener lifestyle. For more cleaning tips go to www.greencleaningcoach.com
Houzz Contributor. Cleaning expert that teaches and encourages people to use greener... More
Your glass light fixtures should be cleaned on a regular basis so you can let as much light into your rooms as possible. Plus, you don’t want to have your glass fixtures looking smeared and foggy. Here are nine green cleaning tips and tricks to keep them looking crystal clean and clear.
1. Don’t Forget to Look Up
Hanging light fixtures should be dusted as often as the furniture in the room. You can use an extendable microfiber duster or a simple feather duster. Once a month you should wipe the glass with a damp, fine-woven microfiber cloth, getting inside as well as outside of the glass fixture.
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Hanging light fixtures should be dusted as often as the furniture in the room. You can use an extendable microfiber duster or a simple feather duster. Once a month you should wipe the glass with a damp, fine-woven microfiber cloth, getting inside as well as outside of the glass fixture.
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2. The Chains That Bind
When cleaning hanging light fixtures, don’t forget to clean the chains that are holding the lights. These can get a nasty buildup, especially in the kitchen when grease mixes with the dust. You can use a few drops of a grease-cutting dish soap on a wet microfiber cloth to cut through the greasy buildup.
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When cleaning hanging light fixtures, don’t forget to clean the chains that are holding the lights. These can get a nasty buildup, especially in the kitchen when grease mixes with the dust. You can use a few drops of a grease-cutting dish soap on a wet microfiber cloth to cut through the greasy buildup.
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3. It’s OK to Be Shady
If you have light fixtures that have fabric shades on them, there are a few easy ways to keep the dust from building up. First, wipe the fabric with a clean, dry microfiber cloth, which will remove most of the dust. You can also use a lint roller to capture the dust without spreading it on the surface below. If there is a severe buildup on the shade, remove it from the fixture and use the dusting brush attachment on your vacuum to remove all the buildup.
If you have light fixtures that have fabric shades on them, there are a few easy ways to keep the dust from building up. First, wipe the fabric with a clean, dry microfiber cloth, which will remove most of the dust. You can also use a lint roller to capture the dust without spreading it on the surface below. If there is a severe buildup on the shade, remove it from the fixture and use the dusting brush attachment on your vacuum to remove all the buildup.
4. Hiding in the Hood
One light fixture that always gets overlooked is the one in the stove hood. This fixture usually has a plastic cover to protect it from spattered grease. The cover needs to be cleaned as often as your stove or the cover will become covered with grease and not let the light come through completely. Use a simple grease-cutting cleaner.
One light fixture that always gets overlooked is the one in the stove hood. This fixture usually has a plastic cover to protect it from spattered grease. The cover needs to be cleaned as often as your stove or the cover will become covered with grease and not let the light come through completely. Use a simple grease-cutting cleaner.
5. Don’t Get Bogged Down in the Bathroom
Light fixtures in your bathroom can be very difficult to clean if they are not cleaned on a regular basis. The dust mixes with the steam from the shower and creates a thick paste that dries on the fixtures and can be hard to remove. Try to get into the habit of cleaning the fixtures as often as you clean the vanity mirror. If you make it part of a systematic cleaning, you’ll never have to worry about that thick buildup on the tops of the bathroom lights.
Light fixtures in your bathroom can be very difficult to clean if they are not cleaned on a regular basis. The dust mixes with the steam from the shower and creates a thick paste that dries on the fixtures and can be hard to remove. Try to get into the habit of cleaning the fixtures as often as you clean the vanity mirror. If you make it part of a systematic cleaning, you’ll never have to worry about that thick buildup on the tops of the bathroom lights.
6. Rinse Cycle
A quick tip for cleaning the glass on a wall sconce is to pop them in your dishwasher. (Avoid doing this with any that have a special finish.) Place them on the top rack and let the dishwasher run through a complete cycle. Try not to put them in with greasy pots and pans. Your dishwasher will clean off the dust and film that has accumulated on the glass. If there are any spots on them, you can touch them up with a fine-woven microfiber cloth.
A quick tip for cleaning the glass on a wall sconce is to pop them in your dishwasher. (Avoid doing this with any that have a special finish.) Place them on the top rack and let the dishwasher run through a complete cycle. Try not to put them in with greasy pots and pans. Your dishwasher will clean off the dust and film that has accumulated on the glass. If there are any spots on them, you can touch them up with a fine-woven microfiber cloth.
7. Recessed Radiance
Recessed lighting should be cleaned by removing the lightbulb and dusting inside the recessed area. Turn the lights off and let the bulbs completely cool. Remove the lights and use a dry microfiber cloth to capture the dust inside the fixture. Make sure to wipe the area carefully so the container is not loosened. Recessed lights are usually held up in the ceiling with spring-like hangers that can be difficult to reconnect.
Recessed lighting should be cleaned by removing the lightbulb and dusting inside the recessed area. Turn the lights off and let the bulbs completely cool. Remove the lights and use a dry microfiber cloth to capture the dust inside the fixture. Make sure to wipe the area carefully so the container is not loosened. Recessed lights are usually held up in the ceiling with spring-like hangers that can be difficult to reconnect.
8. Keeping Track
Track lighting should be dusted at least every two weeks to prevent a buildup of dust and grime on the tops of the light fixtures. These can be dusted with an extendable feather duster. Make sure you dust in and around the lightbulb. Cobwebs tend to build up inside the heads around the bulbs.
Track lighting should be dusted at least every two weeks to prevent a buildup of dust and grime on the tops of the light fixtures. These can be dusted with an extendable feather duster. Make sure you dust in and around the lightbulb. Cobwebs tend to build up inside the heads around the bulbs.
9. Take It Outside
Outdoor light fixtures need to be cleaned regularly. We sometimes overlook them since they are out of sight when we are doing our cleaning. Use a broom or blower to remove insects and spider webs around the lights. The glass light fixtures can be put into the dishwasher to remove dirt and grime.
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Outdoor light fixtures need to be cleaned regularly. We sometimes overlook them since they are out of sight when we are doing our cleaning. Use a broom or blower to remove insects and spider webs around the lights. The glass light fixtures can be put into the dishwasher to remove dirt and grime.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about lighting
Look for a lighting designer near you
Shop for outdoor lights
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So many great questions about hard to reach and specialty light fixture cleaning.
One of my pet peeves about current/trending lighting designs are the beaded, shell-filled and wicker fixtures. They're horrible to clean and I don't think there's enough consideration taken when recommending them in humid/greasy areas.
We considered glass pendants for our kitchen and I am forever grateful we chose dark, matte black with plastic chords. A breeze to clean.
Another important regular cleaning job to mention is ceiling fans and extractor fans and filters. These are potential fire hazards. Restaurants and cafes are particularly slack at this - I often look ‘up’ - and it makes me wonder about the cleanliness and attention to detail in the kitchen ; )