How to wash a crystal chandelier: tips

Crystal has the unpleasant feature of tarnishing, distorting the correct distribution of light through pendants. A chandelier made of similar material is used in the kitchen, in the living room and in the bathrooms, and therefore needs regular cleaning. The main types of pollution are dust, greasy deposits and soot, traces of insects, lime from steam. Before the start of the general cleaning, the housewives clutch their heads, not knowing which cleaning method to choose. Like any other business, the processing of a chandelier includes its own characteristics that must be taken into account. Consider the important aspects in order.

Crystal Chandelier Cleaning Technology

1. Before proceeding with the procedure, it is necessary to prepare the chandelier. Disconnect the appliance from the mains, do not try to disconnect the wires with your bare hands, wear protective gloves. Remove all the elements of the chandelier (pendants, crystals, etc.), then proceed to prepare the solution for cleaning.
2. Wet processing of a chandelier is a painstaking work requiring attention to detail. For this reason, it is necessary to choose the optimal dishes in which you will clean the product. Give preference to a plastic, rather than an iron basin. Lay a cotton towel on the bottom and walls of the container to prevent accidentally scratching or breaking the crystal elements.

Home Crystal Chandelier Remedies

No matter what tool you choose for cleaning, most importantly, follow the basic rules. Dissolve the ingredients exclusively in purified water with a temperature regime that varies between 26-28 degrees. Do not use hot water, otherwise you will not be able to avoid darkening the crystal.

1. Ammonia. Dissolve in 275 ml. warm purified water 30 ml. ammonia (optionally, ammonia can be replaced with ammonium hydroxide). Pour warm water into the basin so that it covers all the pendants, pour the resulting ammonia solution into the container. Wash the crystal parts with a cotton cloth and wear gloves without fail. After all the manipulations, spread a soft cloth on a flat surface, lay out the elements and leave them to dry. If desired, after drying, you can rub the crystal with a microfiber cloth to remove smudges.
2. Drinking soda and soap. Grate a third of a bar of laundry soap (72%) on a fine grater, mix the chips with 35 gr. drinking soda. Pour a glass of warm water, gently foam the composition with your hands. Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth in the prepared solution, and process each element. At the end of the procedure, lay the parts on a flat surface so that the glass is excess moisture. Dry with a clean towel.
3. Acetic solution. Pour warm water into the basin, add 45 ml. table vinegar solution with a concentration of 9% (not to be confused with essence). Pour 35 g. crushed food will (not iodized, the crystal darkens from it), mix the composition until the crystals are completely dissolved. When the solution becomes homogeneous, lower the entire chandelier or individual parts that you managed to remove into it. Cut a small piece of gauze cloth, use it to process all the elements, wipe them dry.
4. Gel for washing dishes. Dissolve in a container with warm water (quantity 1-2 liters) 45 ml. gel for washing dishes, foam the composition with your hands. Dip the crystal pendants or the whole chandelier into the prepared product, remove the remaining fat, lime and soot with gauze cloth. After processing, wipe all items with a cotton cloth or a piece of gauze / bandage.

Ceiling Crystal Chandelier Cleaning Technology

1. Disconnect the device from the power supply, do not touch the wires with bare hands. Disconnect the chandelier from the mains on the current distribution panel by setting the circuit breakers to the “Off” state. Otherwise, drops may fall on the wires, causing a short circuit.
2. Spread a dense terry towel on a flat surface, folding it 2 times (the chandelier details will be laid out on it). Put on fabric or rubber gloves, start removing only those elements that are easy to process. Spread them at a certain distance from each other to avoid scratching.
3. To wash the chandelier, while not removing it from the ceiling, prepare a solution for wet processing. Take a plastic basin, pour 5-7 liters into it. warm water, add 250-300 ml. ammonia (ammonia) or ammonium hydroxide. The amount of the drug is calculated based on 1 liter. water accounts for 30 ml. composition. Do not add soap or dishwashing liquid to the solution to avoid the formation of a film.
4. Dip the crystal parts into the prepared solution, which can be removed. Rinse each pendant thoroughly with a soft cloth, then lay it on a towel and leave to dry completely.
5. If you cannot remove the elements of the crystal chandelier, wipe with gauze / bandage or a cosmetic swab dipped in the prepared solution. After processing, wipe the items with a dry cloth.
6. To get rid of traces of flies and insects on the surface of crystal pendants, you need to use vodka or ethyl alcohol. Moisten a cotton pad as part of the wipe, wipe each part and parts of the chandelier attached to the ceiling. If the dirt is old, apply a swab and wait about 1 minute, then remove the remaining gauze.
7. To carry out effective cleaning of bronze elements, use a combination of tooth powder and ammonia. Combine the listed components in one composition, mixing them in equal proportions. After that, scoop a small amount of mass onto the gauze fabric, process each bronze element. After cleaning, wait about 5-10 minutes, then remove excess with a damp cloth and wipe dry.
8. To remove dust, greasy deposits and soot, the decorative components of the chandelier (bulges, carvings, crevices, etc.), use an unnecessary toothbrush. Dampen it with ammonia or ammonium hydroxide, thoroughly wipe all the patterns. After processing the parts, rub them with a microfiber cloth, after moistening it in table vinegar (concentration 6–9%). At the end of the manipulation, wipe the product with a towel, leave until the moisture evaporates.
9. After cleaning, reassemble the crystal chandelier to its original position. Take your time to turn on the electricity, wait about 2-3 hours for the parts and elements to completely dry out. Such a move will help to avoid circuit. It is important to understand that wet processing of a chandelier can take a day, taking into account cleaning and drying, so it is recommended to start the procedure in the early morning.
10. You can wash a crystal chandelier without removing it from the ceiling with a special composition for this type of material. Get a spray or aerosol from the store “Everything for Home” or “World of Light”, lay a plastic film on the floor, sprinkle the chandelier and all its elements. After applying the composition, wait a certain interval (the exact time is indicated in the instructions), then spray warm filtered water from the spray gun. As a result of such actions, all dust drains onto the bedding oilcloth.

Practical recommendations

1. Before you start cleaning the chandelier, make sure that the device is switched off. To do this, use a special tester that will measure the voltage. Never touch the wiring with bare hands, in particular with wet hands.
2. To give the crystal elements shine, use a little trick. After processing the parts, prepare a solution: dilute 145 ml. table vinegar (concentration 9%) in 3 liters. warm water, lower into the suspension, wait 10 minutes. After that, dry with a towel and rub with a piece of velvet cloth.
3. Do not use a clean dishwashing detergent or laundry soap not diluted with water to wash the chandelier. Such products create a matte film on the surface of the chandelier that attracts dust. It will begin to crack when heated, thereby distorting the light and rendering the pendants unusable. Be sure to add baking soda to prevent such effects.
4. During wet processing of the chandelier, pay special attention to metal elements. After applying the composition and removing it with water, wipe the parts dry to prevent corrosion.
5. Clean the chandelier with cloth or rubber gloves. Such materials will not allow the pendants to “slip away” from the hands, as well as leave fingerprints on the surface of the crystal. If you left a mark at the time of cleaning, wipe it off with a damp cloth and wipe it dry.
6. If your chandelier is made of high quality crystal, use exclusively dry cleaning technology. To properly carry out the procedure, take a gauze cloth, wipe it with copper and crystal elements, then brush off the dust with a sponge. You can also use a toothbrush by wrapping it in gauze.

It is easy to clean the crystal chandelier at home, if you have sufficient knowledge regarding the procedure. First of all, unplug the appliance by turning the circuit breakers to the appropriate position. Next, remove the parts that lend themselves to this process. Place them in a pre-prepared solution based on vinegar, ammonia, soda or salt, wash and wipe dry.

Video: how to wash a crystal chandelier without removing it