Chandeliers add beauty and serve as the focal point in many rooms. They can also be an eyesore, especially when they are dirty. When a wrought iron or any other style chandelier starts to lose its shine, it can be restored. In many cases, all that is needed is a good cleaning. Cleaning wrought iron chandelier light fixtures is especially hard because of the intricate designs.

Tools & Equipment

1. Two or three basins (depending on the size of the chandelier and how dirty it is)

2. Dishwashing liquid (or commercially sold cleaning agent)

3. Glass cleaning fluid

4. Soft, non-abrasive washrags

5. Rubber gloves

6. Step ladder to reach the chandelier, especially important for cleaning the frame and arms

7. Large towel or sheet (depending on size of the chandelier) to catch any drips when cleaning the sections on the ceiling. If you have a large piece of plastic handy, you can place this on the floor and place the towel or sheet on top of it. If you fear that some of the crystals may fall, fold some towels and place around the base of the ladder to provide cushioning just in case.

The Process

1.Never work on anything with an electric current without unplugging it first. The best option for a chandelier is to turn off the breaker.

2.Carefully remove the light bulbs and light covers from the fixture. Do not expose the light bulbs to any liquid. Rather, consider wiping them off gently with a clean soft cloth after they have been allowed to cool and place the clean bulbs on a soft towel until you are ready to screw them back in. Microfiber clothes work well for this.

3.Fill one of the basins or kitchen sink with warm, soapy water. Wipe down the frame and decorative arms with soapy water.

4.Prepare a clean basin of water and add a little detergent. You will need it to wash the crystal droplets and light covers from the chandelier. Have another container of warm water to rinse them in as well. Add about a half cup of ammonia to the rinse water. This will make the crystals sparkle even more.

5.Removing a few of the crystals at a time will make it easier to remember where you took each one from. The crystal pieces may look alike, but it will be easier to replace them in the exact place they were taken from. Agitate each piece in the soapy water and rinse. Dry them carefully with a soft rag before replacing them.

6.Switch on the breaker and examine your handiwork. The wrought iron portion should be free of dirt and cobwebs, and the crystals should be shining.

As you work, check for loose or raw wires and rusted or damaged pieces. If you need to have a professional look at them, make sure to get this done as soon as possible.

Maintenance

Cleaning is just one part of keeping wrought iron chandelier light fixtures looking good. They should be maintained between cleanings. Maintenance does not need to take a lot of time and calls for some basic things. Once per week while vacuuming, just give the chandelier a little touch up with the vacuum. This will remove any minor coating of dust or other airborne particles that may have found their way onto the fixture. To lengthen the life of a wrought iron chandelier, avoid hanging in rooms that can become damp. Exposure to moisture can result in rusting of the wrought iron portion of the chandelier.

Note: In the event that you are unable to take apart the chandelier to clean it as described above, you can still do a wet cleaning. However, you will need to cover all the bulbs with plastic, such as sandwich bags, to protect them. Make a solution of distilled water and ammonia and spray onto the crystals. Allow it to drip off onto the protective covering on the ground. Rinse by spraying with distilled water to avoid leaving any water marks.