Diwali is almost here, and as you prepare to usher in the festival of lights, it’s important for you to clean the lights in your home. We give you a few tips to get your lamps and chandeliers sparkling this Diwali.
1) Cleaning Fabric Lampshades
After the bulb in a lamp has been switched off and has cooled down, take off the lampshade. For sturdy material, use a soft brush to dust off loose dirt. For weaker fabrics, use a lint roller or paintbrush to do this. A paintbrush also works well when it comes to dusting pleated fabric shades. Next, make a solution comprising 2-3 drops of liquid detergent and water in a bucket. Dip the lampshade in it and gently clean it with a soft brush. Rinse and let it dry.
2) Cleaning Fibreglass and Glass Lampshades
Remove the shade and dust the inside of it with a damp microfibre cloth. If the lampshade is glass, be very careful while removing it. Add 2-3 drops of liquid soap to a bowl filled with warm water. Dip a clean cloth in this soapy solution and wipe the lampshade, inside and out. Rinse under water and leave it to dry. Finally, use a dry cloth to wipe off any watermarks left behind. For glass lampshades with grease marks, especially those that are fixed and cannot be removed, add 2 tbsp. of white vinegar to a bowl of water, dip a cloth in this mixture and wipe it. Take a clean cloth to dry and wipe off any excess water.
3) Cleaning Chandeliers
Most chandeliers can be lowered. However, you may still need a ladder to reach this set of lights. For those chandeliers that can be dismantled, hand-wash their glass or crystal components in a bowl of lukewarm water and 2-3 drops of liquid soap. Then, rinse and dry with a clean, soft cloth. For those that cannot be dismantled, first, remove all bulbs, then dust with a clean cloth. For stains, you can take a bowl of lukewarm water, add 2-3 drops of liquid soap to it, dip a cloth in this soapy solution and wipe the chandelier. Finally, wipe dry with a clean cloth.
There you go! Clean the lamps in your home and have a bright and happy Diwali!