Spring cleaning: tips to make your light fittings sparkle again

Spring cleaning is a time when our homes wake up from the long winter hibernation to prepare for the spring and summer. Windows are always open to allow the air to circulate; mattresses, carpets, cushions and curtains are removed and washed thoroughly; the closets are emptied out and outfits are changed; there are many things to do when you embark on your spring cleaning exercise. And this includes cleaning hard-to-reach spots.

The first of these awkward spots are the light fixtures. Suspended from the ceiling, and often delicate and difficult to clean, we often put off cleaning these fixtures. And the amount of dust that they collect can be substantial.

Check out the advice below on how to clean your light fittings:

Creativo

First of all let's start with preparation: get yourself a stable ladder to reach the fittings safely, some microfiber cloths, a duster with antistatic fibers and a good detergent. Also, make sure that the light switch is off.

• The first thing to do is to dust: being objects that are rarely cleaned, light fittings accumulate a lot of dust, which should be removed with a soft bristled brush (or duster).
• Unscrew and remove the bulbs and, after having dusted them carefully, clean them off with a microfibre cloth soaked in alcohol.

Now, move on to cleaning the fitting itself: you can choose different detergents, depending on the material your light fitting is made from:

• Vinegar: ideal for cleaning steel or wrought iron light fittings, the framework can be soaked with a sponge and then rinsed off with warm water. Dry with a microfibre cloth. This will restore the shine in an instant.
• Baking soda: suitable for cleaning fabric light fittings, it will help you remove any unsightly yellow stains. Prepare a paste using 3 tablespoons of bicarbonate in half a glass of warm water, apply it on the chandelier and leave it to act for an entire day or night. Thereafter, us a brush to remove the dried paste and dab with a damp microfiber cloth. For all other materials, dissolve a tablespoon and a half of baking soda in a bucket of warm water and apply like in the vinegar method.
• Marseille soap: this is perfect for wrought iron or brass light fittings. Use it by diluting 1 tablespoon of soap flakes or in a bucket of water and apply it like in the above previous two remedies.
• Alcohol: useful for restoring shine to gilded metal and crystal chandeliers, it should be applied with a microfibre cloth.

Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in!