It’s a great habit to regularly clean your home to make sure that everything is free of dust and dirt, but are you really cleaning everything? When tidying up the home, we tend to only focus on the visible and obvious parts of each room—things like the floors, any surfaces and the furniture—but the little details are just as important in having a neat home.
With that, there is no shame in admitting to yourself that you haven’t taken the time to clean up your lampshade because you’re not alone in this. However, it’s never too late to take the necessary steps and integrate this into your regular cleaning routine. Here’s how you can get started!
Before Cleaning
When dealing with a fabric or cloth lampshade, always make sure to check the tag to see whether there are any cleaning guidelines or instructions from the manufacturer. These instructions should always be your first reference when it comes to cleaning. Refer to the table below to understand what each code means.
How to Clean a Lampshade
Regular Cleanings
It doesn’t matter what your lampshade is made of—whether its glass, fabric, wicker or something else—because all lampshades accumulate dust overtime. To stay on top of this, you can use either a microfiber cloth or a feather duster to gently remove any particles on your lampshade. It’s recommended to do this once a week.
Removing Stains
Fabric or Cloth Lamp Shades
If you find that your lampshade has a stain soaked into it, you can easily clean it off with a toothbrush or soft brush and some dish soap. Remove the lampshade from the lamp fixture and set it off to the side.
After combining dish soap and water to create soapy water, saturate the stained area thoroughly before getting your toothbrush or soft brush and gently brushing the stain until it's completely removed. Leave it to air dry completely then place it back on the lamp.
White Lampshades
This is also a great way to make sure that white lampshades stay white as harsh chemical cleaners risk leaving streaks or stains behind. Alternatively, you can also refresh your white lampshade by mixing together a tablespoon of baking soda and some warm water and leaving this to soak on the lampshade for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and leave to air dry.
Metal Lampshades
If your lampshade is made of any metal, then all you need to do is combine a few drops of dish soap into some warm water to create soapy water. With your cleaning solution ready, get a cloth and dip it into the water until it's damp before running the fabric over the lampshade.
When tackling any accumulated grease, pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray some onto a cloth until it’s damp. You can then use the cloth to wipe away the grease stains.
Glass or Plastic Lampshades
As glass or plastic lampshades aren’t as susceptible to serious stains, a dry microfiber cloth is more than enough to remove any fingerprints left behind. Make sure that you never clean glass lampshades with a glass cleaner as it risks permanent damage or stains.
You can also hand wash these lampshades by combining warm water and a few drops of dishwashing soap in a sink or large container. Submerge the lampshade into the water and use a microfiber cloth or sponge to really make sure that every part is cleaned.
When all the stains have been removed, rinse everything out with clean water and leave it to air dry completely. Remember to avoid aggressive scrubbing or using abrasive cleaners that can leave permanent damage.
Paper Lampshades
Any specks or stains can be removed with adhesive art gum, but make sure that you do this gently and also support the other side of the lamp to prevent any damage.
Washing Fabric Lampshades
If you find that your lampshade needs a deep cleaning, then you can start by removing any dirt or debris from the surface with either a microfiber cloth or a feather duster. Afterwards, create your cleaning solution by combining laundry detergent and dish soap with some warm water in a large enough container that will allow you to easily fit your lamp shade.
With your cleaning solution ready, dunk the lampshade into the soapy water and roll it around a few times to make sure that every fabric part is soaked. When you’re done, rinse it under some warm water and leave it somewhere to completely air dry.
When You Don’t Have the Time
While we all know how important it is to make sure that every part of our homes are clean, it’s not always the easiest thing to do. With busy schedules and demanding responsibilities, the last thing you want to do after a long day is to clean your home, but Luce Home is here to do the cleaning for you.
Our well-trained and experienced cleaners will take the hassle out of a clean household so that you can come home and enjoy a neat and tidy home every day.
Send us a message and schedule your first cleaning appointment today!
