In the living room , dining room or bedroom , the lampshade serves both the lighting and the decor. It effectively brings a subdued atmosphere to the room while decorating it in an original way.
But, it is not insensitive to dust and other stains. Cleaning a lampshade requires a few tips to know.
Maintaining your lampshade according to its manufacturing material
As these lampshades can be made with different materials , it is advisable to identify them in order to better maintain them. A fabric lampshade cannot be cleaned like a plastic lampshade . Each one has its own specificity!
Maintaining a glass lampshade
For this material, the task is not complex. Same case for a plastic lampshade . You can quite easily use cleaning products such as window cleaners. For more stubborn stains, you can use drops of household alcohol . Use a cloth and that's it.
Caring for a fabric lampshade
When your lampshade is made of fabric, maintenance is a little more complicated. First, you will remove it from its base and disassemble its bulb.
There is also the socket clamp that you need to remove. Then get some fabric cleaner and a soft bristle brush .
Cleaning a Cardboard and Paper Lampshade
Since there are indeed lampshades made of paper and cardboard, you need to know the tricks to clean them effectively. Grandma's advice recommends an eraser or a little Fuller's earth which is a natural stain remover that is both versatile and effective.
Cleaning your aluminum lampshade
For the case of aluminum, you will need baking soda . You will dilute it in soapy water to properly clean your aluminum lampshade . You can use a sponge for this operation.
If the job seems more complicated, you have the possibility of deploying a recipe based on:
- Sea salt,
- Hot vinegar,
- And oil.
Throughout the cleaning, you must act delicately.
Restoring the shine to a stainless steel lampshade
If your lampshade is made of steel , soapy water can do the trick. However, you must take care to dry it very quickly to avoid further stains. This material is very sensitive to moisture marks.
Knowing how to choose the right products to clean your lampshade is also required. As we have seen, one material in question does not meet the same specificities as another. While baking soda is effective for some, talc may be enough for others.
Know the equipment to deploy for this task
Once you know what products are recommended and what steps to take, it might be a good idea to know what tools may be needed. Having the right cleaning accessory can help you optimize the operation.
To effectively clean your lampshade , you may need a small brush. Its bristles must be particularly soft. It is necessary to remove dust.
A vacuum cleaner could also be a choice equipment in cleaning your lampshade . It is especially recommended for fabric models. That said, in order not to damage other components of your lighting ornament, it must have a brush tip. Some also use the hair dryer .
Cleaning according to the type of stain
It happens that in addition to dust, your lampshade may also have other stains. In this case, the cleaning and the products to use will be done according to these. If they are not greasy, using an eraser would be enough. Grandma's tips advise rolling out a loaf of bread .
On the other hand, if the stains are greasy, a cloth soaked in Sommières earth will be required. You must wait for this product to take effect before removing its debris using a damp cotton pad .
For stains like wine or coffee, dishwashing liquid and a little water will work well. Sometimes, you can deal with marks like a cigarette burn . For this, cleaning your lampshade will require a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide .
If other cases arise, you may have bleach, white vinegar , 90° alcohol , or even ammonia on hand.
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