A magnificent chandelier is an incredible compliment to any room. While we wouldn't recommend you put crystal chandeliers in your basement or your linen closet, the fact remains that a brilliant crystal chandelier can truly push a room from ordinary to wonderful.
However, as everyone knows, chandeliers hang from the ceiling, typically out of reach. And while this fact adds to the mystique and beauty of the luxury item, it also makes them incredibly difficult to clean. And a dirty chandelier not only reflects negatively on you, it dampens the brilliance of your room as well as your chandelier piece itself.
It does not matter whether you have crystal chandeliers, brass chandeliers, antique chandeliers, or an old wooden chandelier that looks like something out of the medieval times; they must be cleaned to maintain the magnificence. So here's how this writer deals with her chandeliers when they accumulate an amount of filth that negatively reflects on the room is it intended to compliment.
For crystal chandeliers, especially a crystal chandelier that hasn't been cleaned in ages (which, let's be honest, is typically the case) the best way to properly clean it is by removing the crystals one by one and wiping them by hand on an individual basis. Of course, when you do this it's important you make sure you're putting the crystals back in the proper place, as they are often different and assorted in a very specific way.
When washing the crystals, it's recommended you use lukewarm water and mild dish soap. DO NOT, we repeat, DO NOT use boiling hot water, as this will negatively affect the crystals themselves. And be sure to be careful when drying.
However, if you are an individual who pays your chandeliers the attention they deserve (don't feel bad if you aren't. This writer certainly isn't) and you do get to cleaning them before they get overly filthy, it is possible to clean crystal chandeliers without removing each individual crystal.
The truth is removing each individual crystal can be a pain in the neck. So if you're looking for motivation to get to cleaning your crystal chandeliers, this should be it (but like we previously mentioned, don't feel too bad if it doesn't).
Most chandelier distributers will recommend using a cleaning solution that is approximately one part isopropyl alcohol to three parts H2O. Make sure to use distilled water, as it lacks the minerals that create streaks. If you get your proportions right, the alcohol will evaporate without leaving streaks or residue on the piece, which is ideal for obvious reasons.
And stay away from chemical cleaners, as they more often than not damage the chandeliers finish.
