If you use lamps in your room, you can rest assure that the lamp shade is amongst the first things that catches the eye of the visitor. Lamps lighting attract immediate attention and if your lamp shade is covered in dust and grime, you can be sure it will be noticed. On the other hand, clean lamp shades create an impression of a clean and tidy room.
Moreover, light is diffused more effectively when a lamp shade is clean. Here are the top 5 steps you need to take to ensure that your lamps are completely clean and grime free.
1. It is recommended that you clean all the lamp shades of your house at the same time and use a separate cleaning space like a kitchen counter or a laundry table to clean them.Remember to unplug the lamps before you start cleaning the lamp shades to avoid accidents. Cover the table with a clean cloth and line up all your lamp shades depending on their material, keeping fabric, glass, plastic and metal lamp shades separately.
2. Select cleaning products based on the material of the lamp shade. A mild detergent is sufficient for fabric and plastic lamp shades. A window cleaner is required for glass lamp shades and different metals will require different cleaning agents. Ensure that you follow the precise instructions provided with the cleaning agent and that you don’t overuse it.
3. You will need a scrub cloth and a cleaning cloth for every cleaning agent you use. First soak the scrub cloth in a cleaning agent and gently rub it on the lampshade to remove all the dirt, dust and grime from it. You will then need a cleaning cloth, soaked in water, to remove the residue from of the cleaning agent from the lamp shade.
4. After cleaning the lamp shade, you need to air dry them and ensure that there is no residual moisture on the lamp shade before you use it. Avoid placing the lamp shades in direct sunlight to be dried as this could lead to discoloration, especially in the case of fabric lamp shades. Also avoid the risk of getting an electric shock by ensuring that your lamp shades are thoroughly dry before you place them on the lamps.
5. While your lamp shades are drying, you can take the opportunity to clean the base of each lamp. Wipe the base thoroughly with a clean cloth or a mild cleaning agent and remove all stains and fingerprints from the surface along with dust, dirt and grime.
This will help make your table lamps or floor lamp and their lamp shades look clean and pristine and you won’t have to worry about cleaning them again for the next few months.
