How do I clean crystal chandeliers? by Blue Marble Lighting

Crystal does mean cleaning, but it doesn’t have to be too taxing if you follow these few simple guidelines to keep crystal looking its best.

If you do not wish to remove the crystal components from the piece, crystal chandelier manufacturer Schonbek recommends you spray with a solution of one part isopropyl alcohol to three parts distilled water and wipe off the solution with cotton gloves.  Waterford’s chief lighting designer Billy Canning says hot, soapy water will do the trick.  Both manufacturers agree that special cleaning formulas aren’t necessary. 
Schonbek also cautions that, “A real no-no in the area of cleaning chandeliers…is if the chandelier is finished with a traditional polished gold finish or polished silver but it’s not stainless steel people will use these sprays that you can buy.  Basically, what the manufacturers say is to spray the chandelier and let the stuff drip off and that cleans the crystal.  But in fact what it does is ruin the frames of the chandelier.” 

If more aggressive cleaning is needed, the crystal parts will need to be removed from the frame.  The crystals can then be hand washed in soapy water, rinsed clean and dried with a cloth. 

For dusting between cleanings, Schonbek recommends using a feather duster, lambswool duster or a make-up brush.

How often should I clean my crystal chandelier?

According to Waterford’s Billy Canning, crystal should be cleaned every two to six months.  The frequency of cleaning depends on where it is used and how easy it is to get to the piece.  Extremely large pieces like 20-foot chandeliers can get away with being cleaned only once a year.  Chandeliers used in kitchens will need more detailed cleaning due to oil and grease buildup, as well as dust sticking to the components due to moisture from sinks and stoves.

“The beauty of crystal, of course, is the prismatic refraction of the light passing through the crystal ornament,” says Eileen Schonbek Beer of Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.  “So the minute it’s got any kind of residue of dust or even moisture—like in moist climates in Florida—the humidity will cause dust to adhere to the crystal and the salt in the air will kind of make it cloudy.  So you actually have to clean crystal pretty regularly.”