1. Take out all bulbs and put them aside.

2. Lay a folded towel over the bottom of a sink or dishpan. Half fill this with medium hot water. Add soap or detergent and swish up suds.

3. Fill a large pan with clean hot water for rinsing. Add a little ammonia to this rinse water for extra sparkle. Also pad this pan with a towel to keep fine glass from breaking.

4. To wash, take the crystal drops and saucers off of the chandelier, a few at the time. Wipe the frame or "arm" of the chandelier with a cloth wrung out of suds.

5. Wash the parts in the sudsy water. Rinse them with hot water and wipe them dry. Then put them back right away to make sure that they go in the right places. If any pins or wires look weak or rusty, put in new ones.

6. Keep on taking down, washing, and rehanging more parts until the whole piece is clean.

7. Sponge off the bulbs. Rinse them, wipe them dry and put them into their sockets again.

This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus.



MSU 2003