Owning a chandelier can seem very demanding, especially when it comes to the various maintenance tasks that are needed to keep it shiny and sparkling in the face of all the dirt in our homes. This becomes even more apparent when crystal chandeliers are chosen over some of the other, less demanding, types. If you insist on using one of these attractive lighting fixtures in your home, however, it is important that you know how to properly maintain it, otherwise your chandelier could begin to look a little worse for wear.
To begin with, you need to make sure that you clean your chandelier fairly regularly, but especially when they look dirty, full of dust or overly dull. You will also need to make sure that you don't use anything other than an antistatic brush to clean your chandelier, otherwise you risk breaking some of its more delicate parts. For crystal fixtures, the pendants should never be rubbed together, as this can cause small cracks that cause them to fail over time. You should also never use cleaning fluids, even if the bottle does say that it is safe for use on crystal surfaces. Many of these fluids contain ammonia, which can have a detrimental effect on the finish of your chandelier.
For modern chandeliers
You are able to clean these fixtures without removing the individual pendants from the frame. Put on a pair of white cotton gloves, and simply take hold of each of the pendants for a few seconds. This removes the dust. Then, mix together a solution that is 1 part isopropyl alcohol and 3 parts distilled water. Spray this solution onto the chandelier, then wipe with a dry cloth.
For old/antique chandeliers
You will need to remove each pendant from the frame of these fixtures before cleaning. Give each of the crystal pendants a quick hand wash in lukewarm water and a mild, hypoallergenic soap. Then, rinse the pendant in clean water and dry it using a soft cloth. You can then replace each of the pendants back onto the frame (it helps to draw a diagram of what it looked like before so that you can match it all up).
Whenever you are cleaning your chandelier, it is important that you never rotate the fixture, even while removing pendants on an antique model. The reason for this is that rotation can actually cause the fixture to dislodge from the ceiling and fall down. You should also wear gloves whenever cleaning your chandelier, as this will prevent yourself from being accidentally electrocuted and from causing damage to the fixture.