Spray-on/drip dry chandelier cleaner

[Starfacet]

Has anyone ever used one? If so, what brand, and were you happy with the results? I've inherited the small chandelier that was over my grandmother's dining table (and the dining table and china cabinet ) but it is so grimy I need to clean it before hanging. There are several on the market, and I don't know which one to buy. They're probably all similar, but I'd love to hear experiences if there are any.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Wish I knew a way to clean my crystals w/o leaving water spots.

 

[1ofakind]

Having cleaned lots of grimy items from thrift stores, estate sales, yard sales, the side of the road or even dumpsters....I've never used such a product and I question the effectiveness on serious grime.
But if you find something that is really that easy I'd love to know about it!!

@Dancing Fire Can you wipe them with a microfiber cloth?

 

[MamaBee]

I have a crystal chandelier in my dining room in Pa. I put large trash bags over my dining room table. I then put large towels on top. I spray windex over the whole chandelier and let it drip. When it settles down I take a paper towel and wipe the crystals. I do this twice a year. It comes out beautifully. I never let it get cruddy so it’s easy for the Windex to do its job. You have to spray a very liberal amount to make it drip. I take the bulbs out and put tape over the socket to prevent the socket.

 

[Gussie]

Don't waste your money. I tried it. The results were terrible, a film of yuck on the crystal and I had to clean up the drippings.

 

[Dancing Fire]

@Dancing Fire Can you wipe them with a microfiber cloth?

I don't think so. I haven't found a way yet ...

 

[Starfacet]

I don't think so. I haven't found a way yet ...

I've been told using distilled water keeps water spots away, but I've heard so many opinions on which chemical to mix with (ammonia, alcohol, vinegar to name a few) that I'm confused.

 

[Starfacet]

I have a crystal chandelier in my dining room in Pa. I put large trash bags over my dining room table. I then put large towels on top. I spray windex over the whole chandelier and let it drip. When it settles down I take a paper towel and wipe the crystals. I do this twice a year. It comes out beautifully. I never let it get cruddy so it’s easy for the Windex to do its job. You have to spray a very liberal amount to make it drip. I take the bulbs out and put tape over the socket to prevent the socket.

That's a gorgeous chandelier!! I have tried wiping the bobeches with Windex, but it has only made a dent. Maybe doing the saturation thing as you suggest will work.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Wish I knew a way to clean my crystals w/o leaving water spots.

I have those grapes and the small pinnaple
I got to unpack !

At home when i grew up we had a large chandelier in the hall
Im pretty sure mum and dad just washed all the crystal drops in a sink of hot soapy dish water and then dried them with a tea towel
It was quite an undertaking, up the ladder, but they did it together a couple of times a year

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I have a crystal chandelier in my dining room in Pa. I put large trash bags over my dining room table. I then put large towels on top. I spray windex over the whole chandelier and let it drip. When it settles down I take a paper towel and wipe the crystals. I do this twice a year. It comes out beautifully. I never let it get cruddy so it’s easy for the Windex to do its job. You have to spray a very liberal amount to make it drip. I take the bulbs out and put tape over the socket to prevent the socket.

Do they not unhook ?

 

[MissGotRocks]

Wish I knew a way to clean my crystals w/o leaving water spots.

 

[MamaBee]

Do they not unhook ?

There’s too many to unhook...It works well just spraying it. Since the chandelier is in Pa..It’s not getting clean so it will be gunky by the time I get back there. The Windex may not work then..

 

[MamaBee]

That's a gorgeous chandelier!! I have tried wiping the bobeches with Windex, but it has only made a dent. Maybe doing the saturation thing as you suggest will work.

Thank you @Starfacet It works because I never let it get grungy...It may not work if it hasn’t been cleaned in a while. I may have that problem after this Covid thing is over..

 

[MissGotRocks]

I don't think so. I haven't found a way yet ...

DF I wash mine in warm water and Dawn. I rinse them thoroughly and dry with paper towels. Takes time but I have never had a problem with water spots.

 

[Starfacet]

Do they not unhook ?

On my chandelier, the crystals don't just have hooks, they are wired together with little twisting wires that will take forever to undo and put back together. I'm trying to avoid that at all costs but I might have to end up taking it all apart to get it clean, then keep up regular cleanings after that.

 

[Starfacet]

Thank you @Starfacet It works because I never let it get grungy...It may not work if it hasn’t been cleaned in a while. I may have that problem after this Covid thing is over..

My grandmother lived in her house until 3 weeks before she passed away (age 97) so I'm sure the chandelier had not been cleaned for decades. She pretty much lived in a couple of rooms as she got older, and no one ever went into the dining room. I'm just glad my mom took that fixture out of the house before she sold it. She also gave me the entry hall light, but it was a newer fixture and isn't as dirty.

 

[Starfacet]

Don't waste your money. I tried it. The results were terrible, a film of yuck on the crystal and I had to clean up the drippings.

Do you remember what brand it was?

 

[Dancing Fire]

DF I wash mine in warm water and Dawn. I rinse them thoroughly and dry with paper towels. Takes time but I have never had a problem with water spots.

Must be careful b/c if the water is too warm the glue may not hold up. Our city water is hard thus the reason for the white spots on my crystals after it drys off.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Must be careful b/c if the water is too warm the glue may not hold up. Our city water is hard thus the reason for the white spots on my crystals after it drys off.

I have a few small pieces sitting out and I wash them every other week. I worry about the glue too but so far none have come loose. I don't allow them to air dry - I dry them with paper towel to get all the water off so there are no water spots.

 

[FancyDiamond]

Three years ago, when we prepared our house for selling, we took down our 29-year old dining chandelier for cleaning. My Chemist husband who formulated many household cleaning products before, looked up cleaning agents online. He used a mixture of water and alcohol, dipped a wash cloth in the solution, and rubbed/cleaned each piece of crystal with it. He then placed the cleaned crystal piece on a paper towel to dry. There were no water droplets due to the alcohol. When finished, the chandelier was sparkling shine for months. The difference was like day and night. I just took a close look at the crystals. They still look acceptably clean, but I am sure another cleaning would make some difference. Next time we clean the chandelier will be the time when our house needs painting and touch up again.

 

[Tekate]

I had a chandelier when I lived in Raleigh NC I used all the sprays and they never worked and left streaks etc.

Now @FancyDiamond's husband came up with a brilliant (literally) plan. I wonder if one could fill up the bathtub and fill it to cover the chandelier and give it a good soak and cleaning? When chandeliers such as @MamaBee's and others are gorgeous, and when they are sparkly - to me anyway - makes all the difference.. wish you luck! and pix if you can!

 

[Starfacet]

Three years ago, when we prepared our house for selling, we took down our 29-year old dining chandelier for cleaning. My Chemist husband who formulated many household cleaning products before, looked up cleaning agents online. He used a mixture of water and alcohol, dipped a wash cloth in the solution, and rubbed/cleaned each piece of crystal with it. He then placed the cleaned crystal piece on a paper towel to dry. There were no water droplets due to the alcohol. When finished, the chandelier was sparkling shine for months. The difference was like day and night. I just took a close look at the crystals. They still look acceptably clean, but I am sure another cleaning would make some difference. Next time we clean the chandelier will be the time when our house needs painting and touch up again.

Thanks @FancyDiamond I think I'm going to go with the alcohol/water mix after everything I've read. It seems to be the safest bet.

 

[Starfacet]

I wonder if one could fill up the bathtub and fill it to cover the chandelier and give it a good soak and cleaning?

I wish I could do that but I wouldn't soak a wired fixture like that. I've pretty much decided that I need to remove the garlands and crystal drops so that I can wash them in the sink, then use the alcohol/water mix on the non-removable parts.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I have a few small pieces sitting out and I wash them every other week. I worry about the glue too but so far none have come loose. I don't allow them to air dry - I dry them with paper towel to get all the water off so there are no water spots.

The store where I purchased most of my crystals use Windex to clean their crystals. Don't know if I can remove water spots with Windex.

 

[mrs-b]

I have a crystal chandelier in my dining room in Pa. I put large trash bags over my dining room table. I then put large towels on top. I spray windex over the whole chandelier and let it drip. When it settles down I take a paper towel and wipe the crystals. I do this twice a year. It comes out beautifully. I never let it get cruddy so it’s easy for the Windex to do its job. You have to spray a very liberal amount to make it drip. I take the bulbs out and put tape over the socket to prevent the socket.

Seriously, you are my domestic goddess.

I've been thinking for MONTHS that I need to get up and clean all the fan blades throughout the house. Need - extreme. Motivation - moderate. Forward progress - nil.

 

[MissGotRocks]

The store where I purchased most of my crystals use Windex to clean their crystals. Don't know if I can remove water spots with Windex.

My experience is that Windex can leave a film - even on diamonds. You have to really rinse and brush them to get the film off. I don't have that problem with Dawn and I do use very warm water to wash and rinse. I understand your concern about the glue too but so far, I've never had a problem.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Seriously, you are my domestic goddess.

I've been thinking for MONTHS that I need to get up and clean all the fan blades throughout the house. Need - extreme. Motivation - moderate. Forward progress - nil.

@mrs-b, I am rather OCD about cleaning. I clean everything often! If you are comfortable living with a reasonable amount of dust, you are not only normal but fortunate! My husband always tells me that no one comes through with white gloves to check but I don't care what anyone else thinks. It is my own compulsion that drives me and that is not always a good thing!

 

[Dancing Fire]

My experience is that Windex can leave a film - even on diamonds. You have to really rinse and brush them to get the film off. I don't have that problem with Dawn and I do use very warm water to wash and rinse. I understand your concern about the glue too but so far, I've never had a problem.

but if I rinse with my hard city water the spots will reappear again after it drys, no???

 

[MissGotRocks]

but if I rinse with my hard city water the spots will reappear again after it drys, no???

If you dry the pieces off when they are wet, I am assuming no. You can always try one piece and see what happens.

 

[kenny]

Wish I knew a way to clean my crystals w/o leaving water spots.

I'd try doing a final rinse in distilled water.

Water spots are not from the water, they are from minerals IN the water.
The H20 in the water evaporates, but minerals don't.

Distilled water ain't free so to use less I keep some in a spray bottle.
After washing and rinsing the object I give it a generous spray of the distilled water.
This replaces the tap water (and its minerals) with pure H20.

Do a test on two identical pieces.
But don't dry them with a cloth.
Let them both air dry.
Then compare.

This ain't a bad idea for giving your diamonds a final rinse.