If only everyone had Patrick Dunne's attitude toward cleaning. "There is no harm in having to spend an hour or two cleaning a chandelier," says the owner of Lucullus, a culinary antiques shop. "It's a great spiritual practice." Though everyone else may consider the task an unbearable chore, cleaning a crystal chandelier is important if you want to maintain its dazzling appearance.
Before you begin, Dunne advises placing a padded surface beneath the chandelier in case some of the crystals fall (a tip he learned from his grandmother). When cleaning the crystals, avoid using ammonia because it will cause the pins holding the crystals to corrode. "Instead, use a dish detergent and a laundry soap mixed with warm water," says Marc Friedlander, who, along with his mother and uncle, owns The French Antique Shop in New Orleans. After cleaning with detergent, Friedlander suggests wiping the crystals with water and then again with a dry cloth.
A final piece of advice from Friedlander: "Don't spin the chandelier while cleaning. It may spin loose from the ceiling and come crashing down!"
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