How To Keep Your Lampshades Looking Good

There are masses of lampshades available, made of many different materials and coming in different shapes, sizes and styles. You can go for small lampshades which will look good on a bedside lamp or perhaps for a wall light, or larger, more ornate lampshades which work best for the central ceiling light in a lounge or bedroom. They can be made of a whole host of different materials , from inexpensive polyester lace effect to expensive hand pleated silk. But what is the best way to clean them? And do they actually need that much in the way of cleaning \ is it really necessary anyway?
Lampshades are one of those things that you dont really appreciate are dirty until you get up close to them. When you do see them close up you will see the dust and dirt which has gathered around them, the more so if you have a lamp shade which is pleated or features a number of ruffles or folds as many ornate designs do. However, if your lampshades are looking a bit on the grubby side   and in need of some attention, there is no need to panic as it's very easy to clean them.
Needless to say the best way to clean a particular lamp shade depends on what it is made of. Lampshades which are made of soft textiles like silk, linen or cotton can be cleaned using a vacuum-cleaner to remove any surface dust. Use a soft brush attachment to ensure that you do not damage the material which can often be quite fragile. If there are hard to remove pieces of dirt or dust a good thing to use to try to dislodge them is a toothbrush, but you should use this very gently so as not to damage the shade. If marks remain after brushing and vacuuming the shade a more thorough clean may be required.
You may wish to take your lampshades to the dry cleaner for this, particularly if they were costly . If not, there are two other ways to clean your textile lampshades. You could use a foam cleaner which you can find at most local stores. It is recommended to try any such cleaner out on an hard to see area of the lamp shade first, to ensure that there is no colour run or any other damaging effects. Simply spray a light film  of foam on the shade, agitate it with a clean cloth or sponge, before wiping off. This should remove most stains but if you are still not happy with the results you could call on the services of a carpet and upholstery cleaner. Again, though, this is only really merited in the case of particularly expensive shades.

In the case of paper shades, the best thing to do is to clean the shade using a suitable dry cloth. This should be enough to get rid of the dust but it should be done on a regular basis . Daily cleaning would be ideal, but given that we all lead busy lives, perhaps weekly or fortnightly is a little more practical . Either way, regular attention will yield the best results. If you notice that your paper shade has some stains, particularly greasy stains or marks, a good tip is to sprinkle some talcum powder on the area and remove it using a soft brush or a toothbrush as mentioned above.
Finally, if your lampshade shade is made of parchment, then removing marks and stains can be a little more complicated . The job is not really that difficult - it simply requires a little time and a degree of care. You will need to use a very soft damp sponge. You may choose to add some mild multi-purpose detergent, though this is not always required . After cleaning the shade, put some drops of liquid wax onto a damp cloth and then rub the shade gently. This is a special kind of wax - not the wax you would associate with scented candles by brands like Yankee candles.  This process is ideal for keeping parchment lampshades in perfect condition. And there you have it - simple easy to follow steps to keeping you lampshades looking good.


The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of candles including brands like True Grace candles