Need opinions on chandelier...
Does anyone have any suggestions about any other chandelier restoration/repair places in our area or how it should be cleaned? And opinions on when it was made?
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The Garden Frog with C Renee on Sep 02, 2013Do you have an air compressor? Take off the crystals and wash them in soapy water and let air dry. then use an air compressor to blow out the crevices. Using a damp cloth and a mild cleanser should not hurt the patina if it is brass. Good luckHelpful Reply
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Therese C on Sep 02, 2013A soft child's toothbrush and some good old soap and water will clean the brass part right up. As for the crystals, dip them in vinegar water and dry with a very soft cloth.Helpful Reply
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April on Sep 03, 2013@Therese C - That's a good idea about the toothbrush. Thanks for the tips! I'm hoping that the second restoration place we're taking it to approves of cleaning it. I'd be so nervous to do it myself.Helpful Reply
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Lisa Willard on Sep 03, 2013Great ideas! I had the same question.Helpful Reply
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Brenda @ Cozy Little House on Sep 03, 2013A light cleaning, in my opinion, never hurt anything. Could take a soft wet rag and gently go over it.Helpful Reply
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Lisa Rose McPherson on Sep 03, 2013I know that this might not be a popular answer, but I would remove the crystals and get Windex multi surface cleaner and work my way slowly around the chandelier. Wash the crystals and what a difference you will see. It is beautiful, but it will only look beautiful if cleanHelpful Reply
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Z on Sep 03, 2013Brasso. It's what the military uses to keep their brass clean and shiny.Helpful Reply
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April on Sep 04, 2013@Lisa Rose McPherson - @Z - Thanks for the suggestions! We've taken it to two restoration places now, and both say that it would ruin the "aged" look to clean it. I'm not sure if they understand that I don't wish to ruin it's "shabby chic" qualities, but it really looks tarnished and needs to be cleaned and rewired. :(Helpful Reply
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Kathy Conley on Sep 04, 2013I have several of these types of lamps and I use a damp ( not dripping) old tooth brush and it gets the dust off nicely without hurting the finish or patina. You'll have to have a bowl & towel to rinse and tamp the brush frequently. Soak the crystals in hot soapy water, rinse and air dry on a towel. I would not pay for someone to clean when you can do just as good a job yourself. If you talk to a antique dealer who specializes in lighting you could get good info on how to clean from them too for free. One thing to consider is the actual value of the light fixture. If you paid big $$$ and its something you would insure then paying for restoration is warranted but from the picture, it looks like a approximately $200.00 lamp, so I'd say do it yourself. (I use to have a antique store so I know a little bit about this....well, in the business it's like filling a thimble ...lol unless you specialize as there is soooo much to learn.). Good luckHelpful Reply
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Sotelo on Sep 04, 2013use distilled water in cleaning.Helpful Reply
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Ester Age on Sep 04, 2013I don't have any experience cleaning an old chandelier, but I'm interested to hear what our friends from hometalk have to say, just in case I'll get similar question that you have, let us know what you decide, and "Good luck!"Helpful Reply
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April on Sep 08, 2013Update on this - We have been blessed with a chandelier guy who was willing to take on the challenge of cleaning it without hurting it's finish... and I'm pleased to say that the tarnish is gone and it has still kept it's timeworn look! I will try to post pictures of it once we get it rewired, etc. :)Helpful Reply
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CK on Jan 04, 2015We got one quite similar awhile back. It was in a dining room close to their kitchen and it was suuuuuuuuuuuuper gritty and grimy with cooking grease and dust. We took it apart and I gently washed the pieces in a the sink using dish soap. (not dishwasher soap). (I didn't put the center part in the sink...I just hand washed it over the counter.) It came out wonderfully clean and shiny. The surface was not hurt by hand washing. Now, if yours already has some wear on the patina, it may be more noticeable when cleaned. However, since you're going for a shabby chic look, that'll just add to the the authenticity of the look even more :-) Of course if after washing, the finish is not to your liking, you can always spray paint it any color you'd like.....be sure to tape/cover the beautiful green glass parts so they don't get painted.Helpful Reply
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CK on Jan 05, 2015Here's our chandy. It's very heavy because it has real glass...not acrylic :-)Helpful Reply
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Awilda Agront on Mar 12, 2015I had retored a few brass chandeliers,used a wire brush,brass cleaner in some tough areas. I clean the cristal drops with a solution of vinegar or baking soda.I dismounted it.Helpful Reply
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