Asked on Sep 02, 2013

Need opinions on chandelier...

April
by April
We just got this in a few days ago, as I thought I'd add a different chandelier for my shabby chic theme for my bedroom. It's antique brass and I'm guessing it's from the 1940's or 1950's from it's design. Anyway, we just had it looked at about restoring it - and they've said that cleaning it would hurt the patina. I can understand this, but the chandelier really looks caked with dust and such. :-( The photos here, well the first one anyway, doesn't show the dust as well (because of a bright flash).

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?
  15 answers
  • Do 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 luck
    • April April on Sep 02, 2013
      @The Garden Frog with C Renee - Thanks for the suggestions. :) I don't have a compressor, but good to know a damp cloth can't hurt.
  • Therese C Therese C on Sep 02, 2013
    A 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.
  • April 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.
  • Lisa Willard Lisa Willard on Sep 03, 2013
    Great ideas! I had the same question.
  • A light cleaning, in my opinion, never hurt anything. Could take a soft wet rag and gently go over it.
    • April April on Sep 03, 2013
      @Brenda @ Cozy Little House - Thanks for your input, Brenda! Good point. :)
  • Lisa Rose McPherson Lisa Rose McPherson on Sep 03, 2013
    I 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 clean
  • Z Z on Sep 03, 2013
    Brasso. It's what the military uses to keep their brass clean and shiny.
  • April 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. :(
    • See 5 previous
    • April April on Sep 05, 2013
      @Z - :)
  • Kathy Conley Kathy Conley on Sep 04, 2013
    I 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 luck
    • April April on Sep 04, 2013
      @Kathy Conley - Thanks for the advice, Kathy! That's the trouble though, is they pretty much feel that cleaning it would ruin it's "antique" finish, so they decide not to share any cleaning tips - but I suppose we could ask if they have any other advice. Though the picture on the left doesn't really show up how much it's tarnished, there are some places where the design (especially near the candles) really don't show up very well. One of the things they did say they wanted to do is rewire it - they said the wires are the original. That's really neat that you have an antique business! :) I can imagine it's a journey trying to find pieces for your store.
  • Sotelo Sotelo on Sep 04, 2013
    use distilled water in cleaning.
  • Ester Age Ester Age on Sep 04, 2013
    I 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!"
    • April April on Sep 05, 2013
      @Ester Age - Thanks for your interest! I'll try and post an update as soon as we find out! :)
  • April April on Sep 08, 2013
    Update 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. :)
  • CK CK on Jan 04, 2015
    We 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.
    • April April on Jan 05, 2015
      @CK - Thanks so much for your helpful tips and encouragement! I know what you mean, as when we got this chandelier, there was not much, if any, shine to it at all. Thankfully we were blessed with finding someone who agreed to clean it, and another place to rewire it. It's now all cleaned, rewired and hanging in my bedroom. :) Would love to see the one of yours you're referring to. :)
  • CK CK on Jan 05, 2015
    Here's our chandy. It's very heavy because it has real glass...not acrylic :-)
    • See 2 previous
    • April April on Mar 15, 2015
      Thanks, Cherie! That's what I thought too, about the cleaning. That's wondeful that you have a similar fixture! Would like to see what yours is like and what you've edone with it!
  • Awilda Agront Awilda Agront on Mar 12, 2015
    I 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.