Asked on Sep 27, 2017

How to clean Open light fixture 14 ft up in open foyer?

Sue
by Sue
It is next to stairs but unreachable. All ideas appreciated for cleaning outside and inside
  12 answers
  • Alyssa Alyssa on Sep 27, 2017

    Some houses are built with switches (like a light switch) that lower pendants/chandeliers, but I'm guessing you don't have one of those. You need special chandelier-cleaning spray, like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hagerty-32-fl-oz-Chandelier-Cleaner-91320/202809039


    There are other brands, but the basic idea is the same: you put towels down underneath the light fixture, then get up on a stepladder (or perhaps you can manage from the stair landing) and spray the fixture all over with the cleaner. It's designed to clean your fixture with no wiping or polishing--the solution just drips off, taking the dirt and dust with it and drying streak-free. It sounds too good to be true but it works, especially if you use it often enough that your light fixture isn't excessively dirty.

  • You need a good stable ladder. Or hire out. I have a ceiling fixture in my stairwell - pain to clean, needs 2 people every time. Only gets cleaned 3 or 4 times a year. Sometimes my window washers clean for me. You can get a long handled bendable feather duster or swiffer to dust in between cleanings.

  • Jay Paden Jay Paden on Sep 27, 2017

    you can tie a feather duster to a pole and do your best, but nothing short of getting a ladder to get up to it will get it really clean

  • D fuhrman D fuhrman on Sep 28, 2017

    i had a similar light. i could pull it over to the living room and clean it. i was always scared to death of falling over the rail. it didn't get cleaned often.

  • LibraryKAT LibraryKAT on Sep 28, 2017

    My husband used a 12 foot ladder to clean ours. Before that, I used a lamb's wool extension wand and stood behind the rail on the upstairs landing. We only used the ladder once in 13 years (very red face!), but I use the wand monthly.

    I believe that you can rent the ladder. Good luck.

  • Shirah Shirah on Sep 28, 2017

    You will need a ladder. We had a crystal chandelier and very tall ceiling. We put plastic down on the floor and covered that with sheets, and towels. Sprayed the thing with 409 cleaner until it dripped, cleaned it beautifully. To do the inside of your light is more problematic. You might be able to rig something with a long handle and a way to angle it to get down inside from the landing. With a duster head or something that you could spray with cleaner and do it that way.

    Be safe.


  • Kay Ellen Tomlinson Kay Ellen Tomlinson on Sep 28, 2017

    It looks like you can detach the glass from the actual fixture by the cords at the top of the glass and metal frame.(like the old ceiling lights that attached with chains to the part that held the light bulbs). That being said, you will still need a ladder to get it down.

  • Alyssa Alyssa on Sep 28, 2017

    Yes, it cleans the glass and then just drips off (crud included) onto the towels you place underneath.

  • Barbara Barbara on Sep 28, 2017

    you need a ladder and a young enough person with good balance to climb up and clean it. While you are up there, change all the light bulbs to LED ones - they last forever.

  • Angie Crabtree Angie Crabtree on Sep 28, 2017

    Lighting stores sell spray cleaner for chandelier I USE CLOTHES PINS TO ATTACH A PLASTIC GARBAGE BAG to catch the dripping


  • Christierei Christierei on Sep 29, 2017

    I'd consider removing the glass portion if it is really hanging from the chains at the top. Or, at least remove the glass so it is easier to clean.

  • Elaine Elaine on Sep 30, 2017

    I had the same problem but, fortunately, moved before it got real bad. My sister-in-law used the spray type of cleaner other readers are mentioning on her chandelier that was impossible to actually reach and it did a pretty good job on the outside (lay newspapers down to catch the dirty drips) BUT she never reached the inside of her fixture! In time, she located and hired a handyman type of person who didn’t mind heights to come and clean it.

    • See 1 previous
    • Elaine Elaine on Apr 04, 2021

      Sorry, Sabrina, I can’t provide a name for you - this was years and years ago. My relatives no longer live anywhere near their former home.