How to Clean Hanging Glass Lights in 3 Easy Steps
Do you have dirty pendant lighting in your home? We have a simple solution for you! Learn how to clean hanging glass lights in 3 easy steps.
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Don’t you just love the look of beautiful matching light fixtures lined down a hallway? Yes? Me too!
I was finally able to achieve this look several years ago when I found really affordable hanging lights at Home Goods. I needed three lights for my hallway and found two at our local store and then went to another Home Goods a few towns away for the third. I think I only paid like $49 for each light fixture. Such a bargain!
Now even though I have three lights down the hallway, every so often it starts feeling pretty dim. So, I looked up at my three pretty light fixtures and immediately saw what the problem was. Those enclosed glass hanging pendant lights didn’t look so pretty anymore.
They were actually pretty gross! Not only were they dusty on the outside but they had a foggy film of dirt on the inside of the glass globes too. It was time to clean them!
How to Remove Glass from Hanging Light Fixture
As you can see the glass on the light is really dirty. I dust them on the outside and you’d think because the glass is enclosed they wouldn’t get dirty inside. But they do! So, it was time to give the light fixtures a thorough cleaning.
The first step to clean the glass is to remove the screws that hold the glass to the actual metal piece of the hanging light fixture. Be careful when you remove these screws. You want to make sure you hold onto the glass with your opposite hand so it doesn’t fall.
How to Clean Hanging Glass Lights
After you remove the glass gently scrub with a soft sponge and a small amount of dish soap. I love Dawn because it cuts through any grease or grime. Do you have a favorite dish soap?
After washing the glass globes rinse the entire piece with warm water carefully removing any soap residue. Ahhh…looks so clean…doesn’t it?!
Next, set the glass upside down on a towel to drip dry for a few minutes. I followed these steps for each of my three glass pendants.
Using a clean microfiber cloth is the best drying towel I’ve found that doesn’t leave lint on your freshly washed glass. Believe me, I’ve tried using paper towels but it leaves lint all over your glass. I’ve also heard that newspaper works well, although, I’ve never tried that…have you?
My Secret Trick to Streak Free Glass
I also learned another fun little trick. You know how even after you carefully dry your glass light fixtures there is sometimes a few streaks left behind. Well, in addition to drying the glass with a microfiber cloth, I add a little bit of isopropyl alcohol to the rag.
The alcohol will prevent streaks when drying. Yup…works like a charm!
Completely dry both the inside and outside of the glass globe with the microfiber cloth and alcohol.
Then hang the glass pendant back up with the screws. Remember to use both hands!
Now your beautiful glass pendant hanging light fixtures look brand spanking new! Look how clean that glass is now!
And when I turn the hallway lights on it’s so much brighter. Amazing how a little elbow grease can brighten up a space.
Frequently asked questions
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