How to Clean a Bronze Chandelier

A bronze chandelier works wonders in adding an extra touch of class and elegance to any room. Like all other household fixtures, however, it must be well kept and cleaned. Bronze chandeliers are often antiques of great value so it is important to learn how to properly clean your chandelier.

Step 1 – Turn Off the Power

Before you begin, turn off the power source that leads to the chandelier. This will prevent possibility of shock or electrocution.

Step 2 – Dust the Chandelier with a Dry Cloth

Gently dust the whole chandelier, including the light bulbs, with a dry cloth. Make sure you manage to remove the dust from every nook and cranny, especially if it is an ornate chandelier. This process can be quite time consuming but is one of the most important steps.

Step 3 – Preparing the Chandelier for Proper Cleaning

Put a small plastic bag on each of the bulbs, and tighten them at the bottom, below the bulb, with a rubber band. Alternatively, you can remove the light bulbs at this stage. In this case, still put a small plastic bag on top of each socket and tighten it at the bottom. Then put a towel directly beneath the chandelier, whether on a table or the floor; this will reduce the mess you may create.

Step 4 – Spray the Chandelier With a Brass Cleaner

Spray the chandelier with a high quality brass cleaner. These products are specifically formulated for cleaning brass and metal alloys like bronze. If you are not sure which product is best for your chandelier, ask a professional at a home improvement store.

Apply a few drops of the brass cleaner on the piece of cloth—never directly on the bronze chandelier. Clean the chandelier methodically to avoid leaving any parts out. If you are using a new cleaning product, make sure that you first test it only on a small part of the chandelier. Some products can leave marks and stains or even give your chandelier an unnatural color.   

Step 5 – Finish with a Touch of Lacquer

Now that you have finished cleaning the bronze, use a new dry cloth and add a few drops of lacquer to it. As in the previous step, a few drops should suffice. The lacquer will give your chandelier a polished and glossy finish. There are several types of lacquer available on the market and at your local ironmonger.

Step 6 – Remove the Plastic Bags/ Re-attach the Bulbs

This step is rather simple. Gently remove the rubber bands and plastic bags, and re-attach any light bulbs that you previously removed.

Finally, restore power and switch on the chandelier to check that all the bulbs are functioning and have been correctly placed. Switch it off again and make the necessary adjustments if any of the bulbs do not light up.