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Cleaning a Lampshade

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Date: 03/16/2005 Topics: Brainstorms > Cleaning | Cleaning > Miscellaneous | Old Categories > Cleaning  
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Tips for cleaning lampshades. Post your ideas.
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Post By Sammy (Guest Post) (07/18/2008)
I got a "lampshade cleaner", which looks like a little pink sock, filled with grains of cleaner. just wipe and most stains come out. I don't know where to find them, I guess a shade store. I got mine free at lampsusa.com. If you buy a shade, and mention free shade cleaner, they send you one free.

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Post By Eco- Ellie (Guest Post) (03/22/2008)
The suggestion of replacing the lampshades once a year instead of cleaning them has me greatly concerned for our environment. I live near a landfill and if you did too, you would never consider throwing the perfectly good lampshades away.

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Post By Kpriincess (Guest Post) (12/07/2007)
Someone said earlier about about just purchasing new lamp shades, I second that! It tends to get a little expensive, however but it is worth it then going thru the hassle of getting the dust out of all the pleats of the shade. And technically if you keep up on the dusting of the shade if you have to just replace the shade once a year, that really isn't all that bad. Wal-mart's prices are pretty cheap!

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Post By Justin (Guest Post) (05/12/2007)
I've had luck removing stains and dust by placing the lampshade in a hot tub. The chlorine and the jets do wonders!

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Post By Brooke (Guest Post) (03/07/2007)
I used the suggestion for the baby wipe on the nonremovable, non-pleated lampshade. Excellent! Then I followed with a lint remover for dust 'stragglers'.

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Post By adam (Guest Post) (11/15/2006)
i just buy a new lampshade!

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Post by camo_angels (668) | (03/30/2006)
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I have a heavy fabric lampshade (only one!) and I vacuum it with the fabric head on my kenmore, or if I take a fab softner sheet (now that I don't use them in the dryer anymore) and rub down to neutralize static and a "fresh" smell

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Post by Ree 127 (54) | (03/30/2006)
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We have two cats and a dog, and our lampshades collect a LOT of hair. I use cheap packing tape. Just run the sticky side down from top to bottom.

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Post By Javajunkie (Guest Post) (10/22/2005)
i have one of those paper IKEA lamps, the really tall skinny paper lamp, anyways i was wondering if anyone knows if i can wash this shade somehow? My roomate and i smoke and its turning brownish so i was wondering if i can wash it in bleached water to brighten it up or will it just fall apart getting wet?

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Post by ThriftyFun (3747) | (05/01/2005)
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Basic cleaning of shades: use a clean soft cloth or a vacuum brush to dust the lampshade inside and outside. Take off any non-washable trim. If the cloth is glued to the frame, sew it on with thread of the same color. Then you will be able to wash it over and over again without any trouble.

Fill a deep washtub or bathtub with enough warm water to cover the shade. Add detergent and swish up thick suds. Use a mild detergent, as a hand dishwashing liquid.

Fabric Shade

Use suds on a soft brush to rub any spots lightly. Then dip the shade up and down. When the water gets dirty, change to clean sudsy water. Wash the shade a second time. to rinse the shade, dip it up and down through two or three changes of clean water. Don't worry if the cloth stretches and sags while it is wet. It will tighten up for a snug fit when it gets dry.

To dry a fabric shade, tie a string to the middle of the frame. Then hang it over the bathtub or hang it from a clothesline outdoors to drip dry. Or you can wipe the shade with a bath towel until it is almost dry. Then put it back on the lamp and turn on the light so the heat from the bulb will help it to finish drying. If the lampshade has ruffles, "press" them with your finger.

Plastic, Plastic Coated, Laminated, Parchment, or Fiberglass shade.

Put one fourth cup of mild detergent into a bowl. Add just enough warm water to make it wet. Whip this mixture with a whip or electric mixer to make stiff "dry" suds that look like whipped cream. Put some of the thick suds on a cloth or sponge. Use this to wash the shade, inside and outside. If the binding around the edge is glued on, don't rub it or let it get very wet. Rinse the shade right away by going over it with a clean damp cloth. Then wipe it dry.

Don't forget to clean the reflector bowl if the lamp has one before replacing the shade. Never use any abrasive cleaner like common scouring powders, no abrasive pads.

This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus.

Source: MSU Extension

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Post by ThriftyFun (3747) | (03/16/2005)
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I read a tip about cleaning lamp shades and just had to send this one in also. I do housecleaning and one of the ladies I clean for has a very difficult to clean lampshade along with the other type that are easier to clean. I have found that the best thing to use for both is a small paint brush. It just brushes the dust right off the shade. Works great!

By Robin

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Post By Linda (Guest Post) (03/05/2005)
When I dust, I use a Swiffer Duster on a handle. I use this on my lampshades too. Works great.

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Post By tonya (Guest Post) (03/04/2005)
I use cheap baby wipes to clean my lamp shades. It even takes dog and cat hair off too.

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Post By Tricia (Guest Post) (03/04/2005)
I like your idea of using a lint brush to clean your lampshade but my lampshade is pleated and a lint brush wouldn't be work well. I use a clean, dry paintbrush and brush the dust off. It works well.

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Post by Harlean from Arkansas (348) | (03/04/2005)
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I take my lampshades out to my husband's workshop and blow the dust and lint off with his air compressor. Fast and easy.
Harlean from Arkansas

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Post by ThriftyFun (3747) | (03/03/2005)
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To clean dusty lampshades, I use a tape-roller lint brush (the kind with sticky tape). Just roll it up and down around the lampshade. Works Great!

By Melissa

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