Cleaning Lamp Shades
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.