Should I Clean an Antique Chandelier Myself or Use a Professional?

At G & P Cohn, we have been cleaning antique chandeliers since 1954. Our advice is always to consider the chandelier itself, its condition and how safely it can be accessed before deciding whether to clean it yourself.

For an accessible chandelier in good condition, occasional light dusting can help prevent a heavy build-up of dirt. Bulb replacement may also be straightforward where the fitting can be reached safely.

The difficulty comes when a chandelier requires a thorough clean.

Cleaning a chandelier properly can take a considerable amount of time. Working from a ladder for an extended period can be tiring, particularly when different parts of the chandelier need to be reached at different heights.

Larger or higher chandeliers may require specialist access equipment rather than a domestic ladder.

We advise against spraying chemical cleaning products directly onto an antique chandelier.

Many chandeliers have glass components secured with small brass pins and wires. Certain cleaning chemicals can corrode this brass, gradually making it fragile and increasing the possibility of components becoming loose or breaking.

There is also the risk of cleaning liquid finding its way into lampholders, wiring or other electrical components.

For metalwork, any cleaning product used should be appropriate for the particular metal and non-corrosive. Antique finishes should always be treated carefully, as inappropriate cleaning or polishing can permanently alter them.

Where the construction of the chandelier permits it, we generally prefer to remove individual glass components and clean them separately.

This allows a considerably more thorough clean than simply wiping the chandelier while everything remains in position.

Before dismantling, it is important to record where the components belong. We mark and catalogue glass as it is removed so that it can be returned to the same position.

This is particularly important with antique chandeliers, where apparently similar pieces may differ subtly in size, shape or position.

One of the problems we encounter after chandeliers have been dismantled by others is glass being replaced differently from the way it was originally arranged.

Venetian and Murano glass chandeliers require particular care.

Flowers, leaves, crooks and other decorative glass components can be extremely delicate. Where possible, we remove these pieces before cleaning rather than attempting to clean around them while they remain attached.

Trying to clean a delicate Venetian chandelier entirely in situ can result in a component becoming dislodged and falling.

The removable pieces can instead be carefully cleaned individually while the fixed parts of the chandelier are dealt with separately. This is described in more detail in how you clean a Venetian glass chandelier, and can be seen in our work on two large Venetian chandeliers in Lancaster Gate.

The most obvious risk is breaking or dropping a piece of glass.

For a professional chandelier cleaner, an accidental breakage does not necessarily bring the job to a halt. We carry replacement glass drops and have access to other replacement components. More substantial damage can often be repaired or suitable replacement pieces sourced.

There are also less obvious risks.

Using a corrosive cleaning product can weaken brass pins and fittings. Removing glass without recording its position can make correct reassembly difficult. Cleaning around electrical components introduces another potential hazard.

And, importantly, there is the issue of working safely at height.

We would particularly recommend professional cleaning where a chandelier is high or difficult to reach; particularly large or heavy; antique or valuable; made from delicate Venetian or Murano glass; constructed from numerous removable components; fragile or showing signs of deterioration; heavily soiled; positioned above a staircase or other difficult location; situated in or above a kitchen; or in need of dismantling for a thorough clean.

A chandelier that has not been cleaned for many years can require considerably more work than one that receives regular maintenance.

Kitchen chandeliers can be particularly challenging. Airborne grease can combine with dust to produce a stubborn layer of dirt on the glass and frame, requiring a much more intensive and time-consuming clean.

Experience is only part of the difference. Having the correct equipment, materials and replacement components available is equally important.

At G & P Cohn, we carry our own range of ladders up to approximately 14 feet. For chandeliers beyond the safe reach of ladders, appropriate tower access can be used. Three bell lanterns suspended around fifteen feet above floor level in Notting Hill are a good example of what high-level work involves.

We bring the cleaning products and equipment required for the particular chandelier, as well as spare glass drops should a replacement be necessary.

Most importantly, we allow sufficient time.

Chandelier cleaning is rarely a job that benefits from being rushed. A large or complicated antique chandelier can require many hours of patient work to clean properly.

You are welcome to ask us.

Send G & P Cohn photographs of your chandelier together with its approximate height from the floor and your location. We can usually get a good idea of the chandelier, the access required and the likely cleaning work from photographs.

If we believe professional cleaning isn't necessary, we are happy to say so.

There is no obligation — we're always pleased to offer advice.

G & P Cohn has been cleaning, restoring and caring for antique chandeliers since 1954, serving private homes, historic properties, churches and institutions in London, Hertfordshire, the Home Counties and beyond.