There are tons of ways to clean a lampshade. But there’s a good chance you haven’t tried them because lampshades are one of those blind spots when it comes to cleaning routines (aka everybody forgets about them).
Let’s change that! Here’s the best way to clean a lampshade based on the lampshade material and the type of dust or grime that’s on it:
Consider wearing gloves while cleaning lampshades. This will eliminate the risk of transferring oily fingerprints.
To Remove Dust from a Lampshade…
You can dust any lampshade with a microfiber cloth or a paintbrush. This will bring the dust to the table and surrounding area where you can finish the job with a vacuum or dusting pan.
If there are any weird crevices you’re having trouble reaching, try a can of compressed air. You can also use your vacuum with the dusting brush attachment, but try this carefully and make sure the suction isn’t too strong, otherwise you could warp the shade.
When cleaning a shade with a dusting brush attachment, do not touch the shade with the attachment because you may transfer old dust or grime to the shade. Hold the attachment one inch from the shade and the suction will still function.
To Remove Stains from a Lampshade…
For fabric or plastic lampshades, if the stain is minor oil or grease based, baking soda is the gentlest solution. You want to cover the stain with a centimeter-thick layer of baking soda. (To do this, position the lampshade on its side.) Let the baking soda sit for five minutes and then brush it away – it should soak up the majority of the stain.
If the stain is not oil-based, try a magic eraser. Gently rub the stain with the eraser and hope that it brings the fabric back to new.
If that doesn’t work, you can wash your shade by hand. Fill your tub or sink (if it is big enough to rest the shade on it’s side) with lukewarm water. Add a couple drops of mild laundry detergent and mix the water until it bubbles. Rest the shade in the water on its side and roll the shade around.
