What is a good way to clean fabric lamp shades?

Answer

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.

[Info from the Home Maintenance And Repair Database at the Michigan State University website]

Another Method

If the shade is just dusty, use a clean, dry paint brush (reserved for dusting only) and brush in an up and down motion to clean the shade. This will safely remove the dust, and won't damage the shade.

First answer by anonymous. Last edit by JoyceP. Contributor trust: 105 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 163 [recommend question]