http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=353x2892Oh my.
Paper Roses (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-26-10 07:20 AM
Original message
Anyone know how to clean an old lampshade?
As a wedding present decades ago, we were given a great lamp with a very nice shade. The shade is covered with what feels like raw linen paper or heavily starched raw lined fabric. It has aged and although I vacuum it, the eggshell color has darkened and it now looks like it could use a 'shampoo'.
Does anyone know of a cleaner that will not soak the material but might clean this or at least lighten it up? The top and bottom edges look slightly dirty. I don't want to use a conventional cleaner because I am sure wetting the shade will ruin it. It is an octagonal shape and conforms to the shape of the lamp base, which is an old tall glass oil lamp what was converted.
To have a new one made would cost $$ that I do not have right now and I would never find a shade shaped like this ready made.
Ant thoughts would be appreciated.
Okay.
franksolich is thinking of ants.
Vinca (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-27-10 07:56 AM
THE HIP-IMPAIRED VINDICTIVE PRIMITIVE, A NOTORIOUS RE-SELLER
Response to Original message
1. Not a clue, P.R. When something gets dirty I sell it!
When I googled "how to clean a dirty lamp shade" I got a bunch of promising hits, though.
Paper Roses (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-27-10 12:16 PM
Response to Reply #1
5. I Googled the process too. Since I can't dunk it in water, the vacuum thing is the only other dry suggestion I could find. I've done that all along. I just want to freshen this shade up.
The next poster had a great idea, souls like it's a possibility.
I would take a chance on a light foam cleaning if I thought the stuff would dry right away and I could vac it clean.
Lars39 (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-27-10 11:27 AM
Response to Original message
2. How about one of those Mr. Clean things, like a big eraser?
grasswire (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-27-10 12:38 PM
THE FARMERETTE FROM UP OVER THERE IN WISCONSIN
Response to Original message
6. you might call a lamp repair shop and ask them
I hope you find the answer! It sounds really cool.
japple (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-27-10 01:48 PM
Response to Original message
7. You might try cornstarch. Sprinkle a little on the discolored spots
work it in with a soft toothbrush, then brush or vacuum it off. Cornstarch is one of the ingredients in "dry shampoo." Or you might even try one of the spray-on dry shampoos.
mzteris (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-30-10 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. I was trying to remember what ingredient
I'd heard used (as in 'old wives tales') I was thinking cornmeal for some reason - but I was a southerner growing up so maybe that's why..
Put the lampshade in a brown paper bag with the cornstarch(?) and shake gently...
Warpy (1000+ posts) Thu Apr-29-10 09:43 PM
THE DEFROCKED WARPED PRIMITIVE, #09 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Original message
9. What you do depends entirely on what it's made of and my best guess is that it's made of silk if it was an expensive lamp, and from your description of the hard fabric and fabric lining, that's just what it is.
Sloshing it out in the bathtub with Ivory Snow is your best bet, then letting it dry outdoors in full sun to give it some additional bleaching sounds like the best plan. The fabric will loosen when it's wet but it will tighten again as it dries. The wash water only has to come halfway up, you can turn it over to slosh the other side.
At this point, if the shade has gotten old and stained looking, it's not like you're going to make it a whole lot worse, anyway.
The worst that can happen is that you'll have to buy another lampshade.
However, this method, as I finally get around to Googling, is the preferred method for all non plastic backed lampshades.
And then, some weeks later:
pengillian101 (1000+ posts) Fri May-07-10 08:19 PM
Response to Original message
11. So, did you find something that worked?
I have a couple shades that could use a cleaning.
Paper Roses (1000+ posts) Sat May-08-10 06:54 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. Glad you reminded me to reply, I forgot. Things worked, yes and no.
A friend who sews a lot and works with an upholsterer said to use foam upholstery cleaner. I did so and was pleased with the shade itself but I will have to replace the gimp trim at the top and bottom. It did not clean as well as the body of the shade and now looks dirty. Before my efforts, the whole shade looked about the same. Now the trim us unattractive. I would use this method again but not on a shade with any applied ornamentation.
I dried it quickly on top of one of the oil filled radiators. Just put a towel over the radiator and rotated the shade now and them. It it had been sunny, I would have hung it outside. I know the wire frames can quickly rust and mark the shade.
I will peel off the old trim and re-glue new trim with tacky glue. I just have to get to the fabric store. It will only take a few minutes and I can hold the trim on with clothespins as it dries.
And then again some several weeks later:
ehrnst (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-23-10 02:05 AM
Response to Original message
14. Vodka is a good "dry cleaning" fluid.
Paper Roses (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-23-10 06:16 AM
Response to Reply #14
15. Vodka? What is the procedure?
Do I wipe down the shade to clean it or drink the Vodka and the shade will then look better because I can't see straight?
I have another shade to do and would try your hint if you are serious.
ehrnst (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-23-10 01:53 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. Put it in a spray bottle, and spray the shade until soaking.
This is what I used a lot when I was a ballet costumer, and sweaty costumes that could not go into the wash needed to be cleaned every night.
We put 100 proof vodka (which is only 50% water) in spray bottles, hung up the costumes inside-out, and sprayed until it dripped off onto the newspapers below. Much less toxic than carbon tetrachloride, and I didn't have to store it in a hazardous materials cabinet.
Kerosene was the original dry cleaning fluid - someone spilled a lamp onto a tablecloth and noticed that the solvent action cleaned the stains. I don't recommend it tho - at least indoors.
If franksolich were a primitive, he'd try the kerosene indoors, just to see what happens.
