The Easiest And Quickest Way To Clean Glass From Light Fixtures

Glass light fixtures are a classic, timeless addition that can immediately add a pop of interest to a space, but when it comes time to clean them, it can be a bit of a hassle. Instead of fiddling with ladders and awkwardly wiping them down with a duster or disinfectant wipe, it can be tempting to just leave your light fixtures as is, collecting dust and even the occasional bug until you're left with an eyesore in an otherwise-spotless space.

Luckily, however, there's a convenient hack that can cut back the amount of time you spend cleaning your light fixtures and leave them looking brand-new. All it takes is one household essential — the dishwasher. According to Whirlpool, many types of glass are dishwasher-safe, and this cleaning hack extends this tip to even the decorative accents on your light figures.

As long as you take the proper precautions, you'll be left with a new, damage- and hands-free method to shine up your illuminating décor  pieces.

Before you use this hack, it's important to determine if your glass is dishwasher-safe. This is a bit more difficult than a regular wine glass or bowl because it's not publicly available information — light fixtures aren't exactly designed with easy washing as their main purpose — but you can get a pretty good idea by determining what kind of glass the fixture is made of. According to Whirlpool, sturdier, thicker glass is usually fair game, but hand-blown glass, crystal, and milk glass usually isn't a good idea. Instead, you'll have to wipe these pieces down or wash them by hand.

It's also a good idea to check and see if your glass has a coating that's at risk of flaking or washing away. Many light fixtures feature a frosted coating to help diffuse light and reduce glare, so test if this layer rubs away or easily scratches before exposing it to water to avoid accidental damage.

After you've determined that the glass on your light fixtures is dishwasher-safe, all you need to do is unscrew the glass and dust off any larger pieces of debris. Place them on the top rack of your dishwasher where you'd normally place more fragile glasses, then run them through your regular cycle, making sure there's an inch or two of space between the pieces to avoid any accidental chips and damage.

If you frequently experience hard water spots or cloudy glasses after running your dishwasher, try using a rinse agent or changing your detergent to minimize this issue. According to Beko Appliances, it could also help to run a high temperature drying cycle after washing to minimize the formation of droplets in the first place. After, you should be left with a glass light fixture that looks as good as it did when you installed it, all without having to hand-scrub.