How to Clean Lampshades

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: August 18, 2020

Dust, dirt, and stains can turn your lovely lampshades into an eyesore. Fortunately, you can get them clean again! Perform regular dusting on your lampshade to remove household debris, or wipe your lampshade with a soapy cloth if it’s slightly dirty or stained. When your lampshade gets very dirty, wash it in a soapy bath, then let it air dry.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dusting a Lampshade

1
Wipe paper or plastic shades with a microfiber cloth to remove dust. A microfiber cloth traps dust, so it’s great for cleaning your lampshade. Carefully wipe the shade from top to bottom. Make long, slow strokes as you work your way around the lampshade. This will help you remove all of the dust.^{[1]
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- If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, use a fluffy cleaning cloth instead.
2
Dust a fabric lampshade using a lint roller. Use a regular lint roller to easily remove the dust. Start with a fresh lint roller sheet. Position it at the top of the lampshade and slowly pull it down the lampshade. Work your way around the shade to remove all of the dust.^{[2]
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- If your lint roller gets covered in dust, remove the dirty sheet and continue cleaning with a new one.
- Fabric lampshades can collect a lot of dust, and wiping the shade with a cloth can make the problem worse.
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3
Use a vacuum with a brush attachment on a very dusty fabric shade. Choose a soft brush attachment and put it onto your vacuum cleaner. Then, position the attachment at the top of your fabric lampshade and slowly pull it down the shade. Slowly work your way around the lampshade, making slow passes with the vacuum attachment.^{[3]
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- The brush will help pull up the dust so that your vacuum can remove it.
- You may not want to use a vacuum cleaner if your lampshade feels delicate or the fabric is loose.
4
Clean a glass lampshade with a feather duster or microfiber cloth. Swish the duster back and forth over the lampshade. Start at the top and go all the way around the shade, then slowly work your way down. When using a microfiber cloth, position the cloth at the top of the lampshade and pull it down the shade to clean it. Work your way around the lampshade.^{[4]
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- You may want to dampen your cloth first when cleaning a glass lampshade. This will help you trap the dust in the cloth.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wiping with a Soapy Cloth

1
Unplug the lamp from the wall and take off the shade. Turn off the power switch and then pull out the plug. Remove the light bulb to make it easier to take off the shade. Then, unscrew or lift off the shade, depending on the style of your lamp.
- Handle the lampshade carefully as you remove it.
- It is really important to make sure that the power is disconnected, as this prevents the risk of electrocution.
2
Fill a bowl or sink with warm water and add 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of laundry soap. Use a clean bowl or wipe out your sink beforehand. Add warm water to the bowl or sink, then measure out 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of laundry detergent and pour it into the water. Use your hand to mix the soap into the water.^{[5]
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- Choose a bowl that’s large enough for you to rinse out your microfiber cloth between passes.
- If you don’t have laundry soap, use a mild dish detergent.
3
Add .5 c (120 mL) of white vinegar to the water to clean grease stains. Vinegar helps remove grease from a lampshade. Measure out .5 c (120 mL) of white vinegar and add it to the water. Then, stir it with your hand to mix the vinegar and water.^{[6]
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- Be sure to only use white vinegar, as other types of vinegar may stain your lampshade.
4
Dip a microfiber cloth into the soapy water and wring it out. Put the cloth into the water to saturate it, then wring it out to remove the excess water. Your cloth should feel damp but not soaking wet.^{[7]
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- As you clean the lampshade, you can rewet the cloth or rinse it out in the soapy water.
5
Wipe the shade down from top to bottom. Hold the lampshade over the tub or a towel to prevent a mess. Then, use your cloth to gently wipe the lampshade from top to bottom. Continue wiping your lampshade as you work your way around the shade.^{[8]
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- If you have any mildew on your lamp, pay particular attention to these areas. Rub the cloth vigorously over the mildew to scrub it off.
- If your lampshade is made from silk, avoid rubbing it vigorously as this can damage the fabric.
6
Rinse the lampshade under warm water. Turn on a stream of warm water and place the lampshade under it. Rotate the lamp under the stream of water until all the soapy residue is gone.
- If your lamp is made from silk, rinse it under cold water.
- The rinsing process normally takes about 1 minute.
7
Leave the shade to air dry on a towel for at least 24 hours. Place the shade on a clean surface, such as on a towel, to dry. If the weather is clear, place the shade outside to speed up the drying process.^{[9]
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- Make sure that the shade is completely dry before putting it back on the lamp.
- If you want to dry the lampshade more quickly, try gently drying it with a hair dryer on a low setting.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Doing a Deep Clean

1
Deep clean fabric, plastic, or glass lampshades when they’re very dirty. It’s normal for dust, dirt, and grease to build up on your lampshade. When this happens, wash your lampshade in a tub or sink to get it clean again.^{[10]
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- You can’t wash a paper lampshade because it will ruin it.
Variation: It’s difficult to deep clean a paper lampshade, but you can use a piece of bread to remove grease stains. Hold the bread against the stain to draw it out. Then, gently rotate the bread to remove the stain.
2
Turn off the power switch and remove the shade. After you turn off your lamp, unplug it from the wall to reduce the risk of electrocution. Then, unscrew the light bulb and remove the lampshade.^{[11]
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- Be careful not to bend or damage the lampshade while you’re taking it off.
3
Fill a tub with warm water and add 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of laundry detergent. Add enough water to your tub or sink to cover the entire lampshade. Then, measure out 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of laundry detergent and pour it into the sink. Use your hand to swish the detergent around the tub until the water is frothy and bubbly.^{[12]
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- If the water doesn’t have any bubbles in it, add a few more drops of laundry detergent.
- If you don’t have laundry detergent, you can use a mild dish detergent instead.
Variation: You can put a glass lampshade into your dishwasher if it’s not hand-painted. Use a cool or warm setting when washing it.^{[13]
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4
Add 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar into the water if the lamp is greasy. Measure out the vinegar and pour it into your tub or sink. Then, use your hand to mix it into the water. This will help fight grease stains on your lamp.^{[14]
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- This is particularly effective for plastic, glass, and fiberglass lampshades that accumulate grease when they are touched.
- Only use white vinegar for cleaning your lampshades. Other types of vinegar may damage your lampshade.
5
Submerge your lampshade and let it soak for 10 minutes. Gently push the lampshade down into the water. Then, set a timer for 10 minutes to give the soapy water time to clean your lampshade. While your lampshade soaks, shift it around in the water occasionally to help release dirt and dust.^{[15]
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- If your lampshade has a metal frame, hold it by the frame as you submerge it. This will limit the risk of you damaging the shade itself.
6
Use your hands to lightly agitate the shade in the water. Lightly grip the lampshade, using the frame if it has one. Then, slowly move the lampshade around in the water in a swishing motion. This will help get the lampshade as clean as possible.^{[16]
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Variation: Wipe the lampshade from top to bottom using a microfiber cloth if it’s very dirty. Grip the lampshade while it’s submerged. Then, slowly wipe your cloth down the lampshade, working your way around the entire shade.
7
Rinse out the soapy water using warm running water. Turn on a stream of warm water, then hold your lamp under it. Slowly rotate the lamp under the water to rinse away the soap residue. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear.^{[17]
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- If you’re washing a silk lamp, use cool water.
- Rinsing your lampshade may take longer after a deep cleaning. For instance, it may take 2-3 minutes to fully rinse the lampshade.
8
Let your lampshade air dry on a clean towel for at least 24 hours. Set your lampshade on a clean surface, such as a towel. Then, leave it to air dry for at least 24 hours.^{[18]
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- Your lampshade may take more time to dry, especially if you live in a humid area. Don’t put your lampshade back on the lamp until it feels completely dry.