How to Deep Clean a Fabric Lampshade
I’ve been sleeping on this gigantic table lamp I picked up at an estate sale last year for quite some time. It has been on my must-clean list for months and has felt like a daunting project. As we’re in the process of clearing out the Tuesday Made office to switch workspaces in the months ahead, I knew it was time to transport my beloved woven lamp home… which meant it needed cleaning. Although I wasn’t entirely sure where to start, I tried some methods that worked well and others that didn’t. Today, I thought I’d share my process with you, along with what worked best. I’m really happy with the end result because it would have been a very expensive shade to replace, given the scale. Click through for my tutorial on how to deep clean a fabric lampshade!
Before we dive into the cleaning process… I actually grabbed this lamp with our entryway in mind. However, it’s funny how a home evolves! The entryway has ended up looking beautifully textual & neutral- and after installing the gallery wall, it became apparent this lamp would compete with those elements. Sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad. I’ve loved having an oversized plant on the entry table. It adds color, height, and is the perfect welcome to our home. Therefore, I thought I’d style this giant lamp in the basement media room. It perfectly balances the large table beside our reclining homebody sectional, adds warmth, cozy light, and interest to our cold basement corner. I took the blue & white table lamp I had previously styled there back to the maroon guest bedroom, and all seems meant to be! Ok- here’s how I cleaned it…
My Oversized Lamp
I grabbed this lamp from an estate sale last year on a whim. I fell in love with the scale, woven texture, and beaded detail, but knew it would take a lot of work to clean up. Here I am holding it, for size reference, on the day I purchased it…
Here’s another peek at just the lampshade, for a better sense of the scale in comparison to our swivel chairs… it’s huge!
The exterior of the shade looked pretty rough in person. It had dark ink spots, dust, dirt, and various stains. It also looked pretty streaky, as if someone had tried to wipe or clean it. My initial plan was to have professional cleaners tackle this project. I stopped by my local dry cleaners and they said absolutely not. So much for taking the easy way! When it comes to cleaning lampshades, this is my first one that has required water.
Before Cleaning
I wanted to share a proper before image. You can see some of the stains and streaks. If you also have a light fixture with a fabric lampshade in rough condition, here’s a glimmer of hope that it can be salvaged!
Cleaning Supplies
I used the following household items because I didn’t have time to run out for anything new. These seemed to work really well, but you could definitely substitute your preferred cleaning products- as long as they’re gentle on fabric shades.
- Lint Roller
- Laundry Detergent (I used Laundress Stain Remover)
- Favorite Stain Remover (I used Folex and Hate Stains)
- Laundry or Upholstery Brush
- Magic Eraser
- Vacuum with Brush Attachment
Remove the Dust
First, I decided to lint roll and vacuum the shade. You could also use a feather duster… anything to lift the outer layer of dust. I found a lint roller to be the best way to clean the shade, while a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment was perfect for cleaning the woven and textural lamp base.
Spot Treat the Stains
I attempted to put my shade in the bathtub of our guest bathroom, but sadly- it was too large. I pivoted and carried it to our main bath (that we’ve yet to renovate), because I was confident it would fit in the large 90’s jacuzzi. From there, it was still a bit large, so I moved it into the shower… if you’re curious about the scenery- or this space looks unfamiliar!
DISCLAIMER: before you dive into spot treating- remember fabric lamp shades are delicate! Be sure to test a small area on the back of the shade first. This will help you determine whether the shade backing is susceptible to warping or separation.
My lamp shade is made of cotton and had a lot of stained areas. The fabric was in rough shape, but the shade itself felt sturdy and was in good condition, so I felt comfortable testing it. I began by spot treating each stain. If you’re looking for a deeper cleaning tool, I also found a magic eraser to help remove stains.
Wash the Entire Shade
Next, I mixed up a cleaning solution of laundry detergent and soapy water. I didn’t use much detergent at all- just enough for a sudsy scrub.
Starting at the top of the lampshade, I scrubbed on the detergent solution in a circular motion, working my way down and around, until the entire lampshade was covered and looking clean. It took a bit!
Rinse the Shade
This was the scary part… I wasn’t sure how much cool water the lampshade could take before it began to warp or separate (especially with it being vintage), so the key was to work quickly when rinsing. Using clean water, I gently sprayed the shade to remove the soap. Once the water ran clear, I gave the shade a gentle shake to remove excess water.
Sun the Shade to Dry & Lighten
The last step was to completely dry the shade, removing excess moisture. I simply sat the shade on our patio in the sun for a few hours until it was totally dry and looking clean. The sun can also help bleach and lift stains. Ready for a peek at the end result styled in our basement?
Clean Lampshade
I’m thrilled the shade mostly came clean and remained intact. There are a few spots I could probably treat again, but it looks so much better! I also love the way it looks in our basement corner.
FAQ
I do! Check out this post on How To Find & Shop Home Estate Sales. I shared my best tips there- along with estate sale etiquette.
Absolutely! I’ll link a handful at the bottom of this blog post. Scroll down for my top similar picks. You may also find some helpful options in this blog post: Woven Lighting for Summer.
Great question, and no… paper shades, silk shades, or extremely delicate lamp shades won’t do well with water- especially in this capacity. I’d definitely recommend taking those to the dry cleaner or a professional.
If I would have had to replace this lampshade, I’m guessing it would have cost quite a bit, given the size to ship. I’m really glad it just required a good cleaning, and ended up working out. This is one of my favorite secondhand finds! It actually reminds me of an outdoor lamp I shared in this post, from our diving & jungle adventures in Indonesia… just on a much larger scale.
Thanks to everyone who messaged me on Instagram with helpful cleaning tips, encouragement to clean the shade with water, and to my local dry cleaners for sharing some pro suggestions. I’m glad I gave it a go! I hope this post will prove helpful if you find yourself in the same boat. What do you think of my vintage lamp? Are you into the giant scale? I’m happy it’s clean and smelling better! Here’s to a great weekend ahead. I promise to share my upholstered chair project next week!
