Dull room vibes? Your dirty light fixtures are doing more damage than you think.

August 6, 2025

Subheadline: Light Fixtures Get Filthy — Here's How to Clean Them Without Wrecking Anything

The sneaky dirt magnet above your head

Here’s the thing most folks don’t realise — your light fixtures collect more dust, grease, and flying mystery fluff than your average skirting board. They’re up high, out of sight, and awkward as anything to reach. So they get quietly grubby over the months, until one day you turn on the light and wonder why your living room still feels dim. Sound familiar?

“Just like a ute windscreen on a dusty back road – if you don’t clean it, it won’t shine.”

Whether it’s an outdoor sensor light with a bug graveyard inside it, or an indoor pendant coated in fuzz and kitchen steam, light fixtures deserve a bit of upkeep. Not just for looks – proper cleaning can help extend the life of the globe and the fitting too. Here’s how to do it without damaging the fittings or putting yourself at risk.

First things first: safety and setup

Before touching anything:

Turn the light off at the wall – for anything that needs full disassembly, switch off at the breaker.
Let the bulb cool if the light’s been on recently. Yes, this seems obvious, but burnt fingers happen.
Protect your floor with a towel or sheet, especially if you're working above carpet or tiles.
Use a solid step stool or ladder – not a wobbly kitchen chair like Uncle Dave after a few drinks.

Different fittings, different fixes

There’s no single way to clean ‘every light’ – it depends where the light is and what it’s made of. Here’s a breakdown of common types and the best approach:

1. Glass lights (domes, pendants, chandeliers)

Solution: Warm soapy water + elbow grease. Unscrew glass fittings and clean them in a sink of warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid. Rinse and dry thoroughly before reattaching. For trickier pieces like chandeliers, use a mix of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Mist lightly then wipe with a lint-free cloth.

2. Outdoor sensor lights

Solution: Gentle brush + hose rinse. Swat out the cobwebs and critters with a dry paintbrush or microfibre duster. Then give the casing a spray with water – avoid high pressure – and wipe dry. Check for cracked seals or loose screws while you’re there.

3. Fluoro lights or recessed lighting

Solution: Dry clean only. Lightly dust with a long-handled duster or use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Don’t soak these or you’ll run into rust, short circuits or worse.

4. Ceiling fans with lights

Solution: Fan blade and light combo clean. Wipe each blade down (damp cloth, not sopping wet), then remove and clean the light fitting as above. A dryer sheet over the blades can help repel dust for a while.

What NOT to do

Don’t spray cleaner directly onto a live fitting – too risky.
Don’t use heavy-duty chemicals like bleach or ammonia – these can damage finishes or cloud glass.
Don’t yank or force things that won’t budge – you might break glass or snap a clip. If it seems stuck, call it a day or get a second opinion.

A touch of maintenance goes a long way

You might be thinking, "Alright, but how often do I really need to do this?" The answer? Probably more than you're currently doing — but not every weekend either.

Once a season is a solid rhythm, especially for kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor lights.
For high traffic spots like kitchen pendants or hallway lights, go more often if they seem grimy.
While you're up there, check the globe – is it flickering? Dull? Maybe time for a new one.

You wouldn’t let your headlights look filthy

Why let your ceiling lights go the same way? Clean lighting isn’t just about the gleam — it sets the tone of the room, keeps your space safe, and shows you've got care behind the details. Same as wiping down your tools before packing them up — pride in your work, even if it's just you who's going to notice.

A final thought before you climb that ladder

Cleaning a light fixture sounds simple — and it mostly is — but doing it right makes a real difference. And if you’re ever unsure, or stuck with an old fitting that looks like it predates electricity... just ask. There’s no shame in getting a second opinion before you break something or zap yourself. We see it all the time.

Light up your space the right way — lenses clear, casings clean, and those globes shining at full strength.

Cheers for reading,
Candeece