How to clean a fabric lampshade

​Do you have fabric lampshades that could use a good cleaning but are hesitant to try because you are afraid to damage the fabric? Today’s blog article offers a few tips for cleaning those dingy, dirty lampshades.

There’s something incredibly gratifying about finding that perfect gem of a lamp at your local second-hand store, right?! What’s not so thrilling is the prospect of cleaning the lampshade. This is the situation I faced after a trip to my local thrift store. Let me tell you, I came home with one of the best hauls of amazing finds ever! This haul contained two lamps that were perfect for my dining room. All they needed was some rewiring and a good clean. Except it wasn’t quite that simple…

​The fabric shades were stained in such a way that simple dusting wasn’t going to do the job. This project called for a deeper cleaning, but I had questions and concerns, as some of you do. I had apprehensions about the metal frame and the glue that held the seams together. And there was a very real concern that cleaning would create water stains on the fabric if I tried to spot clean small areas. So, I did some research before cleaning these stained second-hand lampshades. 

Below are some tips from my research and first-hand experience cleaning my lampshades…

Cleaning lampshades using dry methods

For simple surface cleaning of lamp shades to remove dust and pet hair, you can use a lint roller, microfiber cloth, vacuum cleaner attachment, or even sticky tape. I usually use a vacuum cleaner or very damp towel (almost dry) to remove dust for general house cleaning. 

Certain types of shades must be cleaned using dry methods. Silk shades can be easily ruined and should be professionally cleaned, so do not try to clean them yourself. The same goes for paper or fiber lampshades, which can disintegrate in water. (Paper shades can be cleaned using a gum eraser.) Finally, shades with color should not be soaked with water, especially if you think the color might stain or run. 

Prep lamp shade and materials for wet cleaning 

Never try to wet clean a lampshade while the base is plugged in! Unplug the lamp, remove the shade and attachments, and clean everything separately.

Now it's time to prep the water for cleaning. If the seams on the lamp are held together with glue (which many are), the water you are using must be cold. Fill a small tub or sink with cold water, then mix in a small amount of GENTLE laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid. Just a few drops is enough so the shade doesn’t get soapy. You can add a little baking soda (about a teaspoon) to brighten the color of a white lampshade but do NOT add bleach.

Wet cleaning your lampshade

Using a soft, lint-free fabric, use suds to clean the lamp while avoiding saturating the fabric with too much water. Try to dampen the whole lamp evenly to lessen the possibility of water stains once dry. Clean gently using an up-and-down motion with your soft, lint-free cloth. A soft toothbrush can be used for tough stains. 

​In certain situations, you may be able to submerge the lampshade in cold (or lukewarm) soapy water and let it sit for a few minutes, then clean it with the same gentle up-and-down motion as previously discussed. To rinse, submerge in clean, cold water. 

I felt a little uncertain about that technique, to be honest…Call it beginner’s nerves! One source I discovered explicitly said to avoid submerging a lampshade in water if any part of it has glue. Yet another source—as is so typical on the internet—stated that you can immerse the shade in COLD water and swish around, but do not let the shade soak in the water. Do not let the glue get so wet that it starts to lose its adhesiveness to the fabric. A quick dip to scrub and rinse, however, should not cause any damage to most shades. But if in doubt, try other methods of cleaning first.

​With that thought in mind, I decided to be brave! I quickly submerged the shade in soapy water, used a soft rag and my microfiber mitt to scrub, and finally rinsed the shade with cold water. All that was left to do was to shake off the excess water and let it dry on a towel. The cleaning project was done, and the shades looked good!

Just a quick note here…Ensure the lampshade is thoroughly dry before re-attaching to the base and plugging in the lamp. (Water, metal, and electricity are not a good combination!) You may have to let the shade sit for a day to allow the seams to dry thoroughly.

Final thoughts…

This DIY lampshade cleaning project went surprisingly well--the results were remarkable! There were a couple of small spots that didn’t come out, but they are not noticeable, and I will be ordering some stain remover pens (similar to the ones below) to see if I can remove the remaining small spots. Overall, however, I am happy with the results. There is also a special dry-cleaning sponge available (for situations where you don’t want to wet clean) that helps remove stains from fabric blinds, shades, and wallpaper, so there are a few options for cleaning lampshades, besides the technique I used in this project. My advice would be to do some research before attempting to clean any fabric lamp shades so you can make an informed decision as to the best plan of attack for your project.

So, I hope this article was helpful!

Please feel free to comment below with any tips and tricks you'd like to share. If you’d like to sign up for occasional (generally monthly) newsletters, click here to go to the form on my contact page. This will keep you updated on the latest blog posts, merchandise sales, new items, etc. And you can follow me on any of my social media below!

Related blogs you may want to read:
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My top thrift finds this year
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How to rewire thrift buy lamps

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​Some of the posts in this article contain affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. I will only recommend products or services I use personally and/or believe will add value to my readers, so there is no conflict of interest.