Clean & maintain large light fixtures is a bit more of a niche topic in the world of facility maintenance services. Not all facilities contain large light fixtures, but it’s reasonable to assume that the larger the commercial facility, the more likely it is that you’ll find one or more large light fixtures within. There are polarizing examples like chandeliers in ballrooms or museums versus high bay lighting found in warehouses.
Either way, the answer to how you properly clean and maintain large light fixtures depends on the specific facility in which it’s located and the type of large light fixture in question. There are many types of facilities in the realm of what most facility maintenance service providers target, and numerous types of large light fixtures, making too many combinations of either to cover in one blog. We’ll give it a shot though. Here’s how to properly clean and maintain large light fixtures:
The Correct Order of Cleaning Steps
There’s a standard order of steps almost all facility maintenance service providers take when cleaning light fixtures, and it looks something like this:
- Identify the type of light fixture and gather the appropriate cleaning supplies
- Turn off all lights and cut off power sources to the fixtures
- Establish safe access to the fixtures
- Remove the light bulbs and other removable pieces
- Dust and clean removed bulbs and pieces
- Dust and clean the light fixture
- Replace bulbs and other removed pieces
- Return power to the fixtures and switch lights back on
Supplies You Need
It’s best to consult an expert or professional to know exactly what you need to clean and maintain your light fixtures, but the following list is a start:
- Access equipment
- Power drill
- Extra bulbs
- Lint-free clothes
- Bucket with a water and dish soap mixture
- Handheld duster & air duster can
Types of Light Fixtures
Facility maintenance service providers come across many different types of light fixtures. These include flushmount indoor ceiling lights, pendant lights, industrial ceiling fans, recessed lights, and even chandeliers. These fixtures typically use different types of light bulbs like halogen, incandescent, fluorescent, LED, and HID (high-intensity discharge). Obviously, it takes a unique process and list of supplies to properly clean and maintain each.
Cleaning Light Bulbs
Similar to how the process of cleaning various types of light fixtures may differ due to the size, shape, wiring, and material of each type of fixture, so differs the process of cleaning the light bulbs. It’s almost certain that each unique type of light fixture uses compatible light bulbs of their own specific shapes, sizes, and materials. The general practice for cleaning most commercial or industrial light bulbs is, after turning off all lighting power sources, to remove the bulbs and dust them. For stained, smudged or otherwise dirty bulbs, wipe clean with a soft cloth dipped in a mixture of warm water and soap.