Crystal chandeliers have come a long way from the days as traditional, stately pieces only enjoyed in the most formal of spaces and positioned to impress guests in the dining room or the foyer. Crystal’s are found in various lighting applications of all shapes and sizes and their sparkling, elegant affect is energizing areas of the home from powder room and office to kitchen and bath.

More crystal means more cleaning, but it does not have to be too taxing. A few simple guidelines will help to keep your crystal chandeliers looking their best.

How to clean it

If you do not wish to remove the crystal components from the piece, you can use a spray. After the piece is sprayed, wipe off the solution with white cotton gloves. Crystal chandelier manufacturer Schonbek recommends a solution of one part isopropyl alcohol to three parts distilled water, while Waterford’’s chief lighting designer Billy Canning says hot soapy water will do the trick. Both agree that special cleaning formulas aren’’t needed.

“A real no-no in the area of cleaning chandeliers: …If the chandelier is adorned with a traditional polished gold finish or polished silver finish but it i’s not stainless steel, people will use these sprays that you can buy,” says Eileen Schonbek Beer, Creative Director for Schonbek Worldwide Lighting. “Basically, what the manufacturers say is you spray the chandelier and let the stuff drip off, that cleans the crystal. But in fact what it does is ruin the frames of the chandelier.”

If more aggressive cleaning is needed, the crystal parts will need to be removed from the frame. The crystals can then be hand-washed in soapy water, rinsed clean and dried with a cloth. Schonbek provides trim diagrams that detail reassembly of the chandelier.

For dusting between cleanings, Schonbek recommends using a feather duster, lambswool duster or a make-up brush.

How often to clean it

In general, crystal should be cleaned every two to six months. The frequency of cleaning required depends on where it is used and how easy it is to get to the piece.  According to Canning, extremely large pieces like 20-foot chandeliers can get away with being cleaned only once a year.

Since crystal lighting is being featured in virtually every room of the house these days, some pieces may need more frequent cleanings based on their location. Chandeliers used in kitchens will need more detailed cleaning due to oil and grease buildup, as well as dust sticking to the components due to moisture from sinks and stoves.

“The beauty of crystal, of course, is the prismatic refraction of the light passing through the crystal ornament,” says Beer. “So the minute it’s got any kind of residue of dust or even moisture — like in moist climates in Florida — the humidity will cause dust to adhere to the crystal and the salt in the air will kind of make it cloudy. So you actually have to clean crystal pretty regularly.”

Maintaining a regular cleaning schedule for crystal will always keep it sparkling. Yet if a piece is neglected, all it takes is a little extra effort with the methods listed above to make it shine like new.

“In my personal experience, I have been asked by many auction houses to identify Waterford products many times,” says Canning. “In most cases the difficulty with identification would have been that the chandelier was allowed to get dirty and the crystal would appear dull. But in all cases, when properly cleaned, they can look as good as the day they were bought.”

For the Chore-Challenged

For customers who aren’t ready to get into the nitty gritty of cleaning their crystal by hand, suggest the Da Vinci chandelier from the Geometrix collection by Schonbek. The crystals stay attached to a stainless steel frame that can be placed directly in the dishwasher. The Da Vinci is available in a 10-inch or 36-inch diameter. The only Da Vinci that will not make it to the dishwasher is the dramatic 5-foot model.

Is it time to update your outlets? This may not be the easiest question to answer! Your outlets are a fairly commonplace thing in your home—usually if they’re not acting up, they’re pretty much ignored. Unfortunately, by the time you get to the place where your outlets are acting up, you could be putting yourself in danger of a serious electrical malfunction or fire.

So what are some signs that you need to update your outlets? Let the experts at Kolb Electric answer!

There are a few sure-fire signs you need new outlets.

Along with these signs, you could need a new outlet for any of the appliances listed below. If your home isn’t wired to appropriately power them, you could experience frequent tripped breakers!

“I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live.  I rejoice in life for its own sake.  Life is no brief candle to me.  It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”-George Bernard Shaw  This quote is one by which Hy Goldman lives.

Whether by association to the torch and the carrying of light, these words are powerful and reminiscent of a work ethic that elevates life to divine heights.

Hy Goldman celebrates his birthday at Benvenuti Ristorante in East Hanover. Pictured here with treasured friend, Gloria Schwartz, grand-daughter of the late Ethel Lebersfeld.  Ethel Lebersfeld hired Hy on June 1, 1941.  He has worked for Capitol Lighting ever since.

In this day and age of the perpetual search for an easier life, more leisure time and the latest frivolity, we hold dear to the depth of character and bright quality of a life that continues to sustain a great worker and humble man who lights up our lives.

Hy Goldman celebrates family and an outstanding career.  He said he will retire on his 100th birthday this Saturday August 17, 2013, but time will tell!  We intend to keep him shining brighter than a Capitol chandelier.

Hy with Donna Costello, a recently “retired” Capitol Lighting star.   Donna Costello remains close in spirit to all who have been blessed to work with her.

Hy Goldman celebrates with friends and family.  Pictured with Adele Lebersfeld (standing), Max Lebersfeld (standing), Moya Goldman and  Stanley Goldman.

His family, son Stanley and daughter-in-law Moya, say that “Hy” is stubborn.  He stubbornly holds unto the values that keep him strong, and this may be the key to his longevity.  He wastes nothing and appreciates everything. “Every day is a gift,” he says with a smile and a quiet graciousness that uplifts the spirits of all who come to greet him.

Hy with Carol Saggiammo.  Carol recently celebrated her outstanding career with Capitol Lighting, and she is still going strong.

Governor Chris Christie officially acknowledges Herman “Hy” Goldman’s 100th birthday…

Hy Goldman at work:

He may be moving a bit slower than when he was 20, but he is at the top of his game in creativity and spirit!

Check out the latest “Hy Original Re-creations”…

A stunning crystal lamp brilliantly designed and reworked and wired into a magnificent one-of-a-kind piece.

The Tree of Light and Glass.  He has customers, as well as co-workers competing for his original works of art.

Scheduling regular electrical inspections is critical to the operation and safety of your major home devices. Having a licensed electrician check out all your systems can not only help prevent house fires and shocks, but will also ensure your refrigerators, computers, lights, and entertainment systems are running effectively and without issue. Your electrical inspection can also help you identify any issues with your systems before they become more severe, saving you money on costly repairs and preventing a breakdown at the worst possible time.

When you schedule an electrical inspection for your home in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington, DC, you can expect the electrician to:

Upon completion of your electrical inspection, your electrician may recommend repairs for any issues they notice during the visit. Minor issues may be remedied on the spot, but more extensive problems will likely require you to schedule a separate appointment.

At Kolb Electric, we want you and your family to be safe in your home at all times. An electrical inspection can give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is safe and all your major appliances are running properly. We can also help you address any electrical issues we may discover during the inspection, saving you the major hassle of a complete breakdown in the future.

To schedule your electrical inspection in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington, DC, call us at 877 287-1179 or fill out an online contact form. We’ve been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners like you with all their electrical needs since 1925!