wrote in message
...
Bachelor question.....

I got a lampshade that has gotten pretty dirty. Can I just wash it
under the faucet, or how do people clean them? It appears to be made
of some sort of stiff cloth.


You may have to get married to solve this. Put an ad in the personals
emphasizing you need a wife with domestic talents. You probably won't get a
looker but we are trying to be practical here. Work the dirty lampshade
into the conversation during your courtship. If she's shrewd she'll hold
out on giving up the info until you produce a ring. If she lets slip how to
make your shade sparkle before you pop the question, that's your cue to say
"maybe we can just be friends".

Alternitively, you could search Google for "clean lampshade" and come up
with a site like the one below. I've never cleaned a lampshade myself but
this was on the internet so it must be true:

http://doityourself.com/clean/lampshade.htm

Use a clean soft cloth or a vacuum brush to dust the lampshade inside and
outside.

Take off any non-washable trim.

If the cloth is glued to the frame, sew it on with thread of the same color.

Then you will be able to wash it over and over again without any trouble.
Fabric Shades

Fill a deep washtub or bathtub with enough warm water to cover the shade.

Add detergent and swish up thick suds. Use a mild detergent, as a hand
dish-washing liquid.

Use suds on a soft brush to rub any spots lightly.

Then dip the shade up and down.

When the water gets dirty, change to clean sudsy water.

Wash the shade a second time.

To rinse the shade, dip it up and down through two or three changes of clean
water.

Don't worry if the cloth stretches and sags while it is wet. It will tighten
up for a snug fit when it gets dry.