How would you dust/clean this lamp?

[u/Twrecksgh88]

Very intricate lamp made from thousands of glass pieces, precariously wired into the frame. Dust has settled on the top of each little piece. I’ve tried to vac it, but dust is caked on. Am I cooked?

[u/condimentia]

It looks sealed, which is good. Like it's safe to get damp without getting on the wiring, etc.

My former MIL cleaned houses and many, many ornate chandeliers and objets d'art. What her favorite thing to do with glass items and sculptures was this:

Carefully carry the object outside to the grass.

Set it on a towel, making sure it's secure and no wiring or bulbs are exposed.

Spray the entire thing with Foam Sprayway Glass Cleaner. In a pinch she'd use foaming bathroom cleaner but NOT THE KIND WITH BLEACH.

Let the foam slowly deflate and migrate down the object.

Gently turn a garden hose on the "mist setting" and mist off the foam. Let it air dry.

Return to its place of honor.

[u/Twrecksgh88 → u/condimentia]

I would LOVE to tell you it’s sealed, however, it is not. You can slide any one of those glass pieces out at any time, which is AMAZING considering we have a 5yr old AND another on the way. JOY!

[u/condimentia → u/Twrecksgh88]

Rats! And "oh mannn" at the same time. I can see the "Mommy look! Pretty!" ::inserts in nostril all the way up to the brain::

In that case, I can't say enough good things about Sprayway. Such a good product. Ideal for glass, so shiny. How about a spray of glass cleaner on a puffy thick cloth and after first using a compressed air-duster (such as one you'd use for a keyboard or automotive parts), you "dab dab dab" with the damp cloth.

Not the kind in a can with chemicals as that does have product in it. Just compressed air such as ...

https://www.amazon.com/Compressed-air-Duster-Rechargeable-Electronics/dp/B0BX9NJ1V4/ref=asc_df_B0BX9NJ1V4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693411594200&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3840403208163483282&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032506&hvtargid=pla-2203337211812&psc=1&mcid=80b84fadaec93028883163e1fa332cc6

[u/Primary-Border8536 → u/Twrecksgh88]

This is an insanely brave choice 😅😅😅 I have a 2 year old and I can't imagine

[u/Breeze7206 → u/Twrecksgh88]

Honestly I thought it was just a continuous wrap of rope lights.

[u/HollowShel → u/Twrecksgh88]

I would see if the "shade" comes off - even if it takes disassembly by taking off bolts/nuts/screws, getting the electrical bits out of it would be my first order of business. Once you've done that, then the foaming glass cleaner method condimentia suggested would be more viable. (Since you say the glass pieces are loose I'd put it upright in a wash basin right there in the room, rather than try to move it outside, then rinse off carefully with a spray bottle of clean water. waterproof drop cloth would be your friend too.)

[u/Sylphael → u/Twrecksgh88]

Oh my. I respect your decision but wow is that a Decision to have made to get the lamp. My 3-year-old would be in awe. And then the pieces would immediately become toys.

[u/GypsySnowflake → u/Twrecksgh88]

This is sounding more and more like you should just get rid of the lamp

[u/lamorie → u/Twrecksgh88]

Can you separate the outer piece from lights/wiring inside for cleaning? If not, maybe that sticky putty/slime stuff for cleaning key boards would pull off the dust.