Good Questions: How Can I Remove Food Stains From This Lamp?

6.7lamp.jpg Hello AT,

I have a new George Nelson bubble lamp hanging over the dining room table in my rental house. The tenants got food stains on it. [Note to self: remove valuable objects from rental property!]

Thanks! Cate

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I'm not sure what the stains are, or how long they have been there [but less than a year]. I didn't think to take a photo of the stains when I was at the house. They are dark, and look like maybe soy sauce or wine. The largest is about the size of a dime or nickel. Any advice on how to get them out without ruining the fiberglass?

Anyone?

Comments (9)

If it is soy sauce warm water & a drop of soap should take care of it. I can't imagine how the tenants got food up there. I have the same lamp and there isn't a drop on it after 3 years.

<I>I can't imagine how the tenants got food up there.</I>

You must not have a very active imagination!

; )

Try mild cleaners first... as they fail, try harsher ones. If you're lucky plain old dish soap will take care of it.

maybe give Dr Bronners a go. i trust it on most anything.

You've got a A$700 light in a rented apartment. For TENANTS???!!!
Faints.

Have you tried a Tide To Go pen? It might work.

bubble lamps are actually not fiberglass. they made of something they call "self webbing vinyl skin" - i don't think i'd try bleach unless i was really desperate. bleach is so harsh it might eat the material.

i use murphy's oil soap diluted in water to make a soapy bath paired with a soft sponge on my bubble lamps. don't scrub hard because you risk tearing the lamp. i remember reading this as a recommendation for cleaning somewhere, a long time ago - i have tried it and it works. it even removes vintage mold!
:)

I've used a mixture of TSP (tri sodium phosphate) detergent and bleach to clean an old eames armshell, which is fiberglass though. Anyway, TSP is a good cleaner. There is a TSP substitute thats more environmentally friendly I believe. Its available at any hardware store. Good luck!