How to Clean a Rattan Pendant Light (and Other Woven Light Shades)

A rattan pendant gathers dust in every gap of its weave, and over a kitchen worktop that dust can turn tacky. Because the shade hangs around a light, water feels like a bad idea, but you need very little of it. Switch the light off and let the bulb cool, dust the shade dry, use a barely damp cloth only on the grime that dusting leaves behind, and keep the light off until the shade is dry inside and out.

The same routine suits natural rattan, wicker and bamboo light shades. After the core steps, you'll find what changes for cobwebs, kitchen grease, a dull or yellowed look and a musty smell.

Before you clean a rattan lampshade

Check what it's made of

Wicker is a way of weaving, not a material. A wicker light shade might be woven from rattan, bamboo or another plant fibre, and all of them can take up water. That is why the weave should never be soaked. Wet fibre can swell and pull the weave out of shape. Our guide on how to clean wicker baskets uses the same gentle method and covers other fibres, such as seagrass, that need a lighter touch.

The steps below are for natural woven shades that are bare or lightly finished. Painted, lacquered, faux rattan or fabric-lined shades should follow their own care instructions. For fabric or paper shades, see our guide on how to clean a lampshade.

Clean it in place or take it down

You can dust and damp wipe a shade where it hangs, as long as you can reach it comfortably. Taking it down makes the inside easier to reach and lets it dry somewhere airy.

If taking the shade down means disconnecting a hardwired fitting, leave the removal and the refit to a qualified electrician. A plug-in pendant can simply be unplugged. Hanging a shade back up is covered in our guide on how to fit a rattan lampshade.

What you need

• a soft brush (a clean, dry paintbrush works) or a vacuum with a brush attachment
• two or three microfibre cloths and an old soft toothbrush
• washing up liquid (dish soap in the US) and a bowl of warm water
• a towel
• white vinegar, only for grease or a musty smell
• a sturdy step stool, if you're cleaning the shade in place

How to clean a rattan pendant light step by step

Stop once the shade looks clean. Every damp step you skip saves a round of drying.

1. Switch off and let the bulb cool

Switch the light off at the wall or at its switch, or unplug a plug-in pendant, and let the bulb cool before you touch the shade.

Check: the light is off and the bulb is cool to the touch.

2. Dust it dry, along the weave

Brush the outside, then the inside, with the soft brush or a dry microfibre cloth, following the strands rather than scrubbing across them. A vacuum brush on low suction picks up what you loosen, and the toothbrush reaches tight gaps where strands cross.

Check: a clean, dry cloth wiped over the weave comes away clean. If it does, you can stop here.

3. Wipe grime with a barely damp cloth

Add a few drops of mild washing up liquid to a bowl of warm water. Dip a microfibre cloth, then wring it out until it stops dripping and feels only just damp. Wipe along the weave a section at a time, rinsing and wringing the cloth as it gets dirty. For grime in tight gaps, dip the toothbrush, tap off the excess and work gently along the strands. Keep the damp cloth on the woven part of the shade.

Check: the cloth comes away clean from a section you've already wiped.

4. Wipe off the soap

Go over the cleaned areas with a fresh cloth dampened in plain water and wrung out hard, to lift leftover soap or vinegar.

Check: the shade feels clean, not tacky or slippery.

5. Dry it fully, then check before you switch on

This is the step to be patient with. Pat the shade with a towel, then let it air dry in a well ventilated spot, out of direct sun and away from radiators and heaters. Don't speed it up with a hairdryer, because direct heat can dry out the fibre and warp the weave.

Keep the light off the whole time, too. A lit bulb adds warmth right beside fibre that should be drying naturally, away from heat. Go by touch, not the clock.

Dry check: feel the shade inside and out, including the rims where the weave wraps around the frame, since those joins are easy to miss. If you're unsure about any part, wait longer before switching on.

Fixing specific problems on wicker and bamboo light shades

Cobwebs

Lift them off with a dry soft brush or the vacuum brush before any damp cleaning, so you don't wipe loose dust and web into the weave. Check inside the shade and around the top, which are hard to see from below.

Kitchen grease

A kitchen pendant can pick up a sticky film from cooking on top of the dust, so clean it more often than shades elsewhere. Start with the soapy wipe in step 3. If a greasy film survives it, try a diluted vinegar wipe.

Patch test before you use vinegar. Mix about 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water, dab a little on a hidden spot such as the inside of the rim, and let it dry. If the colour or finish changes, don't use it on the rest. If not, dampen a clean cloth in the mix, wring it out well and wipe the greasy areas along the weave. Finish with steps 4 and 5.

A dull or yellowed look

A shade that looks flat or greyish may simply be carrying fine grime, so steps 2 to 4 are worth a try. If it still looks yellow afterwards, stop there. Cleaning removes surface grime, but it will not change the natural colour of the fibre. Don't try to bleach it.

A musty smell

Air the shade, taken down or with the windows open, and make sure it passes the dry check in step 5. If the smell lingers, patch test and use the vinegar wipe above, then dry it fully again. If it still smells musty once completely dry, replace it, as we advise for wicker baskets.

What not to do with a woven lampshade

• Don't soak it in a sink, under a tap or in the shower.
• Don't spray anything straight onto it. Put cleaner on the cloth, where you control how much reaches the weave.
• Don't use harsh cleaners or scourers.
• Don't oil or wax it.
• Don't dry it with a hairdryer, heater or radiator.
• Don't switch on while it's damp. If any part fails the dry check, wait.

How often to clean a woven light shade

As a rule of thumb, dust the shade whenever you dust the room, and more often in a kitchen. Save the damp clean for when dusting no longer gets it clean.

Rattan lampshade cleaning FAQs

Can I wash a rattan lampshade?

Not by soaking or rinsing it. A barely damp cloth is as wet as it should get. If a shade gets soaked by accident, blot it with a towel and dry it as in step 5, dry check included, before switching on.

Can I clean a rattan light without taking it down?

Yes, as long as the light is off, the bulb is cool and you can reach it comfortably.

How do I get grease off a rattan light?

Soapy wipe first, then the patch-tested vinegar wipe for any film left behind, as in the kitchen grease section.

Can I use vinegar on rattan?

Diluted and after a patch test, yes, on a well wrung cloth. Keep it for grease and musty smells.

If a shade is past saving, you'll find a replacement among our rattan pendant lights.