Cleaning Antiques? Question for the hard-core cleaner.

Question

I have two Tiffany-style stained glass lamp shades (circa 1920), from my grandmother. They were in the garage when the mice infested and now they smell and are dirty. The shades are made of glass and either brass or lead decoration - the metal pipes around each slip of glass to make an ornate decoration. So there's no avoiding cleaning the metal along with the glass, how can I clean them and disinfect them without damaging the glass or metal - without it rusting?

Answer 1

You can clean them with an ordinary window cleaner such as windex. Use a cotton cloth like a shop rag or old bedsheet dampened with the cleaner, avoid flannel if possible because it sheds lint which can get caught in crevices. Neither brass nor lead can rust so don't worry about that. Whatever you do, don't use a metal brush or anything abrasive which could remove the patina--that's the surface coating of the metal. Removing it will give you shiny metal which you don't want; though the patina can be restored with stuff you can buy at stained glass supply places, original condition is most desireable. A very soft brush such as an old toothbrush should be fine to get into corners if you must, just take it easy with it, or use Q-tips. There should be no need to disinfect. Cleaning should remove any odour, and you won't be eating off the lamps.