Cleaning Lights

[DJErik07]

Hey everyone! It is time for some spring cleaning before my spring musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. I am wondering what you would use to clean lights(Par 64's, fresnals, ellipsodials, ect..). I know to use rubbing alcohol on the bulbs, but what about the fixtures themselves? Should I just use dishsoap and water??

Thanks for the help!!

[zac850]

In the past I have used just a damp cloth on the sides and for the lenses. I have also used the dust blower things they make for computer keyboards just to blow the dust off, and out, of the fixtures.

[avkid]

If you are talking about conventionals with no electronics,dishsoap and water should be fine.But for your safety (and my liability) let them dry before you plug them in!!!!!

[DJErik07]

Ya just regular, not intelligent, fixtures are the ones in need of a good cleaning.

[Mayhem]

There have been a couple of posts on this topic which you may wish to have a look at. I would hope that whilst you are cleaning you are also taking note of any damage or faults that require attention?

search on "cleaning" and also on "service" or just have a look in the lighting questions, and general questions/tips fora

Also - just check the lable before using rubbing alcohol as it often has oils added to it

[avkid]

and distilled water would not be a bad idea(to prevent corrosion)

[Peter]

Would distilled water have any affect on the amount of corrosion caused.... From my understanding corrosion is caused by a reaction between the metal and the H2O (pure water) which is why things can also corrode even if they are in a really humid conditions. Other kinds of corrosion can be caused by salts, I know there is alot of salt in tap water, but i dont really think there are enough to really have that noticable an effect.... I dont know... somone correct me please :-)

[ccfan213]

oxidization is from the H2O itself, but there are other forms of corrosion from other things in the water. i dont really think it would make a difference though, the only place i have ever seen any difference is in labs in chemistry, then again, i dont regularly use distilled water for anything else.

[Peter]

Ya, I have also seen it have an effect in AP Chem class. We were working with silver chloride among other things, and the sliver grabed onto impurities in the water and created crystals (the AgCl was very close to being saturated so it wanted to come out of solution) this resulted in black semi-shiny stuff in the bottom of the tube. The Chem Teacher was quite intregued by these, as they were not supposto be part of the experiment! (I know this isnt really corrosion, but it was kinda cool!) (another cool thing that happened that lab.... we left the tubes out overnight uncovered, and when we came back in the morning, enough of the water had evaporated off to make a supersaturated solution, causing the silver to form a very thin, but very cool looking crystal (yes, a single crystal) across the entire top of the tube. It was hard to poke at with a stirring rod, and a really cool transparent silvery color. (we got rid of them by adding more water and heating slightly :-( ) ) Ok, that's enough of me blabbering about chemistry experiments :-)

[techieman33]

I would suggest using grahite in an aerosol can for the shutters.