If you have been affected by the ongoing trend of adopting Himalayan salt in your lifestyle, you must have stocked up on some beautiful pieces of salt lamps. Placing these beauties at the right corners and places in your home requires some aesthetic sense but it needs a lot of knowledge to know how to take care of and clean these lamps.
Once you receive your Himalayan salt, follow the manual having Himalayan salt lamp instructions to fix the bulb and the cord that comes with it. Once done, place it at the spot of your choice and check if the bulb is working. If you need to move your salt lamp from one place to another, make sure to do it very carefully and slowly, making sure not to damage the bulb lying at the center of it.
Let us talk about some common problems you will surely face as a salt lamp owner. But before moving ahead with the problems, let us highlight some tips for you to follow. Don’t do these if you own a salt lamp and wish for it to last for a long time, Never:
- Place it near a place that is supposed to contain high moisture. For example, near a wash basin, a bathroom, kitchen, laundry, basement, or attic. The idea is to place it in a well-ventilated area.
- Place your lamp in exposed areas for longer periods of time like open windows, patios, or lawns.
- Wash your lamp under running water or submerge it in water just in case it accumulates dust on its surface. The salt lamp is made of salt and obviously salt dissolves in water. You will be left with a pool of salty water and no lamp.
- Place your salt lamps directly on glass or wooden surfaces. The heavy lamp is bound to make scratches on the surface and damage it. Moreover, it can absorb moisture and the surface can get ruined because of the salty moisture.
- Place your lamp near loudspeakers. The vibrations caused by the speaker may disassemble the bulb and cause it to fuse or break.
Why does my salt lamp weep?
The Himalayan salt lamps are hygroscopic in nature. Simply put, these salt lamps absorb moisture with pollutants from the air and trap them inside. The moisture is then evaporated in the air when the salt lamp is lit and heated.
If you live in a dry climate area, you do not need to worry much as the salt lamp weeping will occur very occasionally. In case of areas with high humidity, the salt lamp will absorb more moisture and the same will then be exuded; sometimes damaging your furniture.
One possible solution for the Himalayan salt lamp weeping is to leave it turned on all the time. The light bulb used in these lamps are not of high wattage and will not mess up your electricity bill.
Another solution is to use a high-voltage bulb that will create more heat than usual. The heat will cause moisture to evaporate rapidly leaving the lamp dry all the time.
To save your furniture, you can use silicone coasters underneath the salt lamps. The coasters will save the furniture from getting spoiled because of the salty moisture.
Keep a look for a flickering light bulb. If the bulb of your salt lamp seems to flicker or you are afraid of it getting fused soon, turn off your salt lamp and let it cool. Carefully replace the bulb by following the instruction manual.
How to clean your salt lamp?
Since salt lamps are an excellent choice for home décor and are very beneficial for the environment, they are bound to get dirty with time. The best way to clean your salt lamp is to get a clean piece of cloth. Wring the water out completely and wipe your lamp’s surface with it. For tougher areas, you will need to rub the cloth a little harder but never go for metal scrubbers or scour pads. They will do no good but damage the salt of the lamp.
Once the lamp is clean, finish it off by wiping it with a dry lint cloth.
What to do if your lamp is leaking water excessively?
If you are living near the sea or in an area with high humidity, you might experience excessive moisture leaking of your lamp which might prove to affect its longevity.
In case you notice that your Himalayan salt lamp is leaking excessively, wipe its surface with a clean, dry cloth. The next step is to remove the bulb and cord and bake it in the oven at a high temperature for 5-10 minutes. This will completely dry out the lamp.
Why is my lamp turning white?
After a considerable time of using your lamp, you may notice a white layer of build-up appearing at its surface. This may make you question the genuineness of your lamp. Do not worry! Salt lamp tends to get a white build-up on its surface.
As mentioned earlier, the salt lamps are hygroscopic in nature. When the moisture trapped inside the lamp evaporates, the ionic bonds left behind have a crusty residue that may be termed as salt or calcium. When a lot of this residue accumulates on the surface of the lamp, it starts appearing white. This doesn’t change the composition of the lamp. Only its physical appearance is altered.
Why my salt lamp is crumbling?
Moisture plays a vital role in the working of the Himalayan salt lamps. If you live in an area with low humidity, this may affect your salt lamp. You may notice the surface getting flaky and small bits falling off the salt lamp. Do not panic. These flakes are dried out impurities left behind by the evaporated water. This doesn’t affect the salt lamp in any way. To avoid such a scenario, turn off your salt lamp at night to balance the excessive loss of moisture.
You can keep your salt lamp turned on as long as you want. Just make sure it doesn’t get dry and flaky and keep looking for the accumulation of moisture at the base and surface.