This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 115,954 times.
Learn more...
Salt crystal lamps are unique lamps made from salt that add a beautiful glow to your home. They are believed to provide many benefits, such as ridding the air of irritants and calming your mood. However, if not properly taken care of, they may sweat, drip, or melt. To prevent this, keep the lamp in a dry area, reduce the moisture in your home, use the proper bulb, and wipe down your lamp often.
Steps
Keeping The Lamp Dry
-
1Place the lamp in a dry area. Since the lamp is made of salt, it will absorb water and may start melting if it is placed in areas of near sources of water. Keep the lamp in dry places.[1]
- Don’t place it near showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, or washing machines.
-
2Reduce the humidity in your home. Extra humidity in your home may cause the salt lamp to melt. To help with this, you may want to use a dehumidifier in your home to reduce the moisture in the air.[2]
- This may be especially important if you live in a humid climate.
Advertisement -
3Put the lamp away when using appliances that create steam. Since humidity is the main thing that melts a salt crystal lamp, you may want to put the lamp away into a dry closet or room when using anything that creates steam.[3]
- For example, you may want to move it somewhere different if you are boiling water on the stove, taking a shower, or washing laundry.
-
4Dry the lamp often. Make it a habit to wipe down your lamp to remove excess moisture. Use a cloth, towel, or other item that won’t leave lint behind on the lamp.[4]
- If you don’t want to do this every few days, wait until you notice moisture on the lamp.
Taking Care of the Lamp
-
1Clean the lamp with a damp cloth. Though you may be worried about wiping down or cleaning your lamp with any moisture, you can easily do this without melting your lamp. Use a damp cloth or sponge, making sure to squeeze out as much water as possible. Wipe away any dust or other debris. Pat dry.[5]
- Turn the lamp back on afterwards. The heat will evaporate any moisture.
- Don’t submerge the lamp in water. Also don’t use any cleaning products on the lamp.
-
2Keep the lamp on all the time. If you have problems with your lamp starting to melt, try leaving it on all the time. The heat will help evaporate any moisture collected on the lamp, which can help slow the melting and dripping process.
- If you don't want to keep it on, place a plastic bag or some other protection over it to reduce the moisture.
-
3Place a protective layer underneath your lamp. If you cannot get the lamp to stop melting, then place it on top of something to protect your furniture. This may be a coaster, saucer, plastic placemat, or something else that will stop the moisture from ruining your furniture.[6]
Checking the Bulb
-
1Use the proper bulb. Salt crystal lamps are supposed to evaporate any water on the surface of the lamp. If it doesn’t evaporate properly, it can start to drip and give the illusion of melting. The bulb should make the lamp warm to touch, but not hot.[7]
- For lamps 10 pounds or less, a 15-watt bulb should be strong enough. Use a 25-watt bulb for a 10 to 20 pound lamp, and for a lamp more than 20 pounds, use a 40 to 60-watt bulb.
-
2Monitor the bulb. If your salt crystal lamp melts and drips moisture, check the bulb. If the lamp is melting inside, it may leak into the bulb and cause problems. Notice if the bulb flickers, malfunctions, or gives any other problems.[8]
-
3Replace the bulb. If you are having trouble with moisture on your lamp, replace the bulb. You may not have the correct bulb. Make sure the bulb you are using is a heat-producing bulb. You should be able to buy replacement bulbs that are just like the one that came in your lamp at any home improvement store.
- If the same thing happens, your lamp may be defective due to damage from the water.
References
- ↑ https://draxe.com/himalayan-salt-lamp/
- ↑ https://draxe.com/himalayan-salt-lamp/
- ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/himalayan-pink-salt-lamp-benefits/
- ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/himalayan-salt-lamp-use-care-safety/
- ↑ https://www.salt-cellar.com/himalayan/himalayan-salt-care-guide/
- ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/himalayan-salt-lamp-use-care-safety/
- ↑ http://negativeionizers.net/himalayan-salt-lamp-benefits-do-salt-lamps-really-work/
- ↑ http://www.naturallivingideas.com/himalayan-salt-lamp-use-care-safety/
About This Article
If your salt crystal lamp is melting, there are a few things you can try to stop it. Keep your crystal lamp in a dry area away from water sources like washing machines or dishwashers, since the extra moisture can make it melt. It's also best to keep the lamp out of humid rooms, like the kitchen or bathroom. Dry the lamp with a cloth every few days or whenever it gets damp. You can also leave the lamp on so the heat it generates will dry the crystal out. If it still drips a bit, place it on a saucer or coaster to protect the surface beneath it. For more tips, including how to replace the bulb in your salt crystal lamp, read on!
