By cleaning the dirt and dust from light bulbs and shades, you can increase the output of your lighting systems by as much as 20 percent. Make sure that portable lamps are turned off and unplugged to prevent possible electrical shock while cleaning or changing bulbs. If the shade is discolored beyond cleaning, replace it with a white or cream-colored shade. Remove the plastic wrap on the new shade to prevent heat discoloration.

Turn off permanently mounted light fixtures before cleaning to prevent accidents. This is a good time to replace bulbs that are not producing a bright light. As incandescent bulbs wear out, vapors from the filament collect on the inside of the glass bulb, and reduce light output.

If you are redecorating this spring, consider painting or covering walls and ceilings with white, cream or other light colored tints to reflect the maximum amount of light. By making the present system more energy efficient you can brighten up the rooms in your home, make them appear larger and reduce the need to buy additional lighting systems by making the present system more energy efficient.