How to clean kitchen light fixtures?

[Earlybird]

How can I clean the light fixture that hangs over my cooker?

The cooker is situated in the centre island of the kitchen, and the fixture hangs above from a heavy chain (decorative iron and over-sized glass globes with bulbs inside - like you see in a French bakery). In the past, I've stood on top of the island with a sponge and bowl of warm water with washing up liquid in, but that does very little to shift the layers of cooking grease/grime that have drifted up from the cooker.

Unfortunately, I can't take down any of the to wash in the sink.

Thanks for advice, as it is really grotty and needs attention!

Baby wipes got cooking grease off my bread maker

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give that a try.

Other ideas from anyone else?

Soda crystals or sugar soap or a paste made from bicarbonate of soda or possibly white vinegar.

Do the glass shades not come off so you can clean them? Easier and safer than shinning up a ladder and using water near an electrical fitment.

Distilled vinegar (white vinegar) and water in a spray bottle. Let it sit awhile then wipe it down. And I don't know if you have these in your country but Mr. CLEAN ERASER work wonders

Will you be annoyed if I suggest a powerful extractor hood to suck away the greasy vapour?

Oil oxidises to a sticky gum or varnish, and once hardened is very hard to get off with detergents or even solvents. Sometimes a nylon brush and Flash or other GP cleaner, left to soak in and then scrubbed off with a nylon pan scourer, will do it, but may take time.

If you have WD40, try that on a test area and see if it lifts the grease. If spraying would be messy, spray it into a glass jar and apply with a paintbrush.

If you can find a step-ladder, you may fall off less often.

Thanks for thoughts and suggestions.

wowfudge - the glass 'globes' that house the bulbs will unscrew/come off, but it would be a disaster if I broke one of them (though will eventually have to change a bulb) because I have no idea where i'd find a replacement.

blueberry - yes, we have the MrClean erasers here. In fact, I bought some yesterday, so will give that a try.

PigletJohn - yes, sticky gum/residue is exactly what I've got. And I'm not annoyed you've suggested an extractor hood. I've got one of those fancy ones at the rear of the cooker that rises up (and retracts) at the touch of a button. I use it all the time, but clearly it is not as effective as it should be.

Try Astonish cleaner from the pound shop, that's what the oven man used to cleaner my extractor hood with and charged me £15 for!