Using your Skylar Lamp is easy. Just plug it into a power outlet and use the 3 - way switch to adjust the light to your preferred brightness. When choosing a bulb, make sure it's a medium - base bulb and doesn't exceed 100 watts. As for maintenance, you can gently dust the lamp body with a soft, dry cloth to keep the sky blue glaze and antique gold leaf finish looking great. For the linen shade, if it gets dirty, you can use a mild fabric cleaner and let it air dry. Avoid placing the lamp in direct sunlight for long periods as it might fade the colors. Also, keep it away from water to prevent damage to the electrical parts and the ceramic body.