Cleaning Your Solar Powered Outdoor Lights

Most of us are guilty of neglecting our outdoor lighting. It is very easy to forget that these lights and fixtures need to be cleaned and maintained regularly. For most of the world, you only really notice a problem after one of the lights stops working. Any electrical device that is left out in the rain and other weather conditions for the long term can get corroded and eventually just stop working. Most of these lighting fixtures are water-proofed, but even these gaskets and measures can fail on occasion if they are not kept up. These are not the only problems with garden lighting. There is also dirt and dust flying around outdoors. This can slowly dim your lights and, in the case of solar lighting, it can block your lights from recharging. A little bit of cleaning on a monthly basis can keep your lights looking like new and stretch their lifespan exponentially. After all, you don't want these lights to fail you in the middle of the night. This is a very simple procedure and all you will need is a small bowl or bucket of soapy water (use a mild detergent like a dish liquid or body wash), two old rags, some glass cleaner, and paper towels or newspaper. There is not much to this project and just about anyone can do it.

The first step in cleaning your solar powered garden lights, just like all other electrical devices, is to turn the power off. Most solar lights have a switch to turn them off so that they can be cleaned. These lights have an internal battery used to store the energy they harvest from the sun. If you fail to turn them off first (even if they are not lit) you can shock yourself or even short out the battery rendering the light useless. Once you have the power turned off, you can now disassemble the main portions of the light. If the bulb is encased in a globe, you will want to remove the globe from the light. You will also want to remove the bulb. You do not need to take the whole thing apart, but if there are any clear fixtures that are detachable, you can remove these. Do not take apart the solar panel or remove it from the light.

Once you have your garden light taken apart, you can now start to clean it. If there are clear glass or plastic pieces that have been removed, you can dip these directly in your washing water or take them in and wash them in the sink. Some of these are dishwasher safe and can be placed in there to clean all of them at once. You will want to verify whether yours are or not prior to putting them in a dishwasher though. While those pieces are soaking or being washed you can clean the main housing of your light. Dip one of your rags in the soapy water and wring it out as much as you can. You don't want there to be excess water in the rag so make sure it doesn't drip anymore. Use this rag to wipe the dirt from the entire housing. You may need to re-dip the rag occasionally. Just remember to drain off any excess water. You will want to wipe around the bulb socket as well, but do not put the rag in the socket. Once you have it all cleaned, take your other rag and wipe any water that may be remaining on the light. You will also want to use the dry rag to wipe the bulb down and remove any dust that has collected on it. This is a good time to examine the bulb as well. If there are any dark spots on the bulb or if you shake it lightly and hear pieces rattling around, you will want to change the bulb. You can also use a grease pencil or some masking tape to write the date that the bulb was last changed somewhere on the inside of the light. You want this to be in a spot that will not block your light and you don't want it to be visible from the outside of the light. You will want to change your bulbs every six months even if they do not look like they need it. By replacing the bulbs now, you don't have to take the light apart again when the bulb does die.

Now that everything is clean, you can put it all back together. Before you do this, check everything over again and make sure that it is all dry and there are no cracks or chips in the pieces. This is a good time to check any weather proof seals. You want to look them over and make sure there are no cracks or dry rot. If they are in a position where you can easily change them, you can go ahead and change them. Otherwise, you may want to consider getting a replacement. If anything, this will alert you that the light may not last past the next big rainstorm. If you can easily change the gaskets, you may want to change these when you change the bulb on that light. This will keep your gaskets in good shape and will be easier to track the replacement schedule. When it comes to weather proofing gaskets, you may want to thinly coat them with Vaseline whenever you clean your light. This will keep the gasket moist and near new. It will also make it easier for you to get the right seal on them when you put things back together.

Once you have everything put together, you can finish the job up. If you have any polishes or finishes that you want to put on the lights, you will want to do that now. There are several different gloss finishes that you can buy to keep your lights looking shiny and new. The next thing you want to do is clean the solar panel part of the light. The easiest way to do this is to use glass cleaner. You can use paper towels or old newspaper to wipe them down after applying the glass cleaner. This will help you get a streak free shine on these panels so that they can keep working effectively. You want to make sure any spots, dirt, or streaks are removed so that they can get the full power of the sun without any blockage.

A little bit of preventative maintenance can keep your outdoor garden lights working great all year long. This can even save you some money and hassle in the long run. By taking these simple steps on a regular basis, you can ensure that you have lighting around your home at all times. Whether they are security lights that can make you feel more secure or perimeter lights to impress your guests at a backyard party, your lighting is a very important part of your home. If you let them go, you can have all sorts of problems, but a couple simple steps can save you and your family from danger and embarrassment.