Outdoor solar lights are an excellent choice to illuminate your home at night, but these fixtures are expensive, and it can be challenging to find high-quality ones. This guide will teach you how to clean and maintain your outdoor solar lights, so they look as good as new for years, even if you live in a windy area or on the coast.
Cleaning and Maintenance of Outdoor Solar Lights
- Regularly prune nearby shrubs and trees
To clean and maintain your outdoor solar lights, you should regularly prune nearby shrubs and trees. Remove any dead or nearby branches that may interfere with the lights, which can cause light pollution and reflect sunlight into your foyer, making it harder for you to see: the fewer limbs and branches, the better. If any of your solar lights are obscured by limbs, remove those limbs as soon as possible.
- Avoid touching the solar panels with your fingers
The panels should be handled as little as possible, so they don’t become damaged or neglected and generate less and less energy to light up your house at night. This is especially true for areas where the panels will be exposed to the elements, such as on your roof. If you must handle them, wear gloves or use a soft cloth or paper towel.
- Touch the fixture only with dry cloths or paper towels
The solar lights should always be cleaned by touching them only with dry cloths or paper towels. Do not let water seep into the solar cells because it can damage them and cause the fixture’s charge problems. If you absolutely must clean them while they are wet, make sure to use a damp cloth or paper towel because water droplets can short out the solar cells if left to sit on them for too long.
- Clean individual solar panels with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth or paper towel
To clean an individual solar panel, use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth or paper towel. The panel should never be cleaned while it is wet because water droplets can short out the solar cells if left to sit on them for too long.
- Avoid cleaning the panels while it is raining or when they are wet
The panels should always be cleaned while the surface is dry and free of moisture because water droplets can short out the solar cells if left to sit on them for too long.
- Use warm water and mild soap to clean the fixture and panels
To clean the entire fixture, use warm water and mild soap. The fixture should only be cleaned when dry because water droplets can shorten the solar cells if left to sit on them for too long. If you are unsure if the fixture is wet inside, turn off all power and clean it as usual. If it still doesn’t work, then you know that it is probably wet inside.
- Do not use harsh chemicals
Please do not use harsh chemicals such as scouring pads, scrubbers, wire brushes or abrasive cleaning pads, or abrasive cleaning pads on the solar panels because they can leave scratches or damage them. Use only soft materials that are safe for the panel. Scrubbing is fine, but try to avoid rubbing too hard because you may strip some of the coatings of the panel.
Why Do Solar Lights Require Cleaning?
There are several reasons that your solar lights may require cleaning. The first reason is that many different materials are used in the construction of the outdoor solar lights, which let moisture, dirt, debris, and pollutants collect on the light’s surface. If this material is left to stay on the fixture long enough, it can weaken its structure or shorten its lifespan.
The second reason is that some outdoor solar lights hang outside and, by definition, will be subjected to the elements: wind and rain will make them dirty. However, if you live in a windy area, you should hang your lights at least 2 to 3 feet away from trees and bushes because if they become dirty, they’ll create shadows whenever it rains or snows.
The third reason is that the solar cells on your outdoor solar lights become dirty from dust particles from the air or foot traffic. If this happens to your solar lights, they will not be able to collect energy from the sun, which means if they are left out in full sunlight for a long time, they may burn out after a few months.
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Conclusion
So, in the end, everything comes down to how well you care for your outdoor solar lights. If you take care of them and regularly clean and maintain them, they will last long. However, if you don’t pay much attention to them, they can quickly become weak and generate less power. The better care you give your outdoor solar lights, the longer they will last. You’ll find that when you take good care of them, they’ll look fabulous for years!
FAQ’s
Q1. Is the life of a solar panel the same as the controller on the light?
A1. The life of a solar panel is based on how much sun it gets and how much power it produces. The controller on the light cannot be replaced because no other device would work in its place. However, you can clean the panels with paper towels or using warm water and soapy water if you want to get even more dirt off of them. You can also remove rust from the surface of the solar panels by using an abrasive pad, so they don’t get rusty spots where they eventually short out when it rains.
Q2. Do outdoor solar lights require maintenance?
A2. Yes, if you want them to continue working for years, you should regularly clean and maintain them. The easiest way to do this is to use a damp cloth or paper towel to wipe away dirt and debris. However, if any other material gets stuck on the panels, use warm water and mild soap to remove it.