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How to Clean Solar Panels on Garden Lights?

Written by K. Miller / Fact checked by J. Fussell

How to Clean Solar Panels on Garden Lights

Do you have solar garden lights installed at home? Most homeowners prefer these lighting systems because they are eco-friendly and energy-saving at the same time.

Indeed, solar lighting systems are great tools to illuminate and decorate any place. But, although they are not a hassle to clean and maintain, of course, it is a must to clean them thoroughly.

Keeping your solar lighting units clean and properly maintained will help preserve the overall look and performance of these lighting devices. This will also extend their lifespan.

We’ll provide you with some practical solar garden light cleaning guides in this post. Read on to know how to Clean Solar Panels on Garden Lights.

Materials Needed for Cleaning the Solar Garden Lights

How-do-you-clean-cloudy-plastic-solar-lights

Before proceeding to the cleaning process, you’ll need to prepare some materials, and here they are.

Materials Needed:

  • Washcloth

Prepare at least two, particularly if you’re going to clean multiple solar lights.

  • Bucket

You’ll need to fill the bucket with warm water mixed with a mild cleaning agent or detergent.

Refrain from using bleaching agents since these are more likely to damage the surface of the solar panel.

It is strongly suggested to utilize a non-abrasive detergent.

  • Gloves

Surely, these are a must whenever you do any cleaning tasks. These are protection for your hands.

  • Absorbent Towels

These will be needed when drying off excess water from the solar panels.

  • Soft-bristled Brush

This will be needed for scrubbing away accumulated dirt. As you might already know, a washcloth won’t be enough to lift the stuck dirt on the solar lighting devices.

A soft-bristled brush is more suitable when cleaning solar garden lights because it can clean hard-to-reach areas.

And, since solar lights have a sensitive glass cover and solar panel, a soft-bristled brush won’t cause any scratches or other sorts of damages.

The Steps in Cleaning Garden Solar Lights

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It cannot be denied that solar-powered garden lights are a wonderful addition to any home or workplace. Unfortunately, they could get dusty, faded, and yellowish over time.

Primarily, this is inevitable since they’re mainly installed and used outdoors all the time. But, the good news is that you can prevent all these from happening.

To preserve their neat and impressive overall appearance, and to optimize their performance; a proper and regular cleaning schedule is highly suggested.

To get started in the cleaning process, please follow the steps below:

  • Fill the bucket with warm water with a mixed mild cleaning solution (mild detergent).

As mentioned earlier, do not add any bleaching agent to avoid damaging the surface of the solar panel.

  • Clean the solar garden lights using soapy water and a washcloth.

When cleaning the solar bulb, gently drench the washcloth and rub the dust or dirt. Make sure to do this gently. On the other hand, to get rid of the stubborn dirt, residues, and mud, you’ll need to use a soft-bristled brush.

  • Dip the washcloth in the bucket of soapy water, and then gently wipe the solar panels.

Utilize a drenched washcloth when wiping off dust or residues from the solar panel. You know, residues and dust could minimize the maximum performance of solar lights.

So, to effectively reduce the loose residues, you can use a damp washcloth to rub the solar panel.

Sure thing, you need to clean the solar fixtures with extra care. Avoid scrubbing too hard so as not to cause any damage to the solar lighting device.

If the top of the solar panel is quite dull, you can gently polish it using the washcloth and some rubbing compound.

  • Wipe the soap scum with a washcloth

Since the remnants of soapy scum would lure more dust or debris to cloud up the solar panel again, you can wipe it off with the washcloth. Dabble it with clean water and then gently rub the solar panel to make sure that all the soap scum is completely eliminated.

Sometimes, you might need to dampen the washcloth again to totally eliminate all the soap scum. Take into consideration that the washcloth should be moist enough but not soaking wet.

Apart from these, you need to clean the solar panel with extra caution and prevent the water from penetrating beneath where the internal electronics are located.

Important Reminders

Solar garden lights are indeed engineered with water-resistant features. Nonetheless, this does not mean that they are completely waterproof.

That said; avoid dousing them in a bucket of water. And, don’t use a power washer on the solar panels.

This is because the water that comes out from the power washer nozzle is too strong that it could damage the solar panels.

When is the best time to clean the solar lights? It is highly advised to tidy up the solar panels early or late in the day. This is to avoid tidying them up when the solar lights are still hot.

Lastly, it is important to regularly monitor your solar lights and gently clean them when they have accumulated a layer of dust, dirt, and residues.

However, if you are searching for solar lighting devices for your garden, you are probably interested in my list of solar uplights for trees that I’ve used before. Furthermore, here is my review on the perfect outdoor solar lanterns to decor your backyard.

Is It Necessary to Tidy Up the Solar Panels of Your Garden Lights Often?

You must be insightful about how often it is needed to clean the solar panels of your garden fixtures. How often you need to clean them will largely rely on the weather conditions in your area.

Many homeowners can tidy up their solar panels at least once a month to ensure optimal function or performance.

If you currently reside in a dry but not barren region, the solar panels will be fine with cleaning them every six months. You can do the same if you reside in a location where there is a tropical climate.

Meanwhile, if you are residing in an area that is too dusty and dry most of the time, it is essential to clean the solar panels more often.

In doing so, you can ward off the dust from accumulating. Consider cleaning them every three to four months.

As you can see, your cleaning schedule can be different. This is why you need to check the solar garden lights frequently for any necessary actions.

Conclusion

Ultimately, if you want your solar garden lights to provide gorgeous lighting for an extended period, a thorough cleaning process is a must.

Depending on the location where you currently reside, you can modify your cleaning schedule. Luckily, if you reside in a damp environment, it is unnecessary to clean the solar-powered fixtures more often.

You see, this is the main reason why it is indispensable to collect as much information as possible about cleaning your solar garden lights appropriately.

Hopefully, you find the information tackled here a great help on how to clean solar panels on garden lights.

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