When cleaning solar lights, be careful not to damage the delicate glass and plastic. If you accidentally break one of these items, your solar light will need to be replaced as soon as possible! Here are a few tips on how to clean solar lights without tears and jokes:
What Causes Dust and Dirt on Solar Lights?
There are a few reasons why solar lights collect dust and dirt. One of the main causes is that it can be difficult to clean them, especially if you’re not used to cleaning them. Dust, dirt, and grime often stick around on the outside of your solar light because it’s hard to clean these areas without damaging the device or getting fingerprints on it.
Another reason for this is that when solar lights get wet, they tend to gather more dust and dirt so they need more time to dry out. They also gather more dirt due to vibrations from the wind.
Cleaning solar lights in 5 Steps
Solar lights are a great way to save energy, but they do often collect dust, dirt and grime. If you have trouble cleaning them, here are 5 tips that will help you get rid of the dust and dirt.
1) Start with cold water: Fill a bowl or bucket with cold water and place your solar light in it. Leave the light for about 10-15 minutes to soak up some of the water so that dirt will not stick to them, but then rinse thoroughly under running tap water before using.
2) Soak: First, pour about two cups of warm water into a bowl. Then add some dish soap to the top if you have it on hand. Next, place your solar light in the soapy water and leave for 10-15 minutes.
3) Scrub: Clean your solar light with a soft cloth, sponge or brush and then rinse it thoroughly when done.
4) Dry it completely: To dry your solar light completely, use a soft towel and store it in its holder before replacing it.
5) Remember What Goes Where: Remove any broken pieces from your solar lights before putting them back together. When you’re done cleaning, remember where everything goes in your solar light back compartment. This will make it much easier for you to put away your materials so they don’t get lost.
How Often Should I Clean My Solar Panels?
As a general rule, you only need to clean your solar panels once or twice each year. We recommend scheduling this cleaning routine during the spring. That will avoid the harsh summer heat and dangerous winter elements for optimal performance of your system as it’s done every time that season goes by!
You are advised to schedule annual cleaning routines during the spring. This will avoid summer, which can be very stressful and winter, which is harsh for solar panels.
If you live in the Southwest US, your solar panels might need extra attention. For example, if they accumulate too much dirt because of limited rainfall there. Or maybe your panel location near factories and other sources of pollution will need frequent cleaning.
How to clean solar lights (In methods)
Use a soft cloth or cloths that are not so rough that they cause the glass or plastic to scratch.
One of the best ways to clean solar lights without tears and jokes is to use a soft cloth or cloths that are not so rough that they cause the glass or plastic to scratch. This will help you get the dirt and oil off of the light, making it easier for you to clean it.
Depending on the type of solar lights, cleaning them every month might be good management. You must carefully read the directions in store for solar panel cleaning from your manufacturer. Maintenance can vary depending on the types of solar lights you use.
Use a mild detergent solution if it is difficult to get rid of the dirt and oil.
If the wipedown doesn’t work to get all the debris out of a panel, wash it more thoroughly. Wet a cloth or sponge and apply a dab of mild detergent solution on it. Scrub the panel until the filth has been removed. If you use your hand for this job, do not use the rough side. This could potentially damage the panel.
Wipe the panel off with a damp towel
Allow the shower dry with a clean cloth or towel. Remaining soap brings a residue from earlier use, and will cloud up the screen all over again. Wipe the screen off with a damp cloth.
If you continue using the panel, more soap will be applied and cloud up the screen as before. Use a dry cleaning the problem with a clean, slightly damp cloth.
Use a vacuum cleaner and bucket to suck the dirt and oil from the light
Vacuum the soil and dust from within the indoor solar-panel lights with a vacuum cleaner and trash can. It’s a time-consuming process, although you have the most opportunity to be successful while you’re doing this type of job.
You have to push the grating to get the dust from the solar panels, building a drawn-out process. Now that you think you are finished with the scraping and cleaning of the solar lights, you will have to vacuum the remaining particles.
Put the light back in its case and store it in a dry place.
Once solar lights have been sufficiently washed, and after you’ve carefully vacuumed the lights to make sure that all dust is gathered, allow the light to air-dry. Put the solar light in a safe location until it’s completely dry.
How to Protect Your Solar Light after you’re done
After you’re done cleaning your solar light, it’s important to protect it. Here are two tips that will help you keep your solar light in good condition, as well as extend its life.
1) Seal: You can easily protect the surface of your plastic case from water and grime by lightly coating it with a thin layer of clear sealant.
2) Store: Keep your solar light in a dry, cool place when not being used to avoid damage or malfunction.
Avoid Damage to Solar Lights with These Tips
You must use a lint-free cloth to wash down the solar panel. Make sure to remove any dirt, dust, or grime present on the solar panel, as these lights will be placed outdoors, making it susceptible to dirt, dust, and bugs. Clean the solar panel as soon as possible and effectively to remove any dirt, dust, and grime present on it.
As soon as you wash your soft clothes and place your cuticles back, make sure to use nail lacquer to stop dirt and dust from entering.
I wonder if auto headlight cleaner might work on the car headlight. It is intended to get rid of the yellowing on the plastic and allow it to regain its shape.
I carefully separate the battery into sections, rinse it well, and use a Q-tip to dry out each part. When each part is clean and dry, I put it back together with the battery.
At times the battery has become too corroded to set back together or the battery has shorted out, and I’ve needed to replace it. Other than cola, how else have I learned to cleanse corrosion from the battery connections? It has served me well.
Make sure you frequently clean outdoors lights to get rid of dust and debris; otherwise they will be less efficient. Afterward, it’s recommended you clean outdoor lights about once every 2 to 3 months.
What not to do when cleaning solar lights
Don’t use harsh chemicals or abrasives when cleaning solar lights. This can damage the light and affect its ability to absorb sunlight and generate power. Instead, use a soft cloth and a gentle detergent.
Do not use too much water to clean solar lights. The water can corrode the light and shorten its lifespan. Instead, use a dry cloth to clean them.
Avoid using a water hose to clean solar lights made from rubber. Water pressure can damage the light components.
Thoroughly clean the film with soft cloth products—such as damp cloths or microfiber cloths and not abrasive cleansers or scouring pads that can scratch the lens.
Solar lights do not support immersion in water. Never submerge such lights in the water, and parental supervision is required if you have them.
The benefit of Getting Rid of the Dust and Dirt
While rain helps wash solar panels and keep dirt away, it has several downsides that can cause noticeable performance problems on panels set at low angles.
Rain can have many effects on rooftop solar panels, including washing dirt off of them and increasing performance. Under low-angle exposure, however, rain comes with several downsides that decrease the overall efficiency of a solar panel system.
Rainwater is full of pollen and dirt. It can pool on the surface as well, especially if your panels are positioned lower than the glass surface. Once it evaporates, it leaves behind a muddy residue that has to be cleaned off!
In one set of their experiments, scientists studied 1.6MW of horizontal solar panels on flat carports in Mountain View, California and saw a doubling in energy production from them overnight! Eight months later they cleaned those same solar panels and were surprised when the output had gone up by 36%.
Wrapping up
Cleaning solar lights is easy. We have discussed it in short. Once again, I want to let you know that- To clean solar lights, you will need a bucket of warm water, a few drops of dish soap, and a soft cloth.
Dunk the cloth in the soapy water and wipe down the light. Be sure to rinse off all the soap before returning the light to its place.