The solar panels will not gather enough sunlight. If you find damage, you may be able to order and replace just the damaged parts. They are one of the best environmentally friendly solutions in regard to outdoor lighting. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. For instance, if you live in the Southwestern states, like Arizona or Texas, you need to wash them more frequently. Plastic solar garden lights are a great addition to your property. This process may be used to restore the plastic coverings on other solar cell products. This is a problem for two reasons. While you will certainly position them so that the solar panels can capture maximum sunlight when you install them, it is possible that a guest, pet, wildlife or rake may have knocked one or more of them out of position. Dry thoroughly to remove any soapy residue. Moreover, it will loosen caked-on dirt. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Put special solar batteries in after you clean the terminals. Rainwater leaves behind a film of dirt and grime and this is sometimes much harder to clean off compared to regular dirt and dust. This process may be used to restore the plastic coverings on other solar cell products. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. References. Do not pour water on broken lights, as electric shock may occur. These are underneath the panel and inside the light globe. The sunlight needs to directly hit the solar panels so they can recharge the lights’ batteries. You will know your batteries need to be replaced when your lights consistently stay on shorter periods of time at night, when the light becomes dimmer or when your solar lights stop working completely. Polish the plastic with a car wax containing UV blockers. The car wax does not prevent the operation of the solar cell. It is best to give your solar garden lights a light dusting every month or so. Use your solar light instructions to help you disassemble your lights. This is a problem for two reasons. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Once you have disassembled your lights you should be able to locate the solar battery. On the other hand, if you live in a place that is quite dry and dusty most of the time, you should hose down the solar panels every chance you get so that the dust will not accumulate and wash them every 3 to 4 months. The more common case is simply having interior wires connecting your on-fixture solar panel to the batteries. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. What this means for you is that your lights will turn off after just an hour or so of operation during the night. If your fixtures are separate from the solar panels, you will have a wire connecting the two that can be chewed by wildlife or pets. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Remember to always check the cleaning directions from the manufacturer of your lights. Fill a bucket with warm water and mix just enough mild detergent to work up a bit of a lather. Solar panels that have a layer of dust or other debris cannot fully charge the battery during sunlight hours. If your lights still are not working properly, it is time to change the batteries. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. % of people told us that this article helped them. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. You may need a soft-bristled brush to remove mud and stubborn debris. All Rights Reserved. Fill a bucket with warm water and with a cleaning solution. Dry with another terry towel to remove any left over dirt or residue. The first thing to do is to simply clean the solar panels to make sure that dirty panels are not the culprit in your shorter battery life. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This also applies if you live near the freeway. If the outer layer of the solar panels is made of tempered glass, you can use window cleaner too. Avoid the kind with a scouring pad, though, as that will scuff up the surface of the solar panels and decrease their efficiency. Cleaning a cloudy solar panel system is as easy as cleaning a glass window; they should be cleaned once every six months to ensure proper solar absorption. Step 1 - Getting Ready. If there are none, then you can proceed with the rest of the instructions. After you have cleaned the panel you can turn your attention to the outer shell of the solar garden lights which you have disassembled in your first step. Keeping them clean and well kept will avoid extra expenses. Rub the car wax onto the plastic surface then wipe the residue away. The first issue is that your outdoor lights will not stay on as long after dark, because the battery will not have enough stored energy. Clean the solar panels. Do clean the solar panels when it is cool outside. Light corrosion can often be removed with a soft-bristle brush. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. After watching endless videos on how to clean solar path lights that have quit working because the solar panels on top had turned white. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. A few easy maintenance steps can help clean cloudy solar lights. Keep in mind that these lights are placed outdoors, so dirt, dust, and bugs will be easily deposited on top of the panel. It is because aside from providing illumination during the night, they also have the added benefit of being an environmentally friendly way of beautifying your home. You will also know when it is time to give your solar garden lights a good cleaning when you notice the lights flickering or turning off earlier than expected during the night. Aside from removing dust and dirt, you also need to watch out for falling leaves and other debris from the plants and trees in your yard. You may have to re-wet the cloth to remove all the soap. Remember that it is very important to clean them regularly so that sunlight is not obstructed from reaching the collector panel, especially since that is the only energy source these lights have. Do not use any other cleaning agents, like bleach as this will damage the surface. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. home improvement and repair website. Water could damage the electronics if it drips into the panel. If they are, clear out the leaves using a leaf blower or a rake. Monitor your lights and clean them when they’ve accumulated a layer of debris. However, keep in mind that such is not truly the case. 2. Don’t pour the vinegar out. Not only will they scuff up the surface of the panels, thus diminishing their efficiency, they will also cause the metal components to rust. Cleaning the glass or plastic globes ensures that dirt and dust are not inhibiting illumination. This is negligence on the part of the owner. This might even mean that you will not need to claim the warranty at all. If your garden lights do not come with special cleaning instructions, you can just clean them using plain soapy water. I am looking to install gard... Wiring a Light Switch with Multiple Lights, What to Look for in Solar Landscape Lighting, 5 Tips for Installing an Outdoor Light Switch. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Clean-Solar-Lights-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Solar-Lights-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Clean-Solar-Lights-Step-1.jpg\/aid11612722-v4-728px-Clean-Solar-Lights-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":" \u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 10,839 times. Solar panels are exposed to mother nature 24 hours a day and they can get dirty very quickly from rain, dust, pollen, chimney ashes and various other environmental debris. of vinegar in a plastic bucket. If you allow dirt and dust to accumulate on top of the solar panels, they will cause quite a lot of damage. For instance, cars might seem sparkling clean after a strong rain shower, but wait until all that water dries up, and you will see that a lot of dirt is left behind by the rainwater. Sitemap. If you use a sponge for this job, don’t use the rough side. If so, spray a second coat and let it dry for 30 minutes. The UV blockers in the car wax protect the plastic from clouding during exposure to the sun. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The Best Solar Powered Pool Lights of 2020, The Best Solar Motion Security Lights of 2020, The Best Solar Generators for Camping for 2020, The Best Solar Car Battery Chargers for 2020, The Best Deep Cycle Battery Chargers for 2020. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Because your lights rely on sunlight, this task will need to be completed regularly. John Malone House Elizabeth, Colorado,
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