How to clean outdoor lighting
Anything you install outdoors can be very difficult to clean due to excessive exposure to dirt, dust, and other natural elements that indoor installations are not exposed to. This is the reason why many people find it difficult to clean their outdoor lighting. This carelessness often leads to dirty, damaged, or broken light fixtures. Instead of making your outdoor space brighter and more attractive, broken and useless outdoor lights just become eye nuisances that you just want to get rid of.
Installing outdoor lighting is not cheap, which is why you should take care of your outdoor lights by cleaning them regularly. Here are some tips you can use if you plan to clean up your outdoor lighting.
o Unplug the light fixture from the electrical outlet or turn it off. You don’t want to electrocute yourself cleaning exterior lights.
o Prepare a ladder. You may have some very tall outdoor lights that you won’t be able to reach without the help of a ladder. However, be careful. Make sure the ladder is properly secured before climbing it, unless you want to break your neck.
o The bulb is always enclosed in grids, globes or other casings. Remove the casing first. You may need screwdrivers to do this. Once you have removed the housing, remove the bulb by turning it counter-clockwise. If you are on a ladder, climb down and proceed to clean the parts.
o You must use warm water with dishwashing soap to wash all parts except the light bulb. Soak all the parts in the soapy water and leave them.
o Prepare another bucket of soapy water. You will use it to clean the parts that you could not disassemble. Use a sponge and soak it in soapy water and use it to clean the other parts.
o Rinse everything – fixed and loose parts with clean water. Wipe them with a clean, dry cloth or let them test if the weather permits.
o To keep your exterior lights looking bright and like new, you can apply wax to metal parts or a special cleaner for glass parts.
o If the bulb is still working, clean it with a damp cloth. But if it doesn’t work anymore, just replace it with a new one.
o Finally, put everything back together correctly and after just a few hours, your outdoor lights will be lighting your outdoor space again.