There are so many of us who will put up outdoor lights around our home in the hopes of creating a yard that looks beautiful. Some of us install them as a way to provide protection around our home when night falls. Over time these prove useful to us – but we forget that they are out there and like anything that we own it requires maintenance.
It is important to clean the light fixtures that are outside. Although these are designed to stand up against all kinds of weather conditions they still need to be cleaned every few months. When we leave them be they will begin to lose that quality that we loved about them and they may even break.
Cleaning each of them is not that difficult. The hardest thing will be trying to keep any water from getting into the sockets. If you can keep this from happening than you should have no problems.
What To Do
The first thing you need to do is turn the light switch off. You are working with water and if it comes into contact you are going to get a hard shock.
If you are working on the wall lights higher up on the house than obtain a ladder that will reach it. Make sure that you have someone to hold it steady for you so you do not fall off.
Use a screwdriver to remove the globes, grills, or shields. Place these to the side and remove the light bulb. If the bulb is still good place it in a safe place where it will not break.
Fill two buckets with hot water and dish detergent. Place the globes, grills, or shields into the water and scrub them clean with a sponge or rag. Make sure that you remove all of the dirt caked on to keep them from becoming dingy. Use a small rag to wipe down the light fixture. Be careful not to get any water in the socket.
Rinse off the pieces you took off the fixture and dry them off. When everything is fully dry you can apply wax or polish to the metal fixture. Use a glass cleaner on the shades to give them an extra shine. Use a dry rag to wipe down the light bulbs or replace them as needed.