Cleaning and Adjusting Outdoor Light Fixtures for the New Season

Warmer months are on the horizon ending what can sometimes feel like a long Winter season. As it starts to heat up, you may be considering doing some home improvement projects. One home project to add to your list is cleaning and adjusting your exterior lighting. With the Winter weather, many outdoor light fixtures may have become dusty or skewed. As part of your Spring cleaning, be sure to adjust any landscape or exterior lights you may have.

The first step. Cleaning exterior light fixtures. The great thing about outdoor lights is that they are generally wet-rated with specially sealed finishes to withstand the exterior environment. This makes cleaning somewhat straightforward. One way to clean your outdoor light fixtures is by turning your hose on a low setting and spraying down your lights. Be sure to wipe any glass parts dry with a lint-free or microfiber cloth to avoid leaving water streaks on your lights. You can also use Windex to remove dust from glass pieces on outdoor lights.

Another terrific option for a deeper clean is to remove any parts that can be removed and wash them with mild soap and water in the sink. Be sure to hand wash your light fixtures since the dishwasher is too harsh and might break or bend pieces of your fixture. See more light fixture cleaning tips here. 

The second step. Adjusting outdoor lights. During the Winter season, it's possible that many exterior light fixtures became loose. Be sure to tighten any screws or adjust any glass pieces. You should also straighten any fixtures so they aren't leaning to one side. Additionally, check your landscape lights. Many lights will need to be dug into the ground again or repositioned so they are lighting the proper space. Home Depot offers great insight on Installing Landscape Lighting. 

The third step. Checking the light components. Outdoor lighting isn't just about aesthetics, it's also about safety. Outdoor lights that no longer give off light can be just as much a safety issue as a faulty home alarm system. 

Replace any burned-out light bulbs with new ones. For outdoor lights, we recommend at least a 75W equivalent light bulb to produce the proper amount of lumens needed for outdoor light fixtures. If you have any integrated LED lights that are burned out replace the LED modules with new ones. If this is not an option for your specific light fixture, it may be time to replace your light.

And finally, if you have light fixtures older than 10-15 years that are in disrepair it may be worth it to consider replacing those light fixtures. Lighting Design offers many outdoor light fixture options. Generally, it's a good idea to replace light fixtures every 10-15 years. This should help keep your home more updated as well as continually give you brighter and better home lighting.