Picture this. You get back home after a long day of work, switch on your lights, and alas!! You’re in darkness. But, everyone around you has their lights on. And, a further check confirms that other lights in your home are working well. Sounds familiar? Well, proper care of your lighting products can save you from these annoying and costly inconveniences. Good lighting maintenance helps reduce energy costs, enhances durability, and keeps them looking good for longer.
Read on to learn how to take proper care of your lighting products.
How to Maintain Your LED Lighting System
LED lights are one of the easiest lighting designs to maintain in today’s market. They’re also one of the most. Here are a few steps you can take to keep them looking great and performing effectively.
Ensure Proper Installation
While they’re easy to install, LED lights need careful positioning. This is because most use of them use an adhesive mount which shouldn’t be tampered with once it’s set up. Like every sticking option, they tend to become ineffective when repositioned often.
You should also ensure that the surface where you want to install it is clean and smooth for secure attachment. You can sand down uneven surfaces and wipe down polished exteriors with rubbing alcohol.
Avoid Moisture
Most LED components are prone to rust. To prevent this, it’s best to keep them away from this weather element and ensure that you dry them completely when exposed.
You can use a dry microfiber cloth or paper towel to do this. Ensure you do this for weather-resistant LED lights too. You can never be too careful.
Regular Cleaning
Over time, your LED lights are bound to pick up some dust and dirt and require some cleaning. Lighting products in the kitchen tend to get spatter from oils accumulating on the fixtures.
To clean them, you can use a warm, damp microfiber towel. You can also rub down the fixture with alcohol especially if it requires heavy cleaning. Don’t scrub the lights and avoid using abrasive cleaning solutions because they can corrode the coating and damage the fitting.
Check Your Connection points
Like most lighting fixtures, LED lights can suffer wear and tear over their time of use. To maintain efficient performance, it’s recommended that homeowners regularly check the fitting’s connection points.
The connectors tend to come loose over time and catching them early on helps to ensure that further damage doesn’t occur. A common sign of loose connection points in your LED lighting is flickering lights.
Install Dimmers and Smart Controls
Apart from the convenience that dimmers and smart controls provide, they significantly help to enhance the efficiency of your lighting fixtures. This translates into enhanced longevity and reduced wear and tear within the components of your lighting system.
As a result, you can significantly narrow down your repair and replacement costs. Dimmers and smart controls are one of the quick-fix solutions for most lighting issues in the home.
Ensure Proper Temperature Regulation
Most LED lighting fixtures are susceptible to temperature fluctuations. This means that extreme high-heat environments can affect their durability and performance. To avoid these, ensure that your home is well-ventilated and place your fixtures in areas with adequate air circulation. This promotes longevity.
Minimize On/Off Cycling
LED lighting is a popular choice for most homeowners thanks to its energy efficiency and durability. However, constantly turning your lights on and off can affect the electrical components in your fixtures. The constant surge and fluctuation in the flow of electrical current cause degradation lowering the performance of your LED lights.
How to Maintain Your Lamps Correctly
Proper care for your lamps helps improve their performance and extend their lifespan. Frequent cleaning plays a huge role in ensuring proper maintenance. Here’s what you can do to keep your lamps in great condition.
- For light cleaning, you can dust these light fixtures using a clean, soft rag or feathered duster to prevent buildup. However, if the lamp is too dirty, you can use a mild cleaning detergent solution. It’s highly effective in cutting through grime and dirt leaving your light fixtures sparkling new. Remember to wipe them dry before turning on your lights to prevent electrical hazards.
- If your lamp has a fabric shade, you’ll have to take on a different cleaning technique. You can a lint roller, or a brush attachment connected to a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust. Be gentle, especially when using the brush attachment because too much suction can destroy the fabric material.
- When trying to remove stains, spot cleaning is best. Simply mix a vinegar-water mix or use a mild cleaning detergent solution. Make sure to rinse and leave the shade to dry for at least two hours before using your light fixture.
Additional Tips and Tricks for Proper Lamp Care
For lamps with a metallic finish, you can use non-abrasive polish to restore their shine after wiping them clean with a damp microfiber towel. You can also apply a protective wax to the surface and buff it for a long-lasting effect.
Be aware that the lamp shouldn’t be connected to the power supply during this process. Also, ensure that the polish doesn’t get to your lamp’s electrical components because it can result in electrical faults.
You should also routinely check and promptly replace the bulbs on your lamp if they show any signs of damage like blackening and flickering. Make sure to replace the right bulb with proper wattage to avoid issues like overheating which can damage the light fixture. Also, remember to place your lamps in well-ventilated spots in your home to avoid this issue.
Whether you’re looking to maintain your desk, table, or floor lamps, these care tips will have them looking bright, shiny, and performing optimally for the perfect interior décor look.
Brighten Up Your Space With Proper Light Fixture Maintenance
Taking proper care of your lighting products doesn’t have to be an extreme chore. According to the U.S Department of Energy, the lighting in your home can drop by up to 30% as a result of dirty lighting products.
While this article emphasizes on proper care of LED light fittings and lamps, the tips provided cut across almost all lighting products. By following them, you’re sure to keep your lighting fixtures sparkling new and performing efficiently for a prolonged time.