How to Clean Led Light Strips | Easy 12 Steps (2024)

Led light strips are a great way to add accent lighting to your home. They are easy to install and provide a bright, even light that is perfect for setting the mood in any room. Led light strips are also very energy efficient, saving you money on your electric bill. If you’re looking for a way to clean your LED light strips, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to clean led light strips using some simple household items. So, if you’re ready, let’s get started.

Summary: If your LED light strips are dirty, you can easily clean them using a cloth or a damp paper towel. Simply wet the cloth or paper towel and wring it out. Then, use the cloth or paper towel to gently wipe down the strip. Be sure to avoid the LED lights themselves, as this could damage them.

What Causes LED Light Strips to Get Dirty?

A few factors can cause your LED light strips to become dirty. The most common cause is dust. Dust can accumulate on the surface of your light strips, and over time, it can start to cause the light strips to appear dull or yellowed. Another common cause of dirt and grime on LED light strips is water. If you live in an area with high humidity or have a lot of condensation on your light strips, this can cause them to become dirty. Finally, if you use your light strips in a high-traffic area, such as a kitchen or a living room, they may start to accumulate fingerprints or other smudges.

Why Is It Important to Clean Your LED Light Strips?

It’s important to clean your LED light strips for two reasons. First, dirty light strips can cause the light to appear dimmed or yellowed, which can ruin the ambiance you’re trying to create in your home. Second, dirty light strips can shorten the lifespan of your LEDs. When dust or grime builds up on the surface of your light strip, it can cause the LEDs to overheat, damaging them and causing them to fail prematurely. If you want your LED light strips to last a long time, keeping them clean is important.

Dirty Light Strips Can Shorten the Lifespan

Things You’ll Need

A soft, clean cloth
Mild soap
Water
A vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment

A Complete Guide on How to Clean Led Light Strips

1. Unplug Your Led Light Strip

Before cleaning your LED light strip, unplug it from the power source to prevent accidentally damaging the LEDs with water or soap. To do this, unplug the power adapter from the wall outlet or switch off the circuit breaker. If your light strip is battery-operated, remove the batteries before beginning to clean.

2. Remove the Led Light Strip from the Surface

Next, you’ll need to remove the LED light strip from its mounting surface. If your light strip is adhesive-backed, peel it off of the surface. If your light strip is mounted with screws, remove the screws and carefully pull the light strip away from the surface. Be careful not to damage the LEDs or wiring as you remove the light strip.

3. Vacuum the Led Light Strip

First, you need to remove the light strip from the surface. Then, you need to use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to gently remove any dust or debris on the light strip’s surface. Be sure to vacuum both sides of the light strip if it’s double-sided tape. If your light strip is dirty, you may need to vacuum it a few times to remove all the dirt and grime.

4. Clean the Surface of the Led Light Strip

After vacuuming the light strip, it’s time to clean the surface. You’ll need a soft, clean cloth and some mild soap to do this. Wet the cloth with warm water and add a few drops of soap. Gently wipe the surface of the light strip with the soapy cloth to remove any remaining dirt or grime. Once the surface is clean, use a dry cloth to wipe it down and remove any soap residue. Be sure to clean both sides of the light strip if it’s double-sided.

5. Rinse the Led Light Strip

Once you’ve cleaned the surface of the light strip, it’s time to rinse it off. To do this, hold the light strip under warm running water and let the water run over it for a few seconds. If your light strip is dirty, you may need to rinse it a few times to remove all the soap and dirt.

6. Use Soap and Water

If your light strip is still dirty after vacuuming and rinsing, you may need to use soap and water. To do this, wet a cloth with warm water and add a few drops of mild soap. Gently wipe the surface of the light strip with the soapy cloth to remove any remaining dirt or grime.

7. Use Vinegar and Water

If soap and water aren’t enough to clean your light strip, you may need to use vinegar and water. To do this, mix equal parts vinegar and water in a bowl. Wet a cloth with the vinegar solution and gently wipe the surface of the light strip. This will remove any stubborn dirt or grime.

8. Use Isopropyl Alcohol

If your light strip is very dirty, you may need to use isopropyl alcohol to clean it. This is a strong cleaning agent that will remove stubborn dirt and grime. To use it, simply wet a cloth with isopropyl alcohol and wipe the surface of the light strip. Alcohol can damage some plastics, so test it on a small area of the light strip before using it on the entire strip.

9. Use a Microfiber Cloth

If you don’t have any cleaning agents on hand, you can use a microfiber cloth to clean your light strip. Microfiber cloths are made of a soft, lint-free material that won’t scratch the surface of the light strip. To use a microfiber cloth, simply wet it with water and wipe the surface of the light strip. If your light strip is filthy, you may need to use a little soap.

10. Use Cleaning Gels

If you can’t clean your light strip with any of the methods above, you may need to use cleaning gels. Cleansing gels are designed to remove stubborn dirt and grime from hard-to-reach places. To use a cleaning gel, simply squirt a small amount onto the surface of the light strip and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, use a cloth to wipe away the gel and dirt.

11. Use Baking Soda

If you’re out of cleaning gel, you can use baking soda and water to clean your light strip. To do this, mix equal parts baking soda and water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the surface of the light strip and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, use a cloth to wipe away the paste and dirt.

12. Dry the Led Light Strip

After cleaning your light strip, it’s important to dry it off. To do this, simply use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away any moisture. You can also use a hair dryer on the low setting to speed up the drying process. If your light strip is still wet, it can attract dirt and dust, so be sure to dry it off completely before storing it.

How Often Should You Clean Your Led Light Strip?

It would help if you cleaned your light strip as often as needed to keep it looking its best. If you use your light strip regularly, you may need to clean it once a week or more. However, if you use it occasionally, you may only need to clean it once a month. If you notice that your light strip is starting to look dirty, be sure to clean it as soon as possible.

Tips and Warnings on How to Clean Led Light Strips

Tips:

Always use a lint-free cloth when cleaning your LED light strips to avoid leaving behind any fibers that could end up clogging the lights.
If you are using a liquid cleaner, be sure to apply it sparingly and wipe it off immediately to avoid damaging the strip or causing it to malfunction.
Never use chemicals such as acetone, alcohol, or petroleum-based cleaners on your LED light strips, as they can damage delicate components.
Always unplug your LED light strips before cleaning them to avoid the risk of electrical shock.
If your LED light strips are difficult to reach, consider using a dusting wand or other similar tools to help you clean them.

Warnings:

Avoid using abrasive cleaners or scrubbers on your LED light strips as they can damage the delicate surface.
Never soak your LED light strips in any cleaner, as this could also damage them.
Be sure to dry your LED light strips thoroughly after cleaning to avoid any moisture from causing them to malfunction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Take Led Strips Off and Put Them Back on?

It is possible to take Led strips off and put them back on, but it’s important to be careful. If the strip becomes loose or comes off during wear, there is a risk of electric shock. Additionally, if the lead sulfide particles are inhaled, they can cause health problems such as lung cancer. It’s therefore important to keep your strip securely attached at all times when wearing it.

Do Led Strips Damage Walls?

How Long Do Led Strip Lights Last?

Most people assume that LED strip lights will eventually burn out, but the reality is that the lifespan of LED strip lights varies depending on a variety of factors. In general, LED strip lights are designed to last anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 hours. However, this lifespan is highly dependent on a number of factors, including the type of light that’s being used, how it’s being used, and the environment in which it’s being used. So, while a LED strip light may not last forever, it should last for a fairly long time overall.

Can You Paint Led Strips?

Yes, you can paint led strips! There are a few things that you will need in order to do this, including a painter’s tape measure, Led light strips or other lighting kits, and painter’s canvas.

Beginning by measuring the length of the strip that you want to paint (this should be shorter than the width of your canvass), mark it off on your tape measure. Then take care to fold back one end of the taped section so that it forms a right triangle with both ends pointing toward each other. This is known as an “upright” position for painting lights because it allows more even illumination down onto the surface being painted. Next, use painter’s canvas (preferably heavyweight) and roll up one side about two-thirds of the way; then unroll enough so that both sides form a long rectangle parallel to each other but slightly overlapping upon itself. Make sure there are no wrinkles or creases in either fabric – these could create shadows when illuminated by LEDs later on. Finally, secure both edges neatly with some additional Painter’s Tape before positioning LED Strips over top according to how bright or dark you would like them to appear against your backdrop/painting substrate.

Conclusion

This article has provided you with a comprehensive guide on how to clean led light strips. LED light strips are a great way to add some extra light to your home, and they’re easy to clean too! Just follow these simple steps, and your LED strip will look good as new. Thanks for reading. We hope this was helpful!