Want to flood the inside of your home with natural light, while enjoying unique views outside, with the added bonus of adding value to your property? If so, then skylights are the way to go.
Skylights don’t just look the part, they’re also very practical too. They’re a great way to naturally illuminate the inside of your house without harsh artificial lighting, plus with vented skylights you can get some fresh air, remove bad smells and steam, and get some air circulation going to prevent mold and mildew.
While there are heaps of benefits of skylights, with very few drawbacks, one of the main issues that homeowners have is cleaning them regularly. Because they’re found in the ceiling/on the roof of your home, it is harder to clean them. Then of course, as they’re exposed to the elements so much, the outside of them can get pretty dirty.
For polycarbonate skylights, rather than using harsh chemical cleaners which are bad for the material, and bad for the environment, more skylight owners are instead using natural methods.
Here are several eco-friendly cleaning solutions for polycarbonate skylights.
Clean Regularly
Yes, we know we’re talking about eco-friendly skylight cleaning solutions, but stick with us, because we are going somewhere with this first tip.
A fantastic eco-friendly cleaning tip for polycarbonate skylights is simply to clean them regularly, rather than leaving them for several months, or even years. By keeping on top of the cleaning and keeping your polycarbonate skylights looking clean and fresh, you can stop them getting all grubby and dirty later on down the line.
The dirtier your skylights are, the harder they will be to clean. If you leave them to get into a real mess, water alone just won’t cut it. That’s when people may turn to harsh chemical cleaners, which we’re looking to avoid using.
By keeping them fairly clean, when you do wish to clean them thoroughly you won’t need to use any chemicals that are bad for the environment.
Consider Self-Cleaning Glass
If your budget will allow for it, self-cleaning glass for your skylights will definitely help in terms of maintenance and keeping your skylights looking their best.
Self-cleaning glass is a unique type of glass that features a surface that stays clear of dirt, dust, grime, and watermarks. Just be aware, that for low-pitched skylights, it’s not always ideal.
Even though self-cleaning glass stays clean for longer, it’s not a miracle product. It will still need to be cleaned fairly regularly, plus of course, there’s the polycarbonate surrounds to consider too. If you want less maintenance however, it is definitely worth considering.
Eco-Friendly Soap and Water
One of the simplest, and most effective ways of keeping your skylights looking clean and sparkly is to use an eco-friendly soap and water solution to clean them.
With so much talk of climate change over the years, we’re seeing more and more products now becoming green and environmentally friendly. This includes soap and cleaning solutions.
For optimal results, source an eco-friendly soap from a reputable brand and add a few drops to a bucket filled with warm water. Work it into a lather, get plenty of bubbles and use a clean microfiber dish cloth or sponge.
Safely and carefully get into a position where you can clean the skylight glass and the polycarbonate surround and give it a good wipe down. Use plenty of soap and water and leave it for a few minutes to loosen the dirt and grime. That way everything will come away much easier.
Once you’ve cleaned the skylight and the surrounding area thoroughly, go ahead and give everything a good rinse to remove all of the soap and debris. You can then use a squeegee and/or microfiber cloth to dry the glass to prevent watermarks and streaking.
Water and Vinegar
Perhaps the ultimate eco-friendly cleaning solution, if you’re looking for ways of keeping your skylights clean, and being kind to the environment in the process, water and vinegar is the way to go.
Vinegar is one of the most effective natural cleaning ingredients ever discovered. Not only does it easily cut through dirt and grease, it also possesses natural antibacterial properties which makes it great for protecting against germs and bacteria as well.
Vinegar contains acetic acid which helps to break down limescale, mineral deposits from water, and soap scum. It also serves as a natural solvent. Using vinegar and water on your skylight glass is a great way to get your glass sparkling. The polycarbonate surround will also come up like brand new.
Simply combine 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water, apply liberally to the affected area, and then simply wipe down and rinse away. Don’t worry about the harsh vinegar smell either. It’s only temporary and will go away in a matter of hours.
Water and Elbow Grease
If you really want to be environmentally conscious however, one of the best things you can do to keep your polycarbonate skylights clean and tidy is simply use water and good old-fashioned elbow grease.
Water, as you know, is a natural resource. It’s essential for all life on earth and it is perfectly natural. Using it to clean your skylights is of course one of the greenest cleaning methods you could wish for. Of course, water out of your faucet is fine, though it will have been treated to make it drinkable. To really help the environment, however, you could set up a simple rainwater harvest system and use recycled rainwater to clean your skylights instead.
If you do use water, just be aware that you’ll need to do a lot of scrubbing to cut through all the dirt and grime. It is hard work, but it’s good cardiovascular exercise. You will also likely need several cloths, depending upon how dirty your skylights actually are.
