Asked on Dec 28, 2015

What to do with non-working solar lights???

Sue King
by Sue King
I have several of the solar lights (the stake-type that go in the garden or along a walkway) and have not been able to toss them thinking there must be something creative that I could use them for. Any good ideas anyone?
  15 answers
  • BeverlyG BeverlyG on Dec 29, 2015
    My husband came up with a great idea. We took the solar top off the glass and removed the bulbs. We then painted the post. I used just any brand spray paint I had on hand. After the paint was dry, several coats worked best, we put them back together. Not including the solar top and bulbs. We planted little flowers in them and made a little border up our walk way. Yes, my husband's a genius, LOL
  • Judy72649 Judy72649 on Dec 29, 2015
    If you will paint the tops with CLEAR finger nail polish they will work again...
    • See 3 previous
    • Sue King Sue King on Dec 29, 2015
      I was really not asking how to fix the lights. I just hate to throw them away knowing some clever person will come up with a great idea to re-purpose them as soon as I do, but thanks for all of the replies and suggestions.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Dec 29, 2015
    I use them as plant stakes.
  • Kelly Kelly on Dec 29, 2015
    We painted ours with glow in the dark paint. It works well
  • Leslie Beacom Leslie Beacom on Dec 29, 2015
    I thought several of my lights were dead too, and threw many of them out. But did you know that all you have to do is replace the battery? I had no idea. And now they work again. I may try the finger nail polish idea but have no idea why that would work.
    • See 3 previous
    • Neva Dew Neva Dew on Dec 29, 2015
      @Andrea Robert Thanks. I get it now. Wasn't thinking in terms of the rechargeable ones. Don't know where I thought the energy from the sun was stored until needed at night. DUH!
  • Jeanette Jeanette on Dec 29, 2015
    all solar lights have batteries. I take all my batteries out of my lights in the winter and store in a cool dark place, that way they last longer. I live in a cold climate where the snow can bury my lights.
  • Elaine Freimuth Elaine Freimuth on Dec 29, 2015
    Great idea @Judy72649 thank you for sharing!
  • ColoradoUtah ColoradoUtah on Dec 29, 2015
    Did you check the batteries?
  • Carol Carol on Dec 29, 2015
    Sometimes there is a little break in the wires. This can be fixed. New battery and you will be with lights again.
  • Julie Pollock Julie Pollock on Dec 29, 2015
    The ones I have, I cant get the batteries for so I'm going to have a go at putting some glass paint in them and see how they look.
    • Tiz436685 Tiz436685 on Dec 06, 2019

      I have used old regular batteries and the lights worked again for months

  • Judy72649 Judy72649 on Dec 30, 2015
    The batteries are recharged by the sun, unless the wires are broken. Resolder those with ELECTRICAL solder. The nail polish tricks the light into sort of thinking they are wet and lets the sun do its work.
  • Judy72649 Judy72649 on Dec 30, 2015
    I had some old lights I used to highlight a Halloween display with. I wanted muted light which is what I got. I'm sure there's other things that can be done with them. How about using them in outdoor Christmas wreaths??? Might work...
  • Djr1236414 Djr1236414 on Dec 31, 2015
    If solar panel is cloudy, paint with clear nail polish.should recharge.
  • Inetia Inetia on Nov 20, 2016
    Glue upside down bowls on them and paint them like mushrooms. Glue glass jars on top to hold candles. Glue a craft store bird nest with eggs on it. They can be put in potted plants. Glue glass beads around them and fairies on top.
  • Sue King Sue King on Nov 20, 2016
    Thank you "ME". Some good ideas. I've made a mushroom and sat a garden gnome on it, but had not thought of the other ideas. i like the birds nest.....
    • Isobel Isobel on Nov 26, 2016

      I used the stands of my solar lights for my potted plants on the patio, Sue. My stands are hollow pipes, with open grooves at the bottom of the sharp ends. Stick them into you r pots as far as they will go, and when you water your pots, also pour some water into the pipes so that the water reaches the bottom roots of your plants. That is to say, if your stands also have the openings at the bottom!