How to Squeeze Every Last Drop from Your Old Solar Lights This Winter

Don’t want to spend a dime? Let’s get tactical with what you have.

The Free Fixes:

The Aluminum Foil Trick: Cut and shape foil into a reflector behind/around the solar panel. It can bounce extra light onto the cell. It’s ugly, but it works.

The Daily Rotation: Physically pick up your path lights every sunny morning and lay them on their sides, panels facing the sun, in the middle of your driveway or patio. At dusk, stick them back in the ground. Maximum sun exposure.

The Battery Swap-a-Roo: Take the batteries from lights in totally dark areas and put them in the lights in your most important spot (like by the front door). Consolidate your power.

The $5 Fix: Hit a thrift store or garage sale. Find an old solar garden light. Steal its battery and panel if they’re in better shape than yours. Franken-light your way to victory.

It’s not pretty, but it’s thrifty.