Cleaning Light Switches: 7 Simple Household Tricks

They can become genuine bacteria traps and real dirt magnets.

When giving a home a thorough clean, most people wipe the floors, worktops and perhaps the windows as well. Smaller details are easily overlooked, especially light switches. Fingerprints, grease, dust and germs build up there in particular. With a few traditional household remedies and straightforward steps, you can make switches shine again without buying expensive specialist cleaners.

Before cleaning light switches: safety always comes first

Before you start cleaning, there is one brief but essential task: make the electrical supply safe.

• Switch off the relevant circuit for the room at the consumer unit.
• If you are unsure, turn off the power for the entire home instead.
• Never work on a switch with a soaking-wet cloth.

Your cloth should be only slightly damp. Liquid running into gaps and crevices can damage the mechanism and, in the worst case, become dangerous once the electricity is switched back on. For this reason, never spray cleaners directly onto a switch; apply them to the cloth instead.

“Basic rule: switch off the power, only dampen the cloth and never spray directly – then cleaning light switches remains safe.”

Trick 1: White household vinegar for grease and bacteria

Household vinegar has long been a staple of the cleaning cupboard. It is also effective on light switches: it cuts through grease, neutralises odours and has a mild disinfecting effect.

Proceed as follows:

• Turn off the electricity.
• Pour a little warm water into a bowl and add a splash of vinegar.
• Dip in a cotton cloth and wring it out very thoroughly until it is only slightly damp.
• Carefully wipe the switch face and surround.
• Buff with a dry cloth.

A few drops of lemon juice in the vinegar water give it a fresher scent. The plastic used for most switches tolerates this mixture well, provided you avoid vigorous scrubbing and use small, gentle movements.

Trick 2: Bicarbonate of soda for yellowed plastic light switches

Light switches can gradually take on a yellowish tint in smoking households, dark hallways or poorly ventilated rooms. The discolouration immediately makes them look old and grubby, even where everything else is clean. This is where bicarbonate of soda comes in.

Use it as follows:

• Mix a few spoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda with a little water to make a thick paste.
• Switch off the power, then apply the paste with a soft cloth or an old toothbrush.
• Rub lightly without pressing, so the plastic is not scratched.
• Leave it to work for a few minutes.
• Remove it with a damp cloth and dry the surface immediately.

If you need extra grease-cutting power, add a little mild soap to the paste. This also works well on stubborn nicotine marks or grey films of dirt.

Trick 3: Traditional soft soap for everyday dirt

Solid soap bars, often associated with laundry washing, are not only useful in the bathroom. A mild soft soap or vegetable-oil soap is equally suitable for switches and other plastic surfaces.

Method:

• Add a few soap flakes to a bowl of warm water.
• Stir until the water looks slightly cloudy and soapy.
• Dip in a cloth and wring it out extremely well.
• Wipe the light switch and its surround carefully.
• Use a second, barely damp cloth to remove soap residue.
• Finally, dry everything thoroughly.

This method is particularly suitable for regular cleaning routines where switches are only lightly soiled.

Trick 4: Rubbing alcohol for thorough hygiene

Anyone who wants surfaces to be as low in germs as possible can use rubbing alcohol from a chemist or supermarket. It generally contains a high proportion of ethanol and removes microorganisms much more reliably than water and soap alone.

Use it this way:

• Put a small amount of alcohol, at around 70 per cent, onto a slightly damp cloth.
• Rub the light switch surface carefully.
• As it evaporates quickly, further polishing is usually unnecessary.

Conveniently, alcohol leaves no streaks, dries rapidly and gives a lightly glossy finish. As it is flammable, do not use it directly beside naked flames or hot hob rings. It is also best to wear household gloves to stop your skin drying out.

Trick 5: Solvent for paint splashes

After decorating, tiny specks of paint often remain on light switches. If they are tough coatings such as synthetic-resin or epoxy paint, mild household cleaners may not be enough. In that case, a specialist solvent can be the final solution.

A typical approach is:

• Mix a small quantity of a suitable solvent with a little vinegar.
• Dab it on with a clean cloth rather than rubbing.
• Leave it to work for around 20–30 minutes.
• Wipe afterwards with a damp cloth.

This option is suitable only for tough, hard-wearing switch surfaces. If in doubt, first test it in an inconspicuous spot to see whether the plastic becomes dull or discoloured.

Trick 6: Cotton buds for gaps and edges

Most of the dirt is not found on the smooth surface, but in the narrow joints around the switch button. Cotton buds are helpful here – a small tool with a major effect.

Application:

• Dampen a cotton bud with vinegar water, soapy water or diluted alcohol.
• Wipe off any excess liquid so that nothing drips.
• Carefully run it along the edges, into corners and through small grooves.

“Keeping these tiny spaces clean makes an enormous visual difference – the entire switch immediately looks better cared for.”

Trick 7: Clean removable switch covers in a water bath

Many modern light switches have clip-on frames or covers. Where this is the case, cleaning is especially convenient.

Make use of this as follows:

• Turn off the power and carefully remove the cover, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Place the covers in a bowl of hot water with a little washing-up liquid or soap.
• Leave them to soak for several hours.
• Rub them with a soft sponge until all dirt has loosened.
• Rinse under clean water and dry thoroughly.
• Refit them only once they are completely dry.

The electrical unit itself remains untouched and dry in the wall. This combines intensive cleaning with a high level of safety.

How often should light switches be cleaned?

There is no fixed schedule. It makes sense to include switches in your usual cleaning routine. In frequently used areas such as the kitchen, hallway, children’s bedroom or downstairs loo, a quick wipe every one to two weeks is often enough. In rooms that are rarely used, a monthly check is sufficient.

Room	Recommended cleaning
Kitchen	weekly to every two weeks
Bathroom / downstairs loo	every two weeks
Hallway	every two to four weeks
Living room and bedrooms	once a month
Cellar / storage rooms	as required

Hygiene factor: why light switches are real germ hotspots

Light switches are among the typical touch surfaces in every home. Everyone presses them several times a day, often with unwashed hands, yet hardly anyone thinks about this in everyday life. Especially during cold season, regular cleaning can help reduce the germ load in the home.

It is therefore worth paying closer attention to these spots in households with young children, people with allergies or those with weakened immune systems. Rubbing alcohol or vinegar solutions offer a sensible balance between effort and effectiveness.

What applies to modern switches and smart-home systems

Many newer switches feature glossy glass surfaces, touch controls or built-in electronics. The same basic rules apply: turn off the power, do not use sodden cloths, and avoid aggressive abrasives or scratchy sponges.

Slightly damp microfibre cloths are particularly suitable for glass surfaces. Anyone uncertain should consult the manufacturer’s documentation, as it often gives specific guidance on permitted cleaners and those that could damage the surface.

In the end, simple products such as vinegar water, bicarbonate of soda paste and soapy water are usually enough when combined with careful drying. If you do this regularly, there is rarely any need for scrubbing – and the switches will still look as though they have just been fitted.