Winter often brings rain, wind, snow and lots of built-up grime by the time it’s over. Harsh weather can be especially tough on outdoor home security cameras. You paid for all those pixels — the last thing you want is dust clouding the lens or interfering with AI object recognition that detects packages and faces.
That makes spring is the perfect time of year for a quick clean and check-up on your security cams so they’re ready for the warmer days. Here are the steps we’ve found work best.
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Take down the cam and clean off the dirt
It’s time to wipe or blow away all the accumulated dust on your cameras.
If possible, dismount or detach your camera so you have easier access. Start by cleaning off built-up dirt all around the camera — we like to use a can of compressed air, but a small soft cloth works well, too, especially with stuck-on grim.
Don’t blast the lens directly with air. Instead, focus on its edges where dust can accumulate. Pay close attention to the lines around any battery compartments or port covers; you don’t want any dust getting past the cam’s chassis.
If you live near the ocean, your camera may have some salt build-up because of the windy winter. Use a cloth to carefully wipe away any salty accumulation, keeping it well away from the lens.
Carefully wipe down the lens itself
A man on a ladder wipes down a home security camera.
Use a clean microfiber cloth and wipe down the camera lens to free it of any remaining dust coatings. Open up your camera app and look through the live view to see if you can notice any blurs, stains or obstructions and make sure they’re removed. Don’t use soap or any detergent on the lens, which can cause extra staining when it dries.
Finally, if your region expects a harsh allergy season, gear up for pollen, too. Keep your can of compressed air or cloth handy to clear the lens if the pollen count gets high in the months ahead.
Check the camera mount and connections
The Blink Outdoor 4 has an adjustable mount that’s sturdy, but you’ll want to keep it clean.
Take a close look at your mount connections, whether you latch, screw or magnet-snap your camera on. Clean any sludge or obstructing dirt that may have built up so your camera can attach smoothly and correctly.
If your outdoor cam is wired, check the cable connection and make sure its sturdy with no signs of cracks or damage.
Special note: Spring is often then time to fire up your irrigation sprinklers again. If that’s true in your region, double-check your sprinkler angles as well when you turn the water on. You don’t want water from a high-flying sprinkler to start hitting your security cam.
Charge the battery
Early spring is a key time for wireless camera charging.
For wireless cams, now is an ideal time to charge the battery and make sure it’s ready for the spring months. If your camera uses lithium AA batteries and you haven’t replaced them for more than a year, it’s also the perfect time to sub in fresh batteries so you don’t have to worry about them again for a long time.
You can typically check battery levels remotely with your app. Since you’re already in the software, take a moment to review your motion zones, motion sensitivity and other important settings to make sure they’re ready for warm weather.
Adjust the angle
This Arlo Pro cam is useful outdoors or inside.
Winter storms may have moved your mount’s position a little, especially if you had your camera turn at a specific angle. When you remount the cam, use the live view to give the angle a check and adjust until it covers exactly the area you want it to. Now you’re ready for spring and summer activity.
For more, review the spots most often forgotten in spring cleaning, the best security cameras without subscriptions and the best 4K security cameras for an extra high definition look at larger yards and properties.