You can clean your solar panels yourself, and there are also professional cleaning services you can hire to clean your panels. Solar panels don't require any special cleaning equipment and can be cleaned with a garden hose, rag, and dish soap. If it is determined that a photovoltaic cleaning product is needed, the compatibility of the panel components should be considered. Glass cleaning products and dish soaps are often used to clean photovoltaic panels.
They can contain a wide range of solvents and their frequent use can corrode or weaken the metallic and waterproofing components that surround the panel's protective glass, exposing the underlying solar cells to the risk of damage. Solvents can also damage anti-reflective films on panels and reduce power generation efficiency. Solvents such as ethanol are flammable volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Polywater's SPW is a solvent-free cleaner that eliminates these risks of component damage.
Approved by major solar panel manufacturers, the SPW is designed to be a safe and effective photovoltaic panel cleaner. The best method to clean the panels is to use a small amount of dish soap and warm water. Use a soft sponge or cloth to avoid scratching or damaging the glass. It's also appropriate to use a common household window cleaner such as Windex, but avoid other harsh cleaning fluids that may leave scratches.
In most cases, spraying the panels with a hose or a garden nozzle at low pressure will suffice. I've discovered that mixing 3% soap in a bucket of warm water is the best way to clean solar panels. If the water is very hard, mix one part of vinegar with eight parts of water to increase cleaning power. The solar panels are tilted in the direction of the sun's path across the sky, which means that they practically clean themselves when rain sweeps them away.
In fact, the worst case affecting power generation is dust accumulated around the solar panel frame, which contributes to nearly 80% of energy loss. Regular cleaning of solar panels is essential to ensure optimal energy production, and this careful approach will help protect your investment and ensure maximum energy production for years to come. If your solar panels are too tall to be reached even with poles or are placed on a steep or slippery roof, leave it to professionals. My solar panel cleaning kit consists of a soft-bristled brush placed on a pole, a soft sponge, a cloth (synthetic, which does not harm sheep) and a mild dish soap.
Premier Solar Cleaning (PSC), from Southern California, has also found that using deionized water in poles and brushes fed with water works very well for cleaning solar projects. This is the best way to leave solar panels looking as spotless as they were on the first day they were installed. I have had my 5 kWh system for about 6 years and I keep a detailed record of its energy production. I have never done a service nor has anyone washed the panels, I let the rain clean them and, to this day, it produces the same thing as when I installed it, when I say the same thing I mean that there is no great reduction in energy, I am very happy with mine.
Whether you bought or leased your solar panels, they aren't cheap and the last thing you want is to damage them by cleaning them. California-based solar panel installer and maintenance provider Bland Company never uses a cleaning agent on solar panels, but instead uses deionized water and a system of rotating brushes to wash solar panels. While dirty solar panels benefit from regular washing to avoid reduced production and efficiency, soap is not the solution in this case. It's usually best to use a cleaning solution designed specifically for solar panels and avoid using abrasive materials or harsh chemicals.
Although the best flexible solar panels are manufactured with an anti-scratch coating, this does not cover aggressive rubbing with the rough side of a sponge. It is recommended to clean solar panels in more populated areas that have a lot of particles in the air.
