Use a soft scouring pad and soapy water from the bucket or spray to mix to gently wash the surface of the panels. Rinse the solar panels with clean water from the hose a second time. In most cases, you only need to clean the solar panels once or twice a year. We recommend scheduling your annual cleaning routine during the spring.
This avoids summer heat and harsh winter weather. There are several ways to keep solar panels clean, from manual washing to fully automated technologies. While rainwater can remove some of the dirt that builds up on panels over time, it can also cause dirt to build up on the underside of the panels and it's not enough to remove heavy pollution. Most DIYers use the materials they have at home.
If you prefer home cleaning, we suggest that you opt for clean water, detergent and a good quality soft brush when applying soapy water. Only use a mild detergent if some parts of the panels need additional cleaning. Clean dirty areas with a mild detergent and a sponge covered with a cloth safely and thoroughly. This prevents harsh chemicals from marking the panels.
If you've decided to clean the panels yourself, what matters is that you follow these cleaning tips to protect your safety and that of the solar system. Since solar panels generate usable energy by capturing sunlight, providing them with more sunlight will increase their solar output or the amount of energy they produce. As much as many homeowners want to keep a tight budget and prefer to do it yourself, solar panel cleaning services offer professional service while following industry safety protocols. You might be surprised to learn that the efficiency of your solar panels can remain intact for an extended period, considering all that exposure to dirt, dust, heat, and rainwater.
It is best to do a gentle, concentrated cleaning with repetitive movements and a little patience, since rubbing them aggressively can scratch the panels. Standard hardware supplies can be used for a solar panel cleaning project, but safety considerations are critical. The common photovoltaic system with string inverters can generate little or no energy production if bird droppings cover part or all of a single solar panel. If cleaning solar panels seems more dangerous than beneficial, contacting a professional is a practical solution to improve solar production.
This is where washing the panels becomes important, although in many cases it doesn't have to be a thorough or routine cleaning. Bird droppings and other dirt agents can affect the performance of solar panels, especially if the panels are completely horizontal on the roof. However, to maintain optimal operation and efficiency, it is recommended to clean solar panels regularly. Dust and dirt accumulated on solar panels can cause energy losses due to dirt of up to 7% per year in some parts of the US.
U.S. and up to 50% in the Middle East. Researchers at the University of California left solar panels on a roof for 145 days without cleaning them. After removing dry debris with a brush, a garden hose can remove most of the dirt left on solar panels.
However, living in a highly polluting area can bring more dirt and debris, so it will be necessary to use a garden hose to effectively clean the panels.
