Solar panels harvest the sun’s energy so we can use it to power our homes, offices, and farms. Not cleaning them means dust, dirt, and debris builds up as well as the potential to decrease the efficiency of a solar panel by around 5%. Depending on the size of your panels, this may not seem like much, but it’ll certainly add up over time.

7 tips for cleaning your solar panels

    1. Clean your solar panels every 6 to 12 months in order to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of your panels. Depending on where you live, cleaning may be required more or less frequently.

    1. Safety first – shut down your system completely, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

     

    1. In the early morning, late afternoon, or overcast days are the best times to get out and clean your solar panels. If the sun is out shining brightly, water can evaporate quickly, which may leave streaks.

     

    1. Using tap or hose water will leave streaks that can make solar panels worse. Demineralised water, which has the minerals and particles removed from the water, prevents streaking.

     

    1. Avoid using any detergents or soapy products on your solar panels. They can leave a residue that can attract more dirt in the future.

     

    1. Use a soft brush or non-abrasive sponge to clean down your solar panels. Your solar panels can be affected by any scratches left in the glass by abrasive cleaners.

     

    1. Likewise, using pressure washers or water blasters risks damaging solar panels.

Every so often, solar panels require a little bit of maintenance to ensure your solar power system is generating as much electricity as possible. Just a small amount of build-up of dust, dirt, and debris can result in a loss in power production. Take care of your solar panels, and they’ll take care of you for decades!