Cleaning your solar panels is an important part of ensuring they’re functioning at their highest level. The build-up of dust, dirt, and other particles can create a film across the top of your solar panels and cause them to be far less efficient. At Green Commercial Systems, we can help teach you how to clean solar panels and provide you with other maintenance tips to ensure you’re getting the most electricity possible from your panels. 


Turn off your solar panels.

If you’re going to be working close to your solar panels (i.e., walking among them rather than using a telescopic pole), you need to turn off your solar panels. They’re actively producing electricity as long as the sun is out, so you want to ensure that you’re not going to get shocked by a live current. The water damaging your solar panels isn’t the main concern during cleaning because they’re designed to get wet during heavy rain.

Remove debris with a soft brush.

Use a soft brush to remove as much debris as possible before spraying any water onto the solar panels. A brush can easily get rid of much of the accumulated dirt and dust, so it doesn’t stick to the surface when you spray water. What’s more, a soft brush will help to keep the panels from getting scratched or chipped.

Spray down the panels.

There are several approaches to spraying down your solar panels. Distilled water is ideal because there aren’t any of the mineral deposits that we get with hard tap water. It will make for easier scrubbing when it comes time and won’t leave behind water spots or mineral deposits. However, hose water will do just fine if that is your best available option.

Pressure washers aren’t recommended when washing your solar panels because they can get the job done quickly. Although, hitting your panels with too much power can create cracks that can lead to more damage in the future. Pressure washers can also void warranties for improper maintenance. Your garden hose will be sufficient to wetting your solar panels for cleaning.

Scrub with mild dish soap.

If you have areas with stubborn dirt or dust, you can scrub them with mild dish soap mixed with vinegar and a soft brush. You don’t need to cover and scrub the entire surface area of the panels, rather, only the areas that didn’t come clean after you sprayed them. Furthermore, a little bit of soap and vinegar will go a long way toward cleaning the area where you have the problem. Using too much soap can leave streaks that attract more dirt and reduce the efficiency of your solar panels.

Maintenance tips.

Maintaining efficiency with your solar panels requires more than cleaning them once or twice a year. You need to ensure that any trees that have branches that overhang them are trimmed. Branches that cast shade over your solar panels can significantly reduce the amount of sun exposure your panels get each day. You should also check the inverters to ensure the LEDs are indicating the correct status. The Sherman Oaks area doesn’t get a significant amount of rainfall throughout the year, so it’s best if you manually clear debris off your panels periodically.

Need help? Call a professional!

Knowing how to clean solar panels in safe and effective ways isn’t always easy. If you need help keeping your solar panels clean, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Green Commercial Systems. You can call us at 855-293-5755 or send a message using our contact form to schedule an appointment.