Solar panel cleaning across the North East

Solar panels are sold as low maintenance, and they are, but low maintenance is not no maintenance. A film of dust, pollen and traffic grime builds on the glass, algae creeps in from the edges, and bird droppings bake onto the surface in hard patches. Rain shifts loose dust but not the rest, because panel glass sits at a shallow angle and dries with spots and residue.

Solar panel cleaning removes that build-up with the same purified water we use for window cleaning: no detergent, no abrasive pads and no high pressure anywhere near the panels. A soft brush on a pole loosens the grime and the pure water rinses it away, drying spot-free because it carries no minerals.

The method matters more than people expect. Panels and their seals are not designed for a pressure washer, and strong chemicals or scouring pads can mark the glass. If you are weighing up whether cleaning is worth doing at all, our guide is solar panel cleaning worth it looks at the evidence, and dirty solar panels and output loss explains what grime actually does to generation.

We would not, and we do not. A pressure washer forces water against seals and junction boxes at a force panels were never tested for, and a jet at close range can mark the glass itself. Manufacturers' care guidance consistently points to soft brushes, mild methods and clean water, which is exactly how pure water cleaning works.

The same applies to what you clean solar panels with. Household detergents leave a film that attracts dust, and anything abrasive scratches the anti-reflective surface. Pure water needs nothing added: the brush does the loosening and the water does the rinsing, then dries clear.

Bird droppings are the single biggest reason people call about panels. A dropping is not just unsightly: it is opaque, so the cell underneath stops contributing until it is cleaned off, and it does not wash away in rain. Where panels sit near a roof ridge that birds favour, the build-up can be heavy. Our solar panels covered in bird droppings guide covers this in detail, and our bird droppings removal page covers safe cleaning generally.

Algae and lichen usually start at the frame edges where water lingers, then spread across the glass in a green film. A soft wash loosens it without forcing anything under the frame.

We do not publish fixed prices for solar panel cleaning because arrays differ so much: the number of panels, the pitch and height of the roof, access for the poles and how dirty the glass is all change the time involved. Our solar panel cleaning cost guide explains those factors, and the quote form on this page is the quickest way to a figure. For how to clean panels yourself safely, see how to clean solar panels safely.