Rinsing Solar Panels

Fill a bucket with warm soapy water or cleaning solution designed for solar panels.

Rinsing solar panels.

If the sun is beating down on the panels any water used can quickly evaporate and dirt will become smeared. National residential and commercial o m provider sunsystem technology also stays away from soap and uses filtered water and a rotating brush to clean panels but director of marketing jeff struhm said the company uses a mixture of diluted vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to aide in scrubbing away dirt and grime. Be careful not to touch the sides or underside. In some cases this will be enough to get them clean but sometimes you ll need to do a more thorough cleaning.

Rinse off your array with the hose to remove all loose dirt. Fill your bucket with clean water and soap. Snow on solar panels generally doesn t need to be removed it will typically slide off on its own. Use your garden hose to spray down the panels.

Most panel installations are tilted at an angle and snow will naturally slide off as it melts. Dip your scrub brush in the soapy bucket and scrub the entire surface of the panels until clean. Use a soft cloth or sponge and wipe them down with the soap solution and then rinse them with the hose. Because you don t want to scratch the panels in any way it s best to use just water and a non abrasive sponge to apply soapy water.

Early morning can be a particularly good time for cleaning as dew that has settled on the panels overnight will likely have softened grime. The most effective way to clean your solar panels is with a hose and a bucket of soapy water.