The Short Answer
Usually you don't need to, and we wouldn't pay for routine cleaning. The Energy Saving Trust says rain does a good job of keeping roof panels clean. Check them every 12 to 18 months and clean if there's visible dirt, bird droppings, leaves or lichen, from the ground with a hose and a soft, long-handled brush.
Don't stand on the panels, don't use a pressure washer, and skip the washing-up liquid. If you can't reach safely from the ground, professional cleaning typically starts at around £60 to £100 for a standard system.
How Often to Clean
Alongside that check, the EST suggests a light clean every 12 to 24 months can help (a rinse you can do from the ground, not a paid job), and more often if you:
- live in a dry, dusty area, or near busy roads or farmland
- have panels near trees, or that grow lichen or catch a lot of bird droppings
- have ground-mounted panels, which the EST says may collect more dirt
There's no best time of year: it depends on what's dirtying them (pollen in spring, leaves in autumn). Keep nearby branches trimmed to cut shade and leaf fall. One check worth doing yourself: compare your inverter app's daily kWh on a sunny day before and after a clean, so you know whether it made a difference.
How to Clean Them Safely
- Pick a cool, overcast day, or early morning or late afternoon. On hot panels water evaporates fast and leaves streaks.
- Turn the system off first. Check the manual if you're not sure how.
- Look for damaged cabling. If you see any, stop and report it to your installer: it's a shock hazard.
- Work from the ground. A hose with a jet that reaches the panels shifts dust; a soft, long-handled brush or sponge handles stubborn dirt. Stand on even ground.
- Rinse with cool water and let it dry.
If you're straining to reach, stop and get a professional in.
What Not to Do
- Don't stand on the panels. They aren't built to take a person's weight and can crack, and some coatings are slippery.
- Don't use a pressure washer. The EST says it can interfere with seals and wiring and let water in.
- Don't use washing-up liquid or other cleaners unless the manufacturer or installer says so: they can leave a residue that affects performance.
- Don't work at height without the training and equipment.
Paying Someone
We'd treat it as an occasional cost, not a routine one: pay for it when you can see dirt the rain isn't shifting, or output has dropped. The EST puts professional cleaning at around £60 to £100 for a standard system to start with, more for larger systems or awkward roofs. It depends on how many panels there are, where they are and whether specialist access equipment is needed. Get a few quotes.
Maintenance Checklist
| How often | What to do |
|---|---|
| Every 12 to 18 months | Inspect the panels, mounting and visible wiring (or have someone do it) for damage, water getting in, dirt, droppings or lichen; repair and clean as needed |
| Every 3 to 5 years | A full professional service for small cracks or inverter problems, the EST suggests. We'd book one if your warranty needs it or output has dropped |
| Every 10 to 15 years | Expect to replace the inverter, at around £800 |
Check your installer's warranty: the EST notes some require a full service within a set period to stay valid. It says panels should work for around 30 years with upkeep.
Birds Under the Panels
Bird droppings are one of the things the EST says to check for, and a reason to clean more often. If birds are getting under your panels, we'd ask your installer about mesh around the panel edges. It's a job for someone with safe roof access.
What You Don't Need
- A regular cleaning contract, in our view, for an angled roof in normal surroundings: the EST says rain does most of the work.
- Special cleaning products, before checking with the panel maker.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Solar Panel Maintenance Products
Everything you need to keep your panels clean and protected, all available on Amazon.
Solar Panel Cleaning Kit with Extension Pole
£38.66A soft brush on a telescopic pole, for rinsing panels you can reach safely from the ground. Most rooftop panels are cleaned well enough by rain.
6m telescopic poleFind on Amazon
Solar Panel Bird Proofing Mesh Kit (30m)
Check priceMesh that clips around the edge of the panels to stop birds nesting underneath. Best fitted by an installer, since it means working at height.
30m roll + 60 clipsFind on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and stock are checked against Amazon every few hours and may have changed since.
