What About Cleaning Your Own Solar Panels?

Can someone clean their own panels? Of course, just like one can clean their own vehicle. The key difference though, is that cleaning panels require climbing onto the roof while cleaning on a roof angle, which is inherently dangerous. Another key difference is that when cleaning a vehicle, most of the vehicle surface is within reach without the need for any tools. Depending on the layout, this often is not the case with cleaning solar panels, one usually can't reach the middle of the panels just by using their arms. Would it suffice to simply use a hose and spray the dirt away? No. Just like it wouldn't work too well if the vehicle was just rinsed, friction is needed to get the dirt layer off and prevent oxidation. What about an extension brush or sponge? Most bristles can easily scratch the panel coating, and even if the bristles were soft enough, one would have to constantly run water while cleaning to ensure that the bristles won't scratch. Sponges are gentler for the surface than brushes, but they typically need detergent and foam to be effective in dirt removal, and the detergent runoff can stain surfaces and contaminate soil.

friction is needed to get the dirt layer off and prevent oxidation

To clean in a way that is both effective and safe for the coated surface, it requires a high-quality brush with soft bristles, and a constant flow of water. If you're serious about doing this yourself, first, be careful climbing up and walking on the roof (you might also want to look into OSHA-certified harnesses), and second, you can search for water-fed extendable pole brushes, and just remember, the cheaper the brush, the greater the chance that it will scratch the coating. Of course, if you like to use the best cleaning service using the best brushes on the market, Interstellar is here for you.