Solar Panel Cleaning in Portland
You paid good money for your solar panels. Dirt, pollen, lichen, bird droppings, moss debris and tree sap on the glass block the sunlight they need. We clean them so the full sun gets through. Serving Portland, Oregon City and Clackamas County.
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☀ We clean solar panels. We don't install them.
Clean windows look nice. Clean solar panels pay you back.
Window cleaning
Mostly about looks. Dirty windows are a bummer, but they don't cost you energy, and the house keeps working fine.
Solar panel cleaning
Your panels have one job: turn sunlight into power. Anything sitting on the glass blocks some of that light, and blocked light is power you paid for and never get.
What a rooftop solar system costs. The bigger the roof and the more panels, the higher it goes.
What a recent local homeowner told us he was quoted for solar on his average-size house. Bigger homes can run much more.
Less power from a heavily grimed panel than a clean one in an NREL lab test.
Rooftop solar runs in the tens of thousands of dollars, yet most people never think about cleaning the panels. If you're putting that kind of money into your home, doesn't it make sense to take care of it? Keep the glass clean so your panels can work at their best, and you get your money's worth.
Cost depends on roof size, panel count, pitch and access. 14.6%: NREL (see below).
Do you wear glasses?
Every so often you take them off and wipe the lenses so you can see clearly. Same with your sunglasses. Your solar panels work the same way: if you want them to do their job, the glass has to be clean.
If you clean your glasses a couple of times a day, don't you think your solar panels deserve a cleaning at least once a year? We don't think that's asking too much, and neither do your panels.
Your solar panels have a love relationship with the sun. Please don't let dirt come between them. ☀️
Covered glass can't catch sunlight
It's simple: whatever part of a panel is covered by grime isn't getting full sun. Around Portland, that grime comes from a lot of places.
It blocks the light
Pollen, dust, lichen, droppings, moss debris and sap all sit between the sun and your solar cells. The thicker the film, the less light gets through.
Small spots can hurt more than their size
Solar cells are wired together in groups. NREL research found that when enough of a single cell is covered, a panel can switch off that whole group, so a dropping or a dirty strip can cost more power than its size suggests.
Heavy grime adds up
In one NREL lab test, a panel coated with stuck-on grime made 14.6% less power than a clean one.
Rain doesn't get it all
Rain rinses loose dust, but it won't take off lichen. Lichen grows right on the glass and leaves a dirty haze no amount of rain will remove. Sticky pollen and mold-type buildup don't rinse off easily either, according to NREL.
The honest part: how much difference a cleaning makes depends on how dirty your panels are and where they sit. Panels under firs and maples usually collect a lot more than open, steep ones.
Sources: NREL, "PV Soiling Losses" (Deline & Muller, 2022), docs.nlr.gov/docs/fy22osti/83486.pdf; C. Deline (NREL), "Partially shaded operation of a grid-tied PV system," IEEE PVSC 2009.
Before & after
Real panels, real roofs around Clackamas County. Before on the left or top, after on the right or bottom.
Pure water and a soft brush
We clean solar panels with a water-fed pole: a long, telescoping pole with a soft brush on the end. Purified water runs up through the pole and out through the brush. We gently loosen the dirt, then rinse it away.
Why pure water
Tap water carries dissolved minerals. When it dries on glass, it leaves spots and scale, which is one more layer between the sun and your cells. Our water has the minerals filtered out, so it dries clear.
The way panel makers recommend
Solar manufacturers' cleaning guides commonly call for purified or deionized water and soft, non-abrasive brushes, and warn against pressure washers, abrasive tools and harsh chemicals. That's how we work.
- No pressure washing
- No harsh chemicals or soap
- No scrapers
- No abrasive pads
Every system is different, so it's worth checking your panel maker's care instructions too.
The roofs other cleaners won't climb
A lot of solar panels sit on steep, high roofs: three-story homes and 12/12 pitches. Plenty of window cleaners won't go up there. Our crew will, safely and with the right equipment.
The panels other window cleaners won't reach, we will.
Get a free estimateSolar panel cleaning across Clackamas County & Portland
Based near Oregon City, we clean solar panels across Clackamas County and the Portland metro. Not sure you're in range? Send the form and we'll let you know.
Clackamas County
- Oregon City
- West Linn
- Lake Oswego
- Milwaukie
- Happy Valley
- Gladstone
- Clackamas
- Damascus
- Canby
- Wilsonville
- Oak Grove
- Jennings Lodge
- Stafford
- Boring
- Sandy
- Estacada
- Molalla
- Mulino
- Beavercreek
- Redland
- Carver
Portland & Multnomah County
- Portland
- Gresham
- Troutdale
- Fairview
- Wood Village
- Dunthorpe
- Corbett
Solar panel cleaning questions
Does cleaning solar panels really make a difference?
It can. The part of a panel covered by dirt, pollen, lichen, droppings or sap can't capture full sunlight. In one NREL lab test, a panel with heavy stuck-on grime produced 14.6% less power than a clean one. How much a cleaning helps your system depends on how dirty your panels are and where they sit, so we won't promise a specific number.
Won't the rain clean my solar panels?
Rain rinses off loose dust, but it won't remove lichen. Lichen grows right on the glass, and it doesn't matter how hard it rains, it's not coming off on its own. Sticky pollen, sap, bird droppings and mold-type buildup can stay stuck too. NREL notes that sticky substances like mold and some pollens don't readily clean off with rainfall. That's the buildup we clean off.
Do you install, sell or repair solar panels?
No. We clean solar panels, we don't install them. Rain Man Window Cleaning only cleans the glass. For anything electrical, or for repairs, contact your solar installer.
What do you clean solar panels with?
Purified water with the minerals filtered out, delivered through a water-fed pole with a soft brush. Pure water dries clear without spots or scale. We don't use pressure washers, harsh chemicals, soap, scrapers or abrasive pads.
Is your cleaning method safe for my panels?
We follow the approach solar manufacturers' cleaning guides commonly recommend: purified or deionized water and soft, non-abrasive brushes, with no pressure washing, abrasive tools or harsh chemicals. It's still worth checking your own panel maker's care instructions.
Can you clean panels on a steep or three-story roof?
Yes. Steep, high roofs, including three-story homes and 12/12 pitches, are our specialty. The panels other window cleaners won't reach, we will.
How much does solar panel cleaning cost?
Every roof and system is different, so we give free estimates. Send the form with your address and roughly how many panels you have, and we'll get back to you.
Do you clean solar panels in my city?
We're based near Oregon City and clean solar panels across Clackamas County and the Portland area, including Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Milwaukie, Happy Valley, Gladstone, Wilsonville and Canby. Send the form and we'll confirm.
Get your free solar panel cleaning estimate
Send your address and a few notes, like roughly how many panels you have and how steep or high the roof is. Photos help too. We'll get back to you with a free estimate.
Need your windows done too?
Solar panel cleaning is our specialty at Rain Man Window Cleaning. We also clean skylights and interior and exterior windows with the same care.
See Rain Man Window Cleaning →
Interested in other services from our parent company, Sedona Home Services?
Rain Man Window Cleaning is a Sedona Home Services company. The same local team also handles:
- Roof moss removal & treatment
- Gutter cleaning & brightening
- Raindrop gutter guards
- Pressure washing
- Christmas lights & permanent lighting