Finally Feel Confident Your Solar Is Earning Its Keep

The short answer: No.

Here's why: Rain can rinse loose surface dust — but it leaves behind:

❌ Calcium and mineral deposits (hard water marks)

❌ Bird droppings (which bond to the glass)

❌ Industrial pollution and diesel soot

❌ Pollen, tree sap, mould and lichen

❌ Salt residue

These don't wash off in the rain. They bake on under the Australian sun and create a layer that blocks light from reaching the solar cells — reducing your system's output day after day.

Yes, of course. Always ensure the system is operating safely and correctly before attempting any cleaning, and isolate the system if required.

Avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaners directly on the panels. These products are not designed for solar panels, as they can damage the protective coating on the glass. And of course, be extremely careful getting up on the roof!

The best method we’ve found is to give the panels a good soak first to help loosen stubborn dirt, algae, dust, or bird droppings before gently cleaning the surface. Avoid abrasive brushes, pressure washers, or walking on the panels, as these can damage the system. Water quality can also matter, as hard water in some areas may leave mineral spotting behind.

There’s a few tell-tale signs that your panels may need some maintenance;

• Your energy bills are steadily increasing, but your usage is about the same

• Your panels are visibly dirty or there is leaf litter and debris on on the rooftop

• Your inverter output is lower than it used to be even on sunny days

How often you should have your solar system cleaned depends on your individual situation and environment.

As part of our service, we do our best to help build your understanding of your own system so you can make informed decisions regarding future maintenance and cleaning intervals.

Factors like nearby trees, dust, bird droppings, salt air, traffic pollution, pollen, and even the pitch of your roof can all affect how quickly your panels become dirty. For example, homes near the coast, farms, construction sites, or busy roads will usually need cleaning more often than systems in clearer environments.

Generally, a visual inspection is one of the clearest ways to determine whether your system may benefit from cleaning. If there is visible build-up, staining, bird droppings, or debris covering sections of the panels, it can begin affecting system performance and energy production.

If you’ve noticed a drop in your inverter output, that could be an indicator that there is something affecting your panel efficiency.

Give us a call and we can give you a full photo report.

No system is the same, and our pricing estimates reflect the size of the system, roof accessibility, panel condition, your location and the overall complexity of the job. Solar Care Group provides obligation-free estimates or onsite quotes with no hidden costs. Every service includes a basic system inspection and before-and-after photos so customers can clearly see the results and ensure their system is operating properly.
As a guide however, a standard single level home with a <6kW system and easy access low pitch roof is looking around the $250 mark.

When your panels are cleaned and maintained, they operate as efficiently as possible.

We generally always see an uplift in the inverter output after the clean, at times we’ve seen the system output double after the clean! However, if its an overcast day, or if there is physical damage to the array, it may not give the best baseline for the pre and post clean measurement.

We do guarantee however, any issues with the panels, hardware or rooftop - we will provide you with a full photo report, that can be used if needed, for any warranty or insurance claims. And all works performed by Solar Care Group is covered by a 30 day warranty.