Solar panel cleaning in Perth: DIY or a professional
By Clara Tan · Updated 2026-07-09
Government pages point householders to professionals for solar panel cleaning. energy.gov.au says you should only allow a qualified person to clean your panels, because “it can be dangerous to clean your own panels”. YourHome says washing generally means getting up on the roof, so it is best done by a professional with the correct safety equipment. The WA Government’s solar PV guide says it is best to leave all solar power system maintenance to electricians and installers. One panel maker, REC, says a garden hose at domestic water pressure may be used.
This is general information, not safety or legal advice. Below we cover what the government pages say, what 2 panel makers allow, what listed Perth cleaners publish for price, and how your warranty and consumer rights fit in.
What the government pages say
- energy.gov.au says you could service your system every 2 years, using an accredited installer or qualified electrician, and that you can ask for panel cleaning as part of that service.
- YourHome says anyone cleaning your panels should be qualified for working at heights, use full safety gear, avoid harsh soap or chemicals (usually water is enough), and not stand on the panels or place anything on them. It adds that switching off at the isolator does not remove the electrical risk, because the panels still generate power.
- The WA Government says serious electrical safety risks are present on rooftops, and that panels keep generating voltage during the day even after the system is shut down.
The pages differ on how often to have the system checked. The Clean Energy Regulator says every year, by a licensed electrician accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia. The WA Government says every year or as the manufacturer recommends. energy.gov.au says every 2 years.
Falls are one of the risks. Safe Work Australia’s key statistics count 28 worker deaths from falls from a height in 2025, 13% of 222 worker deaths from traumatic injury. That is worker data, not homeowner data, and we found no homeowner figure.
What the panel makers allow
We opened 2 manufacturer documents. Yours may be a different brand, so read your own installation manual. REC says its warranty is valid only if the instructions in the installation manual are observed at all times.
| Topic | REC quick guide to cleaning | LONGi maintenance manual |
|---|---|---|
| Water pressure and steam | A garden hose at domestic pressure may be used. High pressure hoses and pressure or steam cleaners are not permitted, and REC says they invalidate the warranty. | No more than 0.7 MPa on the module surface. No steam. |
| Timing and water temperature | Only when panels are cool: early morning, before they reach working temperature. Ambient water, to avoid thermal shock. | Early morning, dusk, night or a rainy day (the text reads “dust”, which we take to be dusk). Water and module no more than 10¬∞C apart. |
| Standing on panels | Never stand, walk, lean or apply pressure. | Do not step on modules. |
| Chemicals | Mild washing-up liquid if marks remain, rinsed at once. No acid or alkali detergent. | Glass cleaner or alcohol only where water fails. No abrasive or washing cleaning agents, acids or alkalis. |
| Before cleaning | Inspect for cracks, damage and loose connections. Damaged panels can be a lethal shock hazard, more so when wet. | Do not splash cables. Do not clean modules with broken glass or exposed cables. |
The makers differ on timing: REC says early morning, LONGi adds dusk and night. LONGi’s manual is written around solar power stations, although it says owners can use it.
REC’s hose allowance comes with conditions. Its guide says to assess the installation for safety and access first, to use fall and personal protection measures when working at heights, and to stop and get professional advice if in doubt. We follow the government position. We do not describe a method for reaching or washing panels yourself, and we do not recommend one.
Do your panels need cleaning at all?
Most panels sit at a slope of at least 10 degrees and should self-clean in rain, according to energy.gov.au. It says cleaning may be needed in some circumstances, such as a very dusty location. YourHome gives about 10 degrees and says anything covering even a tiny part of a panel can reduce output. REC says a build-up of dirt over time can affect performance.
energy.gov.au says generation lower than usual on sunny days may mean something is wrong, and lists inverter faults, faulty wiring and damaged panels among the possible causes.
The government pages we opened give no figure for how much output dirt costs. Of the businesses below, 4 publish loss figures on their own sites. We could not match them to a government or manufacturer source, so we have not repeated them.
What listed cleaners publish
Being listed in this directory is not an endorsement. We copied these prices from each business’s own website on 20 October 2026. They are starting points, not quotes.
| Business | Published price | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| Coates Window Cleaning | $7 to $10 per panel | Given as $140 to $200 for a typical 20-panel system. Roof pitch and access, panel count and how soiled the panels are move the price. |
| A1 Solar Cleaning | $7 per panel single storey, $10 per panel two storey | Discounts for 20+ panels on the single-storey tier. Larger houses are priced on quotation. |
| Perth Exterior Cleaning | No published price | Asks you to contact it for a quote. |
| Perth Solar Panel Cleaners | No published price | Says the cost depends on the number of panels, home size and access. |
| Connect Solar | From $150 for 1 to 8 panels, up to $450 for 22 to 30 panels | For a clean with a solar health check. Systems above 30 panels are quoted. |
| Easy Solar | From $150 for up to 16 panels (6.6 kW) | Says it includes safety equipment and inspection. Larger systems or difficult roof access are quoted on site. |
Connect Solar and Easy Solar are solar servicing businesses. We found them with a text search of other listed solar businesses’ websites for a dollar price near the word cleaning. The search can miss a price inside an image or PDF, and some sites would not load, so the table is not a full count. For the cost of the system itself, see our solar system cost guide.
Several of these pages say the team is insured or holds a working at heights certificate. Those are the businesses’ own statements and we have not checked them. YourHome’s list above gives you questions to put to any cleaner.
Warranty and your consumer rights
Your panel warranty and your consumer rights are separate. REC says pressure cleaners invalidate its warranty.
WA Consumer Protection says a service provider guarantees the service will be performed with due care and skill. It says businesses cannot exclude consumer guarantees in contracts or sales terms, and that guarantees are rights while warranties are extra promises. Which remedy applies depends on the problem.
How we checked this page
On 20 October 2026 we opened every external page linked above and copied cleaner prices as published. Page dates: WA Government guide last updated 26 November 2024, Clean Energy Regulator 18 September 2026, WA Consumer Protection 15 July 2026, Safe Work Australia released 12 October 2026. energy.gov.au shows no date, YourHome lists its authors with 2026 but no update date, and REC’s guide shows no date. The file properties of the LONGi manual give 22 April 2024.
We do not test or inspect cleaners. Scores in this directory come from our published scoring method.
Frequently asked questions
Can I clean my own solar panels?
energy.gov.au says you should only allow a qualified person to clean your panels, and that it can be dangerous to clean your own. REC says a garden hose at domestic pressure may be used, but tells you to inspect the panels first, never stand on them, and get professional advice if in doubt.
Does rain clean solar panels?
Most panels sit at a slope of at least 10 degrees and should self-clean in rain, according to energy.gov.au. It says cleaning may be needed in some circumstances, such as a very dusty location.
Can cleaning void my solar panel warranty?
It can. REC says pressure or steam cleaners invalidate its warranty and that its warranty is valid only if the installation manual is followed. We opened only 2 makers’ documents, so check your own manual.
How much does a professional clean cost in Perth?
On 20 October 2026, Coates Window Cleaning published $7 to $10 per panel, and A1 Solar Cleaning published $7 per panel for a single storey and $10 for 2 storeys. Connect Solar and Easy Solar published starting prices of $150 that include a health check or inspection. Perth Exterior Cleaning and Perth Solar Panel Cleaners publish no price.
Questions people ask
- Does dirt on solar panels actually reduce output much?
- Light dust usually has a small effect, but heavy buildup from pollen, bird droppings or nearby construction dust can noticeably reduce output, especially if it's concentrated on part of the array.
- Can I clean my solar panels with a garden hose from the ground?
- A gentle rinse from the ground on a single-storey, easily reached roof is generally low-risk. Getting on the roof yourself, or reaching panels on a steep or high roof, is where the risk increases.
- Will cleaning my own panels void the warranty?
- It depends on the manufacturer and how the cleaning is done. Harsh chemicals, high-pressure water, or physical damage from scrubbing can affect a warranty claim, so check your documentation first.
- How often do panels actually need cleaning in Perth?
- It varies by location and roof angle. Homes near busy roads, under trees, or in dusty areas typically need more frequent cleaning than a clear, elevated roof with regular rainfall washing it naturally.