# Solar Panel Cleaning Derby | Pure-Water Panel Cleaning > Solar panel cleaning in Derby for panels rain can't clear: shallow pitches, bird droppings, moss and road grime. Pure-water cleaning, with Derby prices shown. URL: https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-cleaning/ 1. [Home](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/) 2. [Solar Panel Maintenance](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-maintenance/) 3. Solar Panel Cleaning # Solar Panel Cleaning in Derby [Eco Solar Panels UK](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/) cleans solar panels across Derby with pure water and soft brushes, from the ground or the roof edge. Most panels only need it now and then. We'll tell you honestly if yours don't. Call about cleaning 01332 919162 (+441332919162) [Get a free quote](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/contact/) Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. ![Solar panels on a Derby bungalow being cleaned with a water-fed pole](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/images/water-fed-pole-cleaning-panels-on-bungalow-derby.webp) - Pure water, no detergents - Bird droppings and moss - Shallow and flat-roof panels - Output checked before and after - Bird mesh fitted in the same visit if needed Last updated: 30 September 2026 ## When panels need cleaning The Energy Saving Trust says that in the UK, rain will keep panels clean if they are tilted at 15 degrees or more, and that dirt is more likely to build up on ground-mounted panels or in dusty areas ([Energy Saving Trust](https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-panels/)). Most pitched roofs are steeper than that, so plenty of panels never need a professional clean. Where cleaning does help is with bird droppings, which rain doesn’t shift and which can shade individual cells, with moss and lichen at the lower edge of the panels, and with panels on flat or shallow roofs. Homes near busy roads can also build up a film of grime. ## How we clean We use purified water with soft brushes on extending poles, working from the ground where possible or from safe access at the roof edge. Purified water dries without leaving marks. We don’t use detergents, abrasive pads or pressure washers, which can damage the panel surface and affect the maker’s warranty. While we are there, we look over the panels for cracks, scorch marks and signs of pigeons underneath. Anything we find goes in the short report you get afterwards. ## What it costs Checkatrade’s guide for Derby is about £15 a panel, or £60 to £100 to clean around 40 panels at ground level and £150 to £300 above one storey ([Checkatrade](https://www.checkatrade.com/Search/Solar-Panel-Cleaning/in/Derby)). The Energy Saving Trust says the average home system uses around 12 panels, so the real cost is usually well below those totals. You get a fixed price before the visit. ## Pigeons and cleaning If pigeons are the reason the panels are dirty, cleaning alone won’t last. Mesh around the edge of the array stops them getting underneath. See [solar panel bird proofing](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-bird-proofing/), and [pigeons under solar panels](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/pigeons-under-solar-panels/) for what the law allows when nests are in use. ## What's included - A look at the panels before cleaning to note any damage - Pure-water cleaning with soft brushes - Removal of bird droppings, lichen and moss from the panel surface - Clearing debris from the edges of the array where reachable - Generation reading noted before and after where the weather allows - Any cracks or hot spots reported - Advice on how often your panels are likely to need it - A written price before the visit ## How the options compare Solar Panel Cleaning: options compared Compare Leave it Hose and brush yourself Professional clean Safety n/a Ladder work at height Done from the ground or with proper access Risk to panels Dirt builds up Detergents or scratching can damage coatings Pure water and soft brushes Stubborn dirt Stays Hard to shift Removed Damage spotted No Rarely Reported ## Related resources - [Learn Pigeons are nesting under my solar panels. What can I do?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/pigeons-under-solar-panels/) - [Learn My solar inverter has stopped working. What now?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-inverter-not-working/) - [Decision Guide Is this a good solar quote?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/check-a-solar-quote/) - [Decision Guide How much do solar panels cost in Derby?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-panel-cost-derby/) System stopped generating? 1. 1Look at the inverter screen or lights and write down any error code or message. 2. 2Stay off the roof and leave the DC cables alone. Burning smell or smoke: keep clear and call 999. 3. 3Call us with the code and roughly how old the system is, 9am to 7pm, 7 days. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) Rules this work has to meet - Cleaning methods that respect the panel maker's warranty - No pressure washers on panels - Safe access from the ground, ladder or roof edge Step by step ## How a clean works 1. ### Tell us about the panels The number of panels, the roof height and a photo if you have one. 2. ### Written price A fixed price before the visit, based on access and size. 3. ### Clean Pure water and soft brushes, with the panels checked for damage as we go. 4. ### Report What we cleaned, anything we noticed, and whether bird proofing would help. The work ## How the work looks Illustrative photos of the methods and finish described on this page. They are not records of particular customers' jobs. - ![Bird droppings on solar panel glass before cleaning, Derby](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/images/bird-droppings-on-panel-close-up-derby.webp) Bird droppings on solar panel glass before cleaning - ![Freshly cleaned solar panels reflecting the sky, Derby](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/images/clean-panels-reflecting-sky-derby.webp) Freshly cleaned solar panels reflecting the sky Bird droppings across your panels? Send a photo and we will tell you whether a clean is worth it. Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) [Get a free quote](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/contact/) Where we work ## Where we work in Derby and the East Midlands Based on 219 Burton Rd, Derby DE23, we work across Derby and the East Midlands. These towns have their own local pages: - [Solar panels in Belper](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-belper/) - [Solar panels in Matlock](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-matlock/) - [Solar panels in Burton upon Trent](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-burton-upon-trent/) - [Solar panels in Long Eaton](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-long-eaton/) - [All areas we cover](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/areas-we-cover/) Questions ## Solar Panel Cleaning: common questions ### How much does solar panel cleaning cost in Derby? Checkatrade gives a guide of about £15 a panel, or £60 to £100 to clean around 40 panels at ground level and £150 to £300 above one storey. The average home system has around 12 panels, so a typical clean costs less than those totals. ### Do solar panels need cleaning in the UK? Often not. The Energy Saving Trust says rain keeps panels clean if they are tilted at 15 degrees or more. Cleaning helps where panels are flatter, where birds perch above them, or where moss and road grime build up. ### Can I clean my own solar panels? From the ground with a soft brush and plain water, perhaps. Don't use detergents, abrasive pads or a pressure washer, and don't climb onto the roof. Working at height is the main risk, not the panels. ### How often should solar panels be cleaned? It depends on the roof. Panels on a pitched roof steep enough for rain to wash them may never need it. Panels under trees, near busy roads or popular with pigeons may benefit from a clean every year or two. A generation reading that has dropped without another cause is the clearest sign. ### Do you cover my area? We are based at 219 Burton Rd, Derby DE23, and cover Derby, including [Belper](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-belper/), [Matlock](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-matlock/), [Burton upon Trent](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-burton-upon-trent/) and [Long Eaton](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-long-eaton/), plus Swadlincote, Chesterfield, Ilkeston, Ashbourne, Ripley, Heanor, Alfreton and Duffield. Lines are open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. Call 01332 919162 (+441332919162) with your postcode and we will confirm. [All areas we cover](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/areas-we-cover/). ### Can I call outside opening hours? Lines are open every day from 9am to 7pm. If a panel, cable or inverter is smoking, sparking or smells of burning, stay clear of it and ring 999. A system that has simply stopped or is making less than usual is not an emergency, and a call the next morning is fine. Related ## Related services - ### [Solar Panel Bird Proofing](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-bird-proofing/) Mesh clipped around the edge of the array so pigeons can't get under it, fitted outside the nesting season or once a nest is empty, with no drilling into tiles. View service - ### [Solar Panel Maintenance](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-maintenance/) A health check that compares what your system makes with what it should make for a Derby roof, then tests the inverter, isolators, wiring and fixings. View service - ### [Solar Panel Repair](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-repair/) Fault finding on systems fitted by anyone: dead or tripping inverters, isolators, cabling and damaged panels, plus taking panels off and refitting them for roof work. View service Clear panels, checked properly. Call for a cleaning price, or send your postcode and we will ring you back. Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) [Get a free quote](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/contact/)