My solar panel cleaning hack actually cut my power output

I tried using a vinegar and water mix on my panels in Phoenix last month, thinking it would be eco-friendly. My generation dropped by almost 15% for a week because the residue left a film. What's a better cleaning method that actually works?

4 comments

4 Comments

miles_burns4d ago

Oof, that vinegar residue film sounds brutal. I've had good luck just using plain water with a squeegee.

mark_carr74d ago

Yeah, that film only happens if you don't rinse it off right away (like Jenny said). The trick is the immediate rinse.

west.richard4d ago

Wait, you put vinegar on panels in Phoenix heat?

jenny474d ago

Actually, a super diluted vinegar mix works great out here if you do it right. You rinse it off completely right away, so there's no film left behind. That Arizona sun will bake anything you leave on there. Plain water just doesn't cut through the hard water spots we get.