September, 2021 | BCS Cleaning Specialists

Solar panels may seem hardy because they live outside all year under the blazing elements, but in reality they are delicate creatures with a sensitive surface that can be damaged rather easily.

Strong cleaning fluids and chemicals can easily damage the glass panels and significantly reduce their energy-gathering and storing capacity.

The best solution for cleaning your solar panels is good old dish soap (yes, for dishes – that’s not a codeword for ‘industrial strength cleaning’) and warm water. Dish soap is gentle enough that it won’t damage the surface but its emulsifying prowess allows it to lift off and remove dirt from the solar panel’s surface.

Solar panels are delicate creatures and need careful, informed care and maintenance to keep working at their best.

If the thought of climbing up there to scrub at your solar panels leaves you flat, give the pros at BCS a call today at 801 561 1730. We’ll be up the ladder and polishing up your solar panels in a jiffy!

The simple answer is: it depends on the brush.

If you’re using a soft brush with very flexible bristles along with soapy water, this is actually one of the best ways to clean your solar panels. The soft bristles won’t damage the surface, and the addition of soap and water reduces friction even further, along with emulsifying any dirt that gets scrubbed free.

So if you’re using a soft brush with water and soap, go at it – we give it a big thumbs up.

If the brush in question has firmer or (heaven forbid) rigid bristles and/or you’re not using soapy water, the answer is a resolute no. The brush alone can damage the surface of the solar panel, and even when used with water, it still has the potential to scratch or cause damage to the sensitive outer layers.

Solar panels are delicate creatures and need careful, informed care and maintenance to keep working at their best.

If the thought of climbing up there to scrub at your solar panels leaves you flat, give the pros at BCS a call today at 801 561 1730. We’ll be up the ladder and polishing up your solar panels in a jiffy!

If you’ve ever watched some of those gloriously satisfying YouTube videos showing people removing dirt with a pressure washer, you’ll understand the appeal.

This fabulous piece of machinery makes some serious cleaning jobs an absolute breeze. And their high pressure means you can reach great heights and distances with them.

So should you use all this convenient power and cleaning ability on your solar panels?

The short answer (after we’d finished hyperventilating at the thought) is no. Never. Absolutely not. If anyone suggests it, send ‘em packing immediately.

Pressure washers are absolutely unrivaled at cleaning exterior surfaces, including the roof and gutters (now there’s an idea!), but they should simply never be used on solar panels.

The sheer force the system uses to jet the water out of the nozzle can shatter, break and totally ruin your solar panels, leading to a hefty replacement cost.

So, tempting though it may be, we absolutely don’t recommend using a pressure washer to clean your solar panels.

If the thought of climbing onto your roof and gingerly rootling about with a sponge turns you into a quivering mass, we get it. That’s why solar panel owners trust the experts at BCS to keep them sun-soaking ready. 

Give the Utah pros at BCS a call today at 801 561 1730 to schedule your solar panel cleaning treatment.

After August’s long, balmy summer days, the weather in Utah and the Salt Lake Valley quickly begins to fluctuate between chilly mornings, baking heat, flying dust and rainstorms. Between the precipitation, wind, heat and cold, your windows really start earning their stripes during fall. 

Start preparing now to preserve your windows and save money on utilities as the months get chillier by following our easy five-step guide.

1 Brush out dirt and debris. Debris like dust, sand, dirt or leaves can get caught in windowsills and moving parts of windows or doors. Sweep these areas clean with a dry, firm-bristled paintbrush, to allow your windows to create a tight seal and enhance their performance.

2 Secure weather stripping. Loose weather-stripping can let cold air in and warm air out, which can make a massive difference to your energy bills. Re-attach or replace missing or worn weather stripping around windows and doors.

3 Reapply caulk or sealant around windows and doors. Reseal any areas around windows and doors that may have been exposed to heavy weather or extreme sunlight (we get both in Utah), creating breaks in caulk or sealant, to help cut down on potential drafts and leaks.

4 Install blinds or shades. Installing a simple snap-in blind or shade can make a big difference to how well insulated your home is from cold exterior temperatures.

5 Repair or replace damaged exterior surfaces. Now is the time to get ahead on repairing any damaged seals, as water penetration from rain and snow during winter can cause cracked or deteriorated wood,  allowing moisture or cold air to leak into your home. Go over your windows and sills carefully to look for signs of moisture leakage and then replace any damaged wood. 

The window-cleaning pros at BCS Cleaning Utah are standing by to help you get your windows ready for fall. Call us today at 801 561 1730 to schedule your next professional window-cleaning.

Oh, the joys of dog ownership! Obedience and cuddles and soft brown eyes are lovely, but they don’t quite eliminate the grossness of finding a nice puddle of doggy drool staining your carpet. 

Drool is a bit fiddly to deal with because it is a protein-based stain that may also contain tiny bits of food. At BCS, we’re experts at handling the unadvertised horrors of canine yucky saliva stains from carpet. Here’s our easy 3-step drool attack process:

1  Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide (3%) with one teaspoon of ammonia. Apply to the stain with a clean, dry cloth, taking care not to soak the carpet. Be sure to test the solution in an inconspicuous area first.

2  Allow to sit for 30 minutes, then blot with clean paper towels.

3  Apply cool water to the area, then absorb the liquid and dry the area by standing on a thick pad of paper towels. 

If you’re still struggling with saliva stains, or if the stains are older and seem to be set in the carpet, give the Utah pros at BCS a call today at 801 561 1730. We’ll have your carpet set to rights in a jiffy.