Do solar panels still work if dirty? The answer is yes, but their efficiency will be reduced. Solar panels rely on sunlight to generate electricity, and dirt can block that sunlight and reduce the amount of power the panels can produce. How much power is lost depends on how dusty or dirty the panels are. A study by the. If you don't clean solar panels, the panel's efficiency will decrease over time. Dust, pollen, and other airborne particles will build up on the panel's. When it comes to solar panels, there are a few things that can affect their efficiency. One of those things is dirt and grime build-up on the surface of the panels. While rain can help keep the panels. As a solar panel owner, you may wonder if you need to turn off your panels to clean them. The answer is no! Solar panels are designed to be self-cleaning and will typically only require. Most people believe solar panels need to be cleaned regularly to function properly. However, this is not the case. Solar panels are designed to be self.