How to Clean Skylights [A Quick Guide]

Skylights are a brilliant addition to any home. 

I often rent and one of the things I look for is a skylight – it lets you get the fresh air in, let heat escape in the summer, and lets the bright sun in during the day, meaning lower electricity bills.

Also – it can make decorating a bedroom wall much easier as it acts as a design feature all on its own!

One question I’m often asked though is – how do I clean a skylight? After that it’s normally: is it difficult to do? And what will I need?

Let’s take a look.

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What You’ll Need to Clean Skylights

First thing first, let’s list the things you’ll need to clean your skylights:

• Ladder
• Bucket
• Window cleaning liquid (optional – you can also make your own cleaning solution using soap and water)
• Wash cloth
• Chamois

How to Clean Skylights (Step by Step)

1. Create your cleaning solution by mixing a few drops of dish soap in warm water. Alternatively, you can use specialist, pre-made window cleaning liquid like this one.
2. Set up your ladder under the skylight if it’s out of reach. Alternatively, you can wrap and tie a clean rag/dishcloth to the long handle of a broom or mop, or use a purpose-built extendable cleaning device.
3. Gently wipe the skylight with a dry cloth to remove any dust or debris from the skylight.
4. Soak your cloth in your bucket of window cleaning solution, rinse it, and then begin to wipe the glass. Start from the center of the glass and work your way out to the edges of the glass and onto the frame.
5. Rinse well with clear water.
6. To prevent water spots, blot dry with a chamois or a dry cloth before the sun can dry it up.

How Often Should I Clean My Skylights?

At the very least, you should be cleaning your skylights once a year. However, you’ll probably want to clean them more often than this depending on how quickly they get dirty.

We have a skylight in our kitchen and due to its location, we will often find bird poo on it. So for us, we clean our skylights once every two months.

We should note however that there is no rule as to how often you need to clean your skylights. As with any other window in your home, they can be cleaned as many or as few times as you like.

You’ll just need to remember that skylights are often located in harder to reach spots (and by extension harder to clean spots!) like kitchen ceilings or high up on slanted bedroom walls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Cleaning Skylights Too Often Damage Them?

No, cleaning your skylights too often will not damage them. In fact, there is no such thing as ‘too often’ when it comes to cleaning windows, including skylights.

We would recommend cleaning them more infrequently during the summer months, as the hot weather can lead to streaks on your skylight if you’re cleaning them in the direct sunlight.

If you absolutely must clean your skylights often in the summer, try to do it in the evening or first thing in the morning when it is less sunny.

How Do You Clean a Skylight You Can’t Reach?

If you can’t reach your skylight, don’t worry – you have two options.

You can either use a ladder to reach the high skylight, or you can use a purpose-built extendable cleaning device like this one.

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