Cleaning your roof windows can help keep them in great condition all year round. Whether you have installed pitched rooflights or flat rooflights, you will need to keep your rooflights clean. Roof lanterns and walk-on skylights will also need to be looked after to ensure they’re adding as much light into your house as possible.
In this rooflight cleaning and maintenance guide, we cover everything you need to know about cleaning your rooflight.
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We do recommend that you get your rooflights cleaned by a contractor every 6 months in order to maintain your rooflights for years to come. If you decide to clean them yourself, the cleaning and maintenance tips below can ensure you clean your roof windows appropriately and safely.
Pollution, rainwater staining, bird droppings, tree sap and debris can all build up on rooflights over time. Regular cleaning helps to maintain their appearance and performance, and ensures as much natural light as possible enters your home.
Clean rooflights not only look better, but they also function better. Over time, dirt and grime can reduce the amount of light entering your space, which can affect both comfort and energy efficiency. Dirt and debris can also collect around frames and seals, which leads to potential water ingress or damage to coatings.
Both internal and external cleaning is important. Indoors, dust, condensation and cooking fumes can leave a film on the glass. Externally, moss, leaves, or bird droppings can cause staining or even encourage corrosion on metal components.
Regular cleaning also helps prevent long-term issues. For example, blocked top gutters or drainage channels can lead to leaks, and acidic deposits from pollution or bird mess can degrade the surface over time. On walk-on rooflights, moss and algae build-up can make the surface slippery and unsafe.
That’s why at The Rooflight Co we recommend inspecting and cleaning your rooflights every six months as standard, or more frequently in areas with high tree coverage, pollution, or extreme weather conditions.
Below is a list of some of the most common tools you may need:-
Flat rooflights may require more maintenance due to the flat angle of flat rooflight design. This means that excess water can occasionally collect on the roof, although flat rooflight design is not impacted by rainwater. Regular maintenance may involve checking for moss or debris gathering on the roof. Avoid standing or leaning on the flat rooflight, unless you have installed rooflights that are specifically designed to be walked on.
Pitched rooflights are installed at an angle, which means more debris may naturally fall away with the help of rainwater. If you do need to clean pitched rooflights, always work methodically and safely, and ensure all remnants of cleaning products are removed from both the glass and the rooflight structure when you are finished.
Cleaning rooflights will mean working at height, so your personal safety should always come first. Whether you’re cleaning from inside or outside, taking the right precautions will help prevent accidents or damage to your windows.
All rooflight weather seals should be wiped down every 6 months to remove any build-up from tree debris, sap, dust or dirt. You can use a mix of water and a mild detergent to clean the seals of your rooflight and the sealing face of the window frame.
The top gutter of your rooflight will also need to be regularly cleaned and maintained to remove any twigs, leaves or debris that is collected. Leaving these can lead to leakages to the roof window head, and chemicals from the debris can affect the paint coatings on your rooflight. Regular maintenance is advised, around every 6 months.
Cleaning your conservation rooflight is much the same as cleaning a pitched rooflight or flat rooflight. The Conservation Rooflight window from The Rooflight Company features traditionally designed Victorian cast-iron frames, which can be cleaned and maintained using soft cloths and gentle detergents or soaps. Avoid using metal scrapers, metal wired sponges or harsh bristles on the framing or the glass of your conservation rooflight.
You should aim to clean your internal roof windows every 2-3 months to prevent dust and dirt from building up and to ensure you allow as much light as possible to stream into your home. Ensure you use non-abrasive sponges and mild soapy water. A good quality glass cleaner can help give your roof windows extra shine.
It is recommended to clean the inside of a lantern rooflight every couple of months to keep away dust and dirt and prevent build-up. To access hard to reach areas such as lantern rooflight interiors, use a sponge on a stick to assist you when cleaning. Ensure the sponge is non-abrasive and, as with all other rooflights, avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals. Use warm soapy water, good quality glass cleaner, a mild detergent and a soft cloth.
You can use any good quality branded glass-cleaning product to clean your rooflight glass. De-ionised water can also be used to avoid any streaks appearing on the glass. Always use a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge when cleaning your rooflight glass, and wipe away any excess moisture with a dry soft cloth. Avoid using any harsh chemicals on the glass, as this could damage the glass finish. A naturally soft-bristled brush can be used, but avoid scrapers and harsh bristles that will only damage the finish of the glass and the rooflight frame.
At The Rooflight Company, our Neo® roof windows are all installed with bio-clean self-cleaning glass, which will require less cleaning than normal glass. Be sure to check with your supplier if you have installed self-cleaning glass, as cleaning and maintenance may vary.
Self-cleaning glass works by using natural sunlight to clean the roof window and clear it of debris and dirt. Self-cleaning glass is covered with an organic compound that oxidizes and breaks down dirt using natural daylight. The remaining debris and dirt are then washed away by rainwater. Because of how it works, using the natural angle of the roof to drain away rainwater, self-cleaning glass is not suitable for flat rooflights and works best for pitched rooflights.
You will need to clean your roof windows far less if you install BioClean self-cleaning glass, making it an eco-friendly choice, too. Self-cleaning glass requires less general upkeep and maintenance, but check with your supplier about how often you should clean your skylight windows if you have installed self-cleaning windows.
In the UK’s damp climate, skylights and rooflights commonly experience condensation in colder months. This happens when warm indoor air meets the cold glass surface, forming water droplets that can drip inside.
To stop or reduce these drips, consider the following steps:
Cleaning roof windows without a ladder is not only safer – it’s often more efficient. Here’s how to maintain spotless, streak-free glazing while keeping your feet firmly on the ground.
Telescopic Cleaning Poles
Extendable poles that reach 15–30 feet, made with lightweight aluminium or carbon fibre, and locking mechanisms for stability. They accept various attachments like squeegees, scrubbers, and microfiber cloths.
Water-Fed Pole Systems
A professional-grade option: poles that pump purified water directly through a brush head, letting you scrub and rinse simultaneously. The purified water ensures spot-free drying.
Soft Scrubber/Squeegee Attachments
Use dense microfiber scrubbers to lift grime, and high-quality squeegees with sharp blades for streak-free cleaning.
Telescopic Hose Brush with Built-In Water Spray
A budget-friendly, effective tool – just under £20 – that plugs into your garden hose. It features a soft brush head plus a squeegee, enabling ground-level cleaning with minimal effort and no need for a ladder.
Standard Cleaning Accessories
Microfiber cloths, mild soapy water/dish soap, vinegar solutions (for hard water stains), and soft brushes for stubborn debris.
1. Dust First – Use a microfiber or soft-bristle brush on the pole to remove dust, cobwebs, and debris before applying liquid solutions.
2. Apply Cleaner – Attach a pad or brush soaked with warm soapy water (or diluted vinegar/soap). Work from top to bottom to avoid dirty streaks.
3. Scrub Gently – Overlap strokes moderately to remove grime. Avoid pressuring the glass too much.
4. Rinse or Wipe – Rinse with clean water via hose or damp cloth. Squeegee from top down in straight lines, wiping the blade between strokes to prevent streaks.
5. Buff Dry – Finish with a microfiber cloth for a polished, streak-free shine.
Improved Safety: Avoid climactic risks associated with ladders—and potential property damage.
Even, Streak-Free Results: Tools like water-fed poles and squeegee attachments automatically update your technique for cleaner outcomes.
Great Value Tools: The telescopic hose brush is highly effective and cost-efficient, earning praise for its performance.
Optimal Conditions Matter: Best results come from cleaning in shaded or cooler conditions to prevent quick drying and streaking.
Start High, Work Down: Begin with the highest rooflights so runoff doesn’t dirty newly cleaned areas below.
While modern rooflights are designed to be long-lasting, they won’t last forever. Even with regular cleaning and maintenance, natural wear and tear can take its toll. If your rooflight is over 15 years old or starting to show signs of damage, it may be time to consider a replacement. Here are some of the key things to look out for:
Send us your details and our team will be in touch.
Our standard terms and conditions of sale provide a warranty of 12 months from date of delivery. We recommend you register your products within this timeframe to extend your warranty, where applicable.
