Abstract: Distribution network equipment operates in outdoor environments for long periods, where insulating surfaces are prone to contamination, significantly reducing flashover voltage and threatening grid security. Traditional power-off cleaning methods compromise supply reliability, while existing live cleaning technologies suffer from issues such as non-standardized operating procedures, limited cleaning agent performance, and insufficient insulation monitoring, which may lead to equipment flashover or electric shock accidents. This paper systematically analyzes the principles of live cleaning and its potential risks, and proposes an improved approach based on standardized operating procedures. The method establishes a three-level insulation monitoring system, optimizes cleaning agent formulations, and standardizes robotic arm operations to ensure safe and efficient live cleaning. Application results show that the proposed technology reduces the equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD) on insulator surfaces to below 0.03 mg/cm², achieves a hydrophobicity recovery rate of 98%, and shortens single-operation time by 40%, thereby significantly enhancing the operational reliability of distribution network equipment.