The invention relates to a method for detecting insulators operated in an extreme climate environment. The method comprises the steps of: (1) simulating operation of the insulators in the extreme climate environment; (2) inspecting material properties of the insulators, wherein the inspection is implemented by carrying out deformation analysis on a glass insulator, carrying out wear and deformation analysis on the surface of a ceramic insulator, carrying out deformation, tear and wear situation analysis of a composite insulator, carrying out wear analysis on the end parts or fitting joints ofall the insulators, recording variation values of the material properties of the insulators at different wind direction angles separately, and making statistics of the maximum of the variation values;(3) and detecting power frequency withstand voltage characteristics of the insulators. The method can be used for detecting the material properties and the power frequency withstand voltage characteristics of the insulators in the extreme climate environment, can study an influence mechanism of the extreme climate environment on performance of the insulators through long-term cumulative observation, provides a basis for the manufacturing and model selection of the insulators suitable for the extreme climate environment, and ensures the safe and stable operation of power transmission lines.