How to Clean and Repair Window Screens

Many homeowners wouldn’t dream of never cleaning their windows, but many who regularly clean their windows don’t bother to clean their screens. It’s just as important to clean window screens as it is to clean windows. Clean window screens provide better ventilation and light, and clean screens last longer than screens that have been ignored. Also, don’t count on your windows staying clean if your screens are dirty. When it rains, dirt from screens ends up on windows.

Instead of ignoring your window screens, consider the following information on window screen cleaning and care. Your windows will look cleaner and brighter, and you’ll feel more of a breeze when the windows are open. Once you begin cleaning and properly caring for your window screens, you won’t want to ignore them again!

Cleaning

Window screens will last longer if they are taken down, cleaned, and stored before winter. Before the onset of winter, remove window screens, lay them on a clean, flat surface outdoors, and wash them with a soft bristle brush and a mixture of oil soap and water. Follow product label instructions for the proper combination of soap and water, and after scrubbing, rinse them thoroughly by hosing them off. Allow them to dry in the sun while leaning against the house, or dry them with a thick absorbent towel.

After cleaning dirty window screens, don’t wait until the following season to clean them again. About once a month, gently wipe them with a clean terry cloth towel, or use the brush attachment on your vacuum to remove dirt and debris. They’ll stay looking clean, and they’ll perform optimally each time you open the windows.

Storing

Before the onset of winter weather, remove window screens and store them indoors either in a basement, shed, or a garage. Leaving screens in windows is very hard on them since snow can build up, and winter winds and freezing weather can cause damage. I always remove my window screens before winter, and I’ve never had to replace or repair them. Although it’s a lot of work cleaning and storing screens, it’s worth the effort because of the money and time I’ve ultimately saved.

Patching

Have you discovered a small hole in a window screen? You don’t have to throw it away. You can perform a simple repair. Don’t wait until it’s large and gaping before attempting to repair it. You can easily repair a small hole with a little clear nail polish or rubber cement. Simply brush it over the hole to fill it in. When it dries, chances are no one will be able to see the repair, and the repair can be touched up as necessary.

Repair larger holes with a screen repair kit that contains various sizes of patches and clear thread. Begin by trimming a patch so it’s just a millimeter or two larger than the hole, line up the screen material, and then securely stitch the patch over the hole. When the patch is lined up properly with the existing screen and trimmed to the appropriate size, no one will know the screen has been patched, and it will provide many more years of use.