There are some things you can do to help maintain the cleanliness of your screens and properly clean them without removing them entirely.
Cleaning the floor on your fly screen is quick and easy. First, unscrew the fly screen from its frame and remove it. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck the dirt and dust, then thoroughly wash the screen with a garden hose or in a bucket of warm soapy water to remove any dust and grime. A vacuum cleaner is great because it will suck the dirt inside instead of spraying it out. Rinse well with spray bottle filled with clean water to remove all soap residue, then dry thoroughly either by wiping down with a clean, soft cloth or hanging up to air dry. Once dry, screw your fly screen back onto its frame before replacing it over your window or door opening. Now you can sit back and enjoy more time outdoors without pesky bugs getting through. If the wall of your fly screens has become damaged over time, try using sandpaper on particularly stubborn stains for an effective way to get rid of marks left by stickers or tape. If stains are light, you may get away with just repainting the affected area. Simply use a small paintbrush to apply primer before painting over with fresh white exterior paint. Make sure your window screen is not damaged or weather-worn - it's worth checking that it's tight enough to keep bugs out, but also easy for you to open and close when required. A well-maintained fly screen should last years in the outdoors with a regular cleaning mild detergent.
There are a variety of different types of fly screen wall available for both doors and windows with a different working process inside. Here's a brief overview.
Made from metal wire with a 1mm diameter, these screens have been the standard style since fly screens were invented. It is important to remember that they should not be used as security screens or as barriers to keep pests out of your house or home. Standard fly screens will not prevent someone from entering your house.
Made from high-tensile wire with a 1.2 to 1.5mm diameter, these screens offer a higher level of security protection that is perfect for homes or businesses where security is important. A security screen should never be used as a standard fly screen to keep insects out of your house. Security doors are great for keeping privacy from prying eyes as well as being tough.
This wire fence features small holes that will prevent even the smallest bugs from entering your home without affecting ventilation and visibility. These types of screens are ideal for sliding doors and windows in kitchens, bathrooms and verandas - anywhere you want to protect yourself from mosquitoes when you're indoors but still let fresh air in when you open the window or door later on in the day.
These are the most secure type of fly screen for doors and windows, made from strong wire fence that can even be used on French or bi-folding doors. They are held in place by small magnetic strips that are attached directly to your door frame so there is no need for screws or adhesives when installing the fence.
Cleaning fly screens can be a bit of a challenge as they are typically installed in such a way as to keep them functional and secure. However, there are some things you can do to help maintain the cleanliness of your screens and properly clean them without removing them from their installation and keep a good airflow by cleaning properly.
First, use a soft brush, soft bristle brush or scrubber to gently scrub any dust, loose dirt or dirt that has accumulated on the dry surface of the screen door before cleaning with other materials. You can also use this opportunity to give it a light once-over with an all-purpose cleaner to remove any marks. To clean more stubborn smudges, try using some toothpaste in free measure for cleaning on grease stains or warm soapy water and then spraying it off with a garden hose on low setting from the bore water. Remember to wipe off excess toothpaste before you let the screen dry with salt air. If your screen or the door is stained by paint or permanent marker, use sandpaper or steel wool to remove the offending mark from the window. If you are cleaning your fly screen for better air quality, take a look at your air conditioner filters as well.If your screen door is ripped or torn, it may be time to replace it entirely with the new removable fly screens and then clean fixed screens. All removable fly screens are just as they sound, removable making them easier to clean every time there are bugs stuck there.
Use a bucket of water to wash with instead of a hose. This is because the hose can damage the screen because of high pressure. Instead do it the easy way using a bucket and towel to keep the debris away. If you have a metal or steel body, use soapy water or general household cleaners to get rid of sticky grease and grime and keep up regularly vacuum them. For plastic mesh, use some dishwashing liquid, a soft-bristled brush and warm water as it will be less likely to damage the material to clean fixed screens. If you cannot get rid of some stubborn stains with soap and water, try using toothpaste with an old toothbrush for light grease or marker stains with a damp cloth. Simply rub the stain until it comes out, then wipe off any excess before letting the screen dry in a pleasant way.
Fly screens should be cleaned on a regular basis for stubborn debris or dirt, depending on their location and your daily usage patterns. If you have pets that go in and out through open doors or windows, more debris or stubborn dirt will collect on the floor of the window over time, so it may need to be cleaned more frequently. Screen doors and window sills are especially prone to getting dirty since they'll typically see constant traffic from humans and animals alike. If possible, it is a good idea to thoroughly clean your fly screens at least once a month with a garden hose with a narrow nozzle on low pressure with a brush attachment. Too much water pressure will damage the dry surface. An easy way to dust is to use an old towel, hose, bucket of too much water to wash the window.
If you have a high-tensile fly screen and want to clean it without the use of power tools, take your time and check your local hardware store for items that can help with the job. You will need rubbing alcohol, cotton balls or cotton buds, white vinegar, tweezers, a portable air compressor or steel wool to rinse gently. Bear in mind these tools may not be effective when cleaning heavily soiled screens. Always remember after cleaning your fixed security screens you also need to clean the window sills.
Dip a cloth into three parts water and one part white vinegar then wring out any excess liquid before wiping down to rinse the surface with warm soapy water on your window sills too. A cleaning tool to rinse well is best for these purposes and air dry after wiping with a towel. This will remove dirt and soap residue from recently cleaned surfaces (which is important since you don't want old soap and debris or dirt mixing with your new cleaning solution). Be sure to clean both sides of the screen and rinse well until dry to avoid leaving any smears or streaks. Or you can dip one cotton ball or cotton bud in rubbing alcohol and use it to carefully wipe down and rinse the entire surface of the fly screen. The small, tightly interwoven screen openings will hold onto grime more than larger gaps and restrict air, so be thorough in your cleaning efforts here. Alcohol evaporates fast but it's still important you allow at least 24 hours for the surface to fully dry.
No, you should never use a pressure washer on your fly screen as it is made from high-tensile wire which can be forced out of position or even snap if enough pressure is applied. It is best to clean and rinse fly screens manually or by using a sponge with a spray bottle. If using a garden hose for cleaning, make sure its pressure is medium to low.
Pressure washing may seem like an obvious choice for cleaning dirty screens but using a pressure washer for cleaning will damage the material and cause loose strands to stick out, leaving you with an unsightly mess. So use a spray bottle to wipe the stain. Save the pressure wash for your driveway or for cleaning your roof tiles instead.If the area is particularly dirty, try using a toothbrush for cleaning to scrub any tough grime stains off even on the window sills before heading back outdoors with water and soap. A little elbow grease will go a long way.
No, do not use anything with bleach in it when cleaning fly screens as this can weaken the wire mesh. The last thing you want is to easily break your screens while cleaning when they're supposed to be the one thing standing between you and unwanted insects! Alternatively, try using a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water mixed in a spray bottle to clean dirty fly screens.
Fixed screens can be removed by unfastening the screws at either end of your screen and sliding it out. This is usually quite simple but if you feel like you're doing battle with your fly screen, simply grab a screwdriver, take off the screws at both ends and lift them up so they can slide right off. If this fails to work, try using WD-40 or another lubricant to help break up any rust that might be causing problems.
This is a common problem and it's important to know how to mend fly screens as soon as you notice any damage. More often than not you can fix a hole in your fly screen by using a specialised metal patch. If the damage is bigger, like an entire tear, you will need to buy another piece of fly screen and cut it to size before attaching both sides with patches or tape. You can also grab some clear mosquito netting from an outdoor shop and slip this over the damaged screen as an alternative to buying new mesh altogether.