Nobody gets excited about this job. When your window screens are dirty – Maybe you’ve had a box fan running for ages, maybe you’re just unlucky, or maybe it’s just time to clean them – We know you’re probably gonna put it off for as long as you possibly can. But you really should do it as soon as possible. It doesn’t have to be a pain, honest! There are important reasons, too. Not only will having dirty screens make it harder to see out your windows, but it will also reduce the quality of air in your home as grime and gunk blow past your dirty screens.
Depending on how bad they’ve gotten, there are a few ways to clean them. We’ll be going over a few of the easiest ones in this article. Wait for a sunny day, go down the list, and get your screens good as new!
For Mildly Dirty Window Screens
First step – Try a simple spray bottle. The most gently stained screens will run clean after a thorough soaking, but in most cases, that won’t do the trick. Avoid using a cloth wash rag as lint and fibers from these will get caught in the mesh and make the problem worse by attracting more dust. You can also try a lint roller, which is nice as you won’t have to detach your screen. Mr. Clean has a great product for screens, too – Try their extra strength Magic Eraser. Wet it and scrub the screens gently.
Slightly Dirtier Screens
Your next step and the last choice for screens you don’t want to remove is a vacuum with a bristle brush. The softer, the better, but if you do this monthly, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by making the job easier. If this doesn’t do the trick, it’s time to take your screens out. This is why we had you wait for a sunny day!
Mix a quarter cup of dish soap with half a gallon of water. You could use distilled white vinegar instead of dish soap if you prefer. Next, take them outside – Labeled with tape, if you have a lot of them – And sponge the soapy water gently. Before it dries and leaves soap scum, hose it off and let it dry in the sun for a couple of hours.
Be sure to wipe the window ledges in the meantime! This is a great opportunity to give your windows a deep clean in general. Remember: Double up on tasks so you can use the wait time to get something else done.
Even Dirtier Screens
How do you clean really dirty screens? With a toothbrush! Or a horsehair brush. You’ll want to follow the same steps as above, but during the soapy sponge stage, be sure to add some elbow grease with a brush of your choice. Don’t push too hard, though – Screens are fragile! You can bend them out of shape very easily.
The brush is an essential tool to get into all the little nooks and holes you might run into – So don’t underestimate it. However, if all else fails, a pressure washer usually does the trick! Avoid an expensive rental bill and add these easy steps to your monthly routine.