How to clean screens on porch. Screens are designed to trap pollen and other debris but inevitably there will be a buildup of this on your screen as it isn’t entirely air-tight.
Simply using a vacuum cleaner, carefully move over the dirty parts and suck up any particles that may be hanging onto the grilles.
Once you have done this, it’s a good idea to dust off anything that has collected on the surface which can be done using lint-free cloths or brushes (the kind used for cleaning glasses).
If you’re planning on tackling this job in a day dedicated to general porch maintenance then it’s highly advisable to wait until winter as temperatures drop and less pollen is floating around in the air. It also means your screens will stay cleaner throughout the duration of winter.
How to clean screens on porch
Clean porch screens with warm water and a mild all-purpose cleaner that does not contain ammonia or bleach. Use either a brush or a scrubbing pad to clean them.
Make sure the mesh and frame are cleaned thoroughly. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose. Allow the screens to air dry completely on their own.
Using soapy water and a brush
Deep cleaning your porch screens at least twice a year can ward off pest issues. The best time to clean your porch screens is during the spring and autumn when insects such as termites or cockroaches start breeding again after hibernating.
Other than that, spot clean whenever necessary in order to be cautious about local pest issues. The most thorough way to clean the screens on your porch is by washing them with warm soapy water either by hand or with a pressure washer.
Yet another way this can be done although much less thorough is by merely spraying the screens with water and then vacuuming the dirt onto one of those sheet-type sweepers or broom-like extension heads from your vacuum cleaner.
You can get it specially fitted for this purpose while you’re there at the store buying your used pressure washer.
Use a hose to spray
If you have porch screens and are looking for ways to clean them, the easiest way would be by spraying water at the screen with a hose.
As long as your screen is not moldy, stained, or excessively dirty, the hose will do a great job of removing any dirt and grime. Simply bring a garden hose with an adjustable nozzle (like the one pictured below) onto your porch.
Then pull it away from the screen at a distance that is best for your particular situation: about 8 feet away for weak nozzles/wands; 12 feet away for average ones; 18 feet away for very powerful ones like on turbo washing machines and fire hoses etc.
You may need to use “cone” or “flat” spray patterns which will cover more area than other settings which will give you less coverage if your neighbors are complaining their views are being blocked etc. Adjust accordingly so that you don’t get too many red ants in return.
Remove loose dust by vacuuming
An easy solution to a clogged screen is vacuuming but not with a vacuum cleaner. This works well in arid or desert climates, where dust and pollen are everywhere. In areas where humidity may be higher, you will likely need to brush the screens down with water.
Make sure your vacuum cleaner is clean before attempting this otherwise you’ll spread the dirt around instead of taking it up.
Apply gently with a brush attachment on the hose. Use as much water as needed to loosen and then remove any excess dirt from the sill onto the ground below the window.
Make use of a spray-on cleaner
Use a spray-on cleaner to get rid of the dirt and grime on your screen. Screens should be cleaned with a solution that was designed specifically for screens.
You can use a brush to poke through holes instead of staying on top of the screen. Krud Kutter is one cleaner that works well on sticky, grimy, or gunky messes.
If you use a cleaner like this, be sure to rinse it off after it’s done so that its potent chemicals don’t remain on the screen.
Related Guides