The best way to clean window screens – according to professional cleaners

Window screens do more than just keep bugs out and your house pets in – they are essential barriers for keeping dust, dirt, pollen, and other airborne particles out of the home.

Keeping them clean is therefore essential – even in the winter months. Luckily, it is easy to do with some basic cleaning tips and minimal scrubbing. 

Professional cleaners claim that this is the best way to clean window screens to keep them pristine.

The best way to clean window screens

Although cleaning windows and their screens don't sound like winter activities, the chances are they are littered with debris after spring and summer. Doing so also extends the life of your screens, making sure they are in top condition when spring and summer eventually roll around again. It is a great task to add to your to-do list when preparing a home for fall and winter. 

1. Remove debris with a vacuum

To save yourself some time and hassle, start by vacuuming the window screens first, suggest the cleaning experts at KK Cleaners:

‘We like to use the brush attachment on a cordless vacuum to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris from the screen's surface. This step helps to avoid smearing the dirt when you start washing,’ they explain.

2. Rely on simple soap and water

Not every household cleaning task requires strong chemicals or specialized products. When it comes to window screens, something as simple as soap and warm water often does the trick, says Muffetta Krueger, cleaning expert and founder of Muffetta’s Domestic Assistants. 

‘In a bucket of warm water, mix a few drops of mild dish soap or use a screen-specific cleaning solution. Avoid harsh chemicals that can damage the screens or the environment,’ she warns. You might want to consider cleaning with Dawn Powerwash for the best effect with minimal elbow grease.   

‘Dip a sponge or a microfiber cloth into the soapy water and gently scrub the screens. Pay extra attention to any stubborn spots or stains before rinsing the screens with a garden hose or in a large basin to remove soap residue, suds, and streaks.

‘Ensure that the water pressure is not too high, as strong jets can damage the screens,’ she adds.

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Muffetta Krueger

Muffetta Krueger is a cleaning expert and founder of Muffetta’s Domestic Assistants with over 16 years of operational management experience in the service industry. Muffetta’s Domestic Assistants provides housekeepers, house cleaners and maids, and is based in New York.

3. Dry them with a lint-free cloth

To clean window screens without streaks, you’ll want to ensure they dry thoroughly before any more debris can stick and dry onto them and to prevent mold and mildew growth, say the experts at KK Cleaners.

On a dry, warm, wind-free day you can leave them to air dry, but you might want to help the process along by giving them a once over with a lint-free towel or microfiber cloth, they suggest.

Try patting and dabbing rather than rubbing to avoid lint debris and streaks. 

FAQs

These cleaning steps can easily be done with the window screens in situ, albeit with a little bit of mess or possible splashes from the soapy water. If you want to avoid this, you can start by removing your window screens and laying them on a clean surface outdoors. Removing them has the added benefit of allowing you to repair the screen if needed, too.