A new screen door can be a beautiful addition to your home. It allows you to enjoy the fresh air, and it can add to your home’s curb appeal. Aging screen doors, however, can drag down the look of your home. One reason being, they can make doors and windows seem dingy and old. To keep you screen doors — and your home — looking great, your screens require some regular maintenance. It’s recommended that you clean screen doors at least once per year to keep them looking and operating well. Here are the proper steps for cleaning your screen doors.
Remove screens, if possible.
The first step in cleaning screen doors is to remove the screen doors from the doorway, if possible. Most sliding screen doors can be popped out of the track and removed with a screwdriver. Some swinging screen doors have removable screens, or you can choose to unscrew the hinges to dismount the door for easy cleaning.
Vacuum the screen and the doorframe.
The little holes within the screen mesh can hold a lot of dust and debris. The first step in cleaning your screens is to vacuum out those little holes to remove as much dirt and debris as possible. You also will want to vacuum as much debris as possible from your door’s track and frame to keep the door sliding as smoothly as possible. Don’t forget to vacuum the door frame and track on both the top and bottom of the doorway.
Wash screens with a mild detergent.
Next, wash your screens with soapy water using a mild detergent, such as dish soap. You can use a soft cloth or a soft brush, if the dirt and grime on your screen is being stubborn. As you wash the screen, be careful not to apply too much pressure to the screen; you do not want to stretch or bow the screen or bend the screen frame as you clean.
Rinse screens and let them dry.
Once the screens are thoroughly washed, rinse them with a gentle spray. While a normal garden hose is fine for rinsing screens, do not use a pressure washer to rinse screens, as this can damage the screen mesh or frame. Once the screens are completely rinsed of the soap, you can gently dry them with a soft towel, or allow them to dry in the sun.
Lubricate the door.
Before you replace your screen, lubricate its working components to keep the door opening and closing smoothly. On a sliding screen door, gently clean around the door’s four wheels and apply lubrication. On a swinging door, apply a lubricant to the door hinges to prevent sticking or squeaking.
Replace your screens.
Once you have cleaned and tuned up your screen doors, it’s time to replace them. Reinstall screens or the screen doors. For rolling screen doors, be sure that doors are installed straight on the track, and make adjustment to the wheel height if necessary.
If some regular screen maintenance isn’t enough to restore the look and function of your screen door, it might be time for replacement — A to Z Window Screens can help! If your screen doors are beyond salvaging, call A to Z Window Screens to schedule a consultation today.