The Right Way to Clean Window Screens

Cleaning your window screens likely isn't at the top of your home cleaning checklist—but this task is something you should tackle at least a few times a year. From season to season, window screens build up with pollen, dust, dirt, and other debris. If you don't clean window screens regularly, those materials can then be transferred to the windows themselves, making them look dirty (even if you just wiped them down). Luckily, cleaning window screens is an easy task than can be done with a little soap and water.

How Often to Clean Window Screens

In general, you should clean your window screens twice a year—once every spring and fall. This schedule will prevent things like pollen, dust, and dirt from building up. "A good rule of thumb is to clean your window screens at the same time you clean your windows," says Craig Thomas, virtual expert for Frontdoor. "If you clean your windows and do not clean your screens, the dirt on the screens can negatively impact your newly cleaned windows." 

How to Clean Window Screens 

Cleaning window screens is an easy process that can be done using a few common household supplies.

Materials Needed

Make sure you have these materials and tools on hand before getting started.

• Vacuum with brush attachment
• Warm water
• Dish soap
• Soft bristle brush
• Towel (optional)
  

Step 1: Remove the Screens 

The easiest way to clean window screens is to remove them, which will prevent you from getting debris inside your home. "If cleaning more than one screen, be sure to label each one so you know which window to return it to when you are finished," says Mary Gagliardi in-house scientist and cleaning expert for Clorox. "It's OK to take all the screens out at once, but only clean and rinse one screen at a time; cleaning products should not dry out on the screens before being rinsed away."

Step 2: Vacuum the Screens 

Gently vacuum the screens to remove loose dirt and debris. "Also vacuum out the screen grooves around the window to clean out any dirt and insects that may have gotten trapped throughout the year," says Thomas. "Use the vacuum's soft bristle brush to both loosen and remove any excess dirt, pollen, cobwebs, and debris off the screen without causing damage."

Step 3: Clean the Screens 

When cleaning window screens, focus on any areas with built up grime and use extra caution around areas with patches or damage, says Kathy Cohoon, the director of franchise operations of Two Maids.

1. Fill a bucket with warm water and a few drops of gentle dish soap. 
2. Dip a soft bristle brush in the cleaning solution. 
3. Lightly scrub one side of the screen in circular motions. 
4. Rinse the screen with warm water. 
5. Repeat on the other side of the screen. 
6. If the screens are still dirty, repeat the process. 

Step 4: Dry the Screens

Let the window screens air dry completely before re-installing them. "You can speed this up by toweling them dry after rinsing, but this won't dry them completely—that's why they need additional air-drying time," says Gagliardi. If you are really in a hurry, you can place the screens in front of a fan to speed up drying time, says Cohoon.  

Step 5: Re-Install the Screens

Once the screens are completely dry, reinstall them according to their corresponding windows.  "Sometimes once the house settles, the screens may not fit into other frames," says David Flax, president of Window Genie, a Neighborly brand. If any screens don't fit, it's possible you're trying to re-install a screen in the wrong window.