How to clean a fly screen

prettyliving

Difficulty: Beginner

It's common for fly screens to become dusty and dirty over time. This can potentially block fresh air from entering your home and look unsightly.

Here is a simple guide to cleaning a standard fly screen.

Let us know if you have any questions. We’d be happy to assist.

Steps

Step 1

Remove the fly screen.

Unscrew any clips or fasteners holding the screen in place. Hold the screen’s left and right edges and push it upwards into the window frame’s top track. Do this until the screen's bottom edge slides out of the bottom track. Now remove the screen out of the frame by pulling it down out of the top track.

Locate a clean and dry area for cleaning the screen and place it there.

For fixed fly screens, place towels along your windowsill and floor to protect them from any water or product stains.

1.0 Dirty fly screen.png 1.1 Remove fly screen.png 1.2 Place screen on a clean area.png

Step 2

Dilute the degreaser.

Follow the instructions on the product label to dilute the degreaser. Make sure you are wearing the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves and eye protection.

Fill the bucket with the required amount of water and add the degreaser. I added one part degreaser to 10 parts water.

For heavily stained or dirty screens, use the degreaser undiluted.

2.0 Fill bucket with water.png 2.1 Add degreaser to water.png

Step 3

Scrub the fly screen.

Dip a soft bristle brush into the diluted degreaser and then use it to scrub the screen. Do not scrub the screen too vigorously as doing so can damage the mesh.

Scrub both sides of the screen.

3.0 Dip the brush in the degreaser solution.png 3.1 Scrub screen lightly.png 3.1. Scrub both sides of the screen.png

Step 4

Wash the fly screen.

Lean the screen against a wall or post. Hose off the dirt and degreaser solution until the water runs clear. If the screen is still dirty, repeat step 3.

For fixed screens, use a spray bottle filled with water and a wet cloth to wipe away the dirt and degreaser solution.

4.0 Place scrubbed screen against post or wall.png 4.1. Hose off degreaser mixture on screen.png

Step 5

Dry the fly screen.

Leave the screen to dry outdoors in a clean area.

For quicker drying, wipe the screen gently using a clean towel.

5.0 Leave the screen to dry outdoors..png 5.1. Wipe with a towel for quicker drying.png

Step 6

Reinstall the fly screen.

Once the screen has dried, push the top edge of the screen up into the top window track. Now insert the screen's bottom edge back into the bottom track. Position the screen in the frame and clip the edges back into place.

Enjoy your clean fly screen.

6.0 Reinstall the cleaned fly screen.png 6.1 Fly screen re-installed.png 6.2. Newly cleaned fly screen.png

Materials

Water-based degreaser, such as Diggers 1L water-based degreaser
Water.

Tools

Bucket
Garden hose
Soft bristle brush
Towel or rag
Safety gear, including gloves and safety glasses.

Images

1.0 Dirty fly screen.png 1.1 Remove fly screen.png 1.2 Place screen on a clean area.png 2.0 Fill bucket with water.png 2.1 Add degreaser to water.png 3.0 Dip the brush in the degreaser solution.png 3.1 Scrub screen lightly.png 3.1. Scrub both sides of the screen.png 4.0 Place scrubbed screen against post or wall.png 5.0 Leave the screen to dry outdoors..png 5.1. Wipe with a towel for quicker drying.png 6.0 Reinstall the cleaned fly screen.png 6.1 Fly screen re-installed.png 6.2. Newly cleaned fly screen.png