Handy Tips For Getting More Life Out Of Your Fly Screens

Nothing makes a house look more old and tired than frayed, dirty, and dusty screens. And not only are they an eyesore, they also serve to devalue your home.

And if your fly screens eventually become damaged there isn’t much you can do about it apart from replace them. But this time around, there are some easy maintenance steps that will make your new screens better stand the test of time.

best magnetic fly screens for windows

First of all, you will need to consider what kind of environment you live in.

Homes in urban areas tend to have more polluted air, and the buildup of dirt on your screens can grow surprisingly quickly. Maintenance on screens in these areas should be done at least every 6 months.

For homes in coastal areas, your screens will build up salt, making them grey, brittle, and heavy.

In these cases maintenance is needed about every 6 month as well.

Homes in rural also tend to have a buildup of dirt and dust, not to mention mud, on window screens and should have maintenance done every 3-6 months. 

Here is a list of the sort of cleaning & maintenance you should be performing periodically:

For Retractable Screens and Pleated Screens

Doing maintenance on retractable screens, in both windows and doors, is quite easy.

Because the screens are retracted when you are not using them anyway, they tend to develop less buildup to begin with.

For retractable screens, begin by retracting the screens back into their cassettes.

Vacuum out the tracks to make sure that they are clear of any debris.

For pleated screens, begin by stacking your screens back into the starter tracks.

Then vacuum out the tracks making sure they are clear of any debris.

Next roll out or extend the screen before gently scrubbing it with slightly soapy warm water using a soft bristle brush.

Or if the screens can come out altogether you can also spray them down with a garden hose.

But go easy on them! Too much pressure is not good for your screens, so just spray them lightly and follow up by wiping them off with a soft cloth. Leave the screens out to dry and then finish the process off by spraying a silicon-based lubricant along the top and bottom tracks.

For Fixed Security Screens

As a general rule of thumb, surfaces which are powder coated need to be cleaned about every 6 months. Start by putting towels down on the floor to avoid water damage.

Then using a soft cloth or brush wipe the screens and frames with water and a mild detergent.

Finally rinse off the screens with clean water and then let them dry before spraying the top and bottom tracks, as well as the lock, roller, and hinges, with a silicon lubricant as above.

First of all, you will need to consider what kind of environment you live in. Homes in urban areas tend to have more polluted air, and the buildup of dirt on your screens can grow surprisingly quickly. Maintenance on screens in these areas should be done at least every 6 months.

For homes in coastal areas, your screens will build up salt, making them grey, brittle, and heavy. In these cases maintenance is needed about every 6 month as well.

Homes in rural also tend to have a buildup of dirt and dust, not to mention mud, on window screens and should have maintenance done every 3-6 months.

Cleaning Magnetic Fly Screens

It can be a little more tricky to clean magnetic fly screens. Be careful removing them since if they have been installed for a long time the screens may have become quite brittle.

Also spraying them with a little bit of WD40 or silicon lubricant will help to loosen them up a bit.

Once they are removed take them outside and spray them down with a hose to clean away any dirt or dust.

Now use a soft bristle brush and wash the screens on both sides with slightly soapy water. soapy water wash the screens down.

Give the screens a final gentle rinse in clean water then leave them to dry before reinstalling.