Security screens play an important role in modern homes. Whether you have them installed on your doors, windows, or any other openings in and around your house, they help protect your belongings and keep your family safe and secure.
Like other parts of your home, security screen mesh must be cleaned regularly to keep them in tip-top condition. While most commercial screens are relatively low-maintenance, carrying out a regular cleaning routine is recommended to reduce the buildup of dust, dirt, and grime.
Especially here in Western Australia, the coastal environment can carry salt air all the way to your home, landing on your screens and causing build-up.
Let’s look at how to clean a security door or window with a simple yet detailed six-point plan.
How to Clean a Security Door or Window
If you want your security doors and windows to look their best season after season, it’s time to get busy. Unlike most insect screens, security screens are harder to remove, which presents some challenges when it comes to cleaning.
Many people avoid this job as it seems complicated, but there’s no reason to procrastinate. With a bit of help, cleaning your security doors and windows is a simple task that makes a massive difference to the look and feel of your home.
Here’s how to clean a screen door or window in six easy steps:
1. Gather your cleaning equipment
You must have the right cleaning equipment to tackle the task of cleaning your security screen doors or windows. While you don’t need much to wash screens properly, having the right items close at hand makes the process so much easier.
Some of the things you’ll need include a garden hose, a soft hand brush or broom, cleaning gloves, kitchen or car detergent, and a regular bucket. You will also need several high-quality microfiber cloths, as these are the main items you will use to wash and wipe down your security screens.
2. Get out the garden hose
Fixed security screens help to keep your property safe and secure. They can be challenging to remove, so you need to get creative with cleaning them.
In most locations, you can start the cleaning process outside with a simple piece of garden equipment. That’s right! Before you get down to the nitty-gritty, you can use your garden hose to remove rough dirt and dust buildup. You can hose down the entire screen from near or afar — just don’t forget to close the doors and windows before you turn on the tap.
3. Remove dirt with a soft brush
Once you’ve put the hose away, it’s time to get up close and personal with your screens. This step is even more crucial if your windows are inaccessible or you can’t do a hose down for any reason.
Working with a brush is a great way to remove loose dust, dirt, and grime from your screens. If any of this dirt is rough and gritty, it must be removed before wiping down the screen with a cloth to avoid damaging its surface. We recommend a soft brush from a dustpan set, or you can use a soft broom for any security screens located at height.
4. Use detergent and a microfiber cloth
Once you’ve performed a basic clean using water and a soft brush, it’s time to apply some elbow grease. You should use a microfiber cloth for this step, as it helps to avoid scratches.
A good pair of cleaning gloves, a regular bucket, and some mild detergent are also essential. Regular kitchen detergent or high-quality car cleaning products can be used for longer-lasting protection.
Mix the detergent with warm water to create a cleaning solution, ring out the cloth to make it damp, and wipe the screens from top to bottom and side to side. Remember to rinse the soft cloth regularly to keep it damp and relatively clean. Otherwise, you may rub grit into the screen.
5. Wipe down with a second cloth
Once you’ve thoroughly wiped down with a microfibre cloth, your security screens will start to look much better. It’s not time to relax, though, as a second wipe-down is also needed.
Take out another microfibre cloth, fill up your bucket with clean water, and dampen the cloth before wiping the screen again. It’s important to wipe the screen with a clean cloth soaked in clean water, as this will help remove any lingering dust or loose dirt from the surface.
6. Dry your security screens
Once you’ve wiped your screens twice — remembering to use clean water on the second pass — all the dust and dirt should be removed. If they aren’t, further repetitions may be needed to get them in perfect condition. Otherwise, you can proceed to dry them.
The last step involves another microfibre cloth, but you don’t need to get it wet this time. Instead, take out your cloth and wipe the steel or aluminium from end to end in an extended linear motion. This step is very easy, but it shouldn’t be avoided. Drying your screens is necessary to prevent streaks, which helps to keep them in tip-top condition.
What About Security Screen Maintenance?
As you can see, screen door cleaning is easy, especially when you do it regularly. Besides making them look great, cleaning your security screens is the perfect time to inspect them and perform additional maintenance as necessary.
Check the structure for defects and replace the rollers on any sliding doors that are starting to stick. You should also check and clean the tracks, lubricate locks and hinges with a dry lubricant, and inspect all screws and rivets to ensure they’re secure. If anything needs fixing or replacing, our team at Clearview Security can get you sorted out.
Choose Clearview Security for Quality Security Products
At Clearview Security, we can look after all your security screen needs. We also carry a wide range of security doors, windows, and accessories, including Safe-S-Cape fire escapes, security window films, decorative security doors, bifold security doors, and patio enclosures.
If you need reliable security screens, windows and doors for your home or business and value safety without compromises, please get in touch with Clearview Security today.
