How to Clean Window Screens Without Removing Them
With a spray bottle and some newspaper, you can lift the dust out of a window screen while it stays in the frame.
What you need
Supplies
- Mild dish soap
- 500 ml (2 cups) water
- 1 tbsp baking soda (for kitchen windows)
Tools
- Spray bottle
- 3–4 sheets of newspaper
- Soft brush or vacuum brush attachment
- 2 sponges
- Dry towel
- Masking tape
How to do it
- 01
Prepare the area
Lay a dry towel on the window sill and the floor below. Check that the screen sits firmly in its track and has no tears, so it will not pop out while you clean.
- 02
Remove dry dust first
Before using any water, brush the screen from top to bottom with a soft brush or vacuum attachment. Tape a sheet of newspaper to the outside and vacuum from the inside so the dust does not blow away.
- 03
Mix the cleaning solution
Fill a spray bottle with 500 ml (2 cups) of water and 3–4 drops of dish soap. For a greasy kitchen window, add 1 tbsp of baking soda. Keep the soap light, or rinsing will take much longer.
- 04
Spray and cover with newspaper
Spray the whole inner side of the screen, then press sheets of newspaper onto the wet mesh. Spray once more over the paper so it sticks flat, and leave it for 10–15 minutes. As the paper dries, it pulls the dust out of the mesh.
- 05
Peel off and wipe both sides
Peel the newspaper off slowly from the top; the grime comes away with it. Mist the screen with clean water, then sandwich it between two sponges and wipe gently from top to bottom.
- 06
Dry and wipe the track
Leave the window open to air-dry. Water that runs into the window track can cause mold, so finish by wiping the track dry with a towel.
Be careful
- Pressing or scrubbing hard can stretch the mesh or pull it out of the frame. Use no more pressure than the weight of the sponge.
- Avoid bleach and strong acidic cleaners, which can discolor aluminum frames.
- On upper floors, never lean out of the window to clean the outside. Cleaning from the inside is enough.
- Melamine sponges (magic erasers) scratch and stretch the mesh.
Malkkeum tips
- Clean on a humid or overcast day, or after rain. Damp dust lets go of the mesh much more easily.
- Paper towels work too, but newspaper is larger and more absorbent, so you finish in one pass.
- Doing this just twice a year, after spring dust and before closing the windows in autumn, noticeably reduces indoor dust.
Why window screens are hard to clean
Window screens have a very fine weave. Wiping with a cloth only pushes dust deeper into the mesh, and taking the screen out to wash is heavy, awkward work. So most people leave them for years. But every breeze that comes through an open window passes through that screen, carrying its dust straight into the room.
This method leaves the screen in place and moves the dust onto newspaper so you can peel it away. Nothing is scrubbed, so the mesh stays intact, and it uses very little water, which makes it practical even in apartments.
If your screen comes out easily
If the screen is light and removable, rinsing it in the shower is the most thorough option. The order is the same: remove dry dust, spray the solution, brush gently along the weave with a soft brush, then rinse from top to bottom. Make sure the track is dry before sliding it back in.
FAQ
How often should I clean my screens? Once a season is usually enough. If you live near a busy road or construction site, aim for every two months.
There are black spots that look like mold. They are usually grease and dust stuck together rather than mold. Repeat the newspaper step with the baking soda solution and most spots will fade. If some remain, the mesh is probably old and worth replacing.
