2 Ways to Clean Your Dirty Window Screens

Window screens are great for keeping bugs out and allowing fresh air into your home, but all that ‘fresh’ air actually has a lot of dirt in it which sticks to your screens and gets into your window tracks (especially if you live near a construction site). If you’ve been looking up how do I clean window screens to get rid of that buildup, we’re here to help with 2 easy methods.

No matter which method you use, don’t place your cleaned screens back into dirty windows. Clean them up first: see this article. Once your windows and tracks are cleaned, place the screens back in. 

Method 1: How to Wash Screens with Dawn®

What you’ll need:

• Dawn Powerwash® (or blue Dawn® dish soap)
• Microfibre cloth

Directions:

1. Remove your window screens. Beware: the plastic tabs can become very brittle so be gentle with them.

2. Place screens in a bathtub or shower, preferably one with a removable shower head for easy rinsing.

3. Liberally spray Dawn® Powerwash on both sides of the screen. (If you are using blue Dawn®; fill a bucket with hot water and a generous squeeze of Dawn®. Then use a cloth to spread the soapy water over both sides of the screen.)

4. With a cloth, gently wipe the entire window screen including the edges.

5. Rinse well using your removable shower head or a bucket of water.

6. Carefully put the screen back into the window casing.

Method 2: The Hot Water Wash 

What you’ll need:

• 1 Gallon hot water
• 1 Tsp powdered Tide® 
• Microfibre cloth

Directions:

1. Remove your window screens. Beware: the plastic tabs can become very brittle so be gentle with them.

2. Place screens in a bathtub or shower.

3. Mix up a batch of our hot water and powdered Tide® recipe (1 gallon of hot water and a teaspoon of powdered Tide®).

4. Using a very wet cloth with hot water and Tide®, wipe the screens thoroughly on both sides.

5. Rinse well using your removable shower head or a bucket of water.

6. Carefully put the screen back into the window casing.

If you’re feeling extra motivated and want to clean your blinds as well, head on over to this article: Treat Your Window Treatments Right. Then sit back and enjoy the view. 

For a list of our favorite products, click here. 

-Denise @GoCleanCo