To remove window screens for cleaning, find the tabs, pins or latches that hold the screen in its track, release them, then lift and tilt the screen out of the frame. The exact steps depend on the type of window and whether the screen sits on the inside or the outside. Take your time, because forcing a screen can bend it, damage the window frame, or send it falling onto someone below.
How to Remove Window Screens Step by Step
Before you start, look at how the screen is held in place. Most screens use one of two setups.
Interior screens
An interior screen sits in grooves around the window and is held in place by tension. It may have pull tabs, pins or latches along one edge. Raise the window sash, pull the tabs or release the latches to loosen the screen, then lift the screen and rotate it so you can bring it inside through the opening.
Exterior screens
An exterior screen is usually held by spring-loaded plunger pins. Pull the pins in to free one side of the screen from the frame. If the screen is snug, a flat-head screwdriver can help you gently work one corner loose and give you a little leverage.
Apply gentle pressure, pull the screen toward you, and flex it slightly to clear the frame. A window screen has some give, but do not bend it too much. A kinked frame will not sit flat again and may not seal against insects.
Keep track of which screen goes where
Screens that look alike are often slightly different sizes. As you take each one out, mark it with a piece of tape that says which window it came from. That saves a lot of trial and error when it is time to put them back.
Stay Safe While You Work
If you are removing a screen from inside the house, make sure no one is standing outside below the window in case you drop it. Stand on the floor, not on furniture or a stool. Do not lean on the window frame or the screen. Neither is designed to support a person’s weight, and you could fall and get hurt.
If you are working from outside, use a sturdy ladder on level ground and have someone nearby to steady it and take the screens from you.
Cleaning and Reinstalling the Screens
Lay the screen flat or lean it against a wall outside. Brush or vacuum off loose dust and cobwebs, then wash both sides with a soft brush or sponge and a little mild dish soap in water. Rinse with a garden hose on a gentle setting. A pressure washer can stretch or tear the mesh.
Let the screens dry completely before you put them back. While they dry, wipe out the window tracks and sills, since dirt collects there too.
To reinstall a screen, reverse the steps you used to take it out. Seat one edge in its groove, pull the pins or tabs, and ease the other edge into place until it sits flat all the way around.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should window screens be cleaned?
Once or twice a year is enough for most homes. Spring is a good time, after the pollen has settled, and many homeowners clean them again in the fall.
Can I clean window screens without removing them?
You can vacuum them with a brush attachment or wipe them with a damp cloth for a quick touch-up. For a thorough wash, taking them out works better and keeps dirty water off your sills and siding.
What if a screen is torn or the frame is bent?
Small holes in the mesh can be patched, and many hardware stores can rescreen a frame. If the screens are damaged because the windows themselves are worn, sticking or drafty, it may be time to look at the windows as a whole.
When the Problem Is the Window, Not the Screen
Taking the screens out gives you a close look at your windows. If you find frames that are damaged, sashes that are hard to open, or drafts you had not noticed, replacement may make more sense than another repair. You can read about the benefits of vinyl windows to see how newer units compare.
Aladdin installs energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows in Connecticut homes in a wide range of styles, including double-hung, casement, sliding, bow and bay windows. If the door next to those windows is showing its age too, we also install entry doors and patio doors. Contact us or call (203) 776-9996 to ask questions or get an estimate for replacement window installation.