Your screened-in pool enclosure helps keep your outdoor space free of pests and debris. Since it takes such good care of you, it's only right to return the favor! Providing proper care and maintenance for your screened enclosure will extend its lifespan and keep it functioning at top performance. Here are some of the best ways to adequately care for your protective enclosure.
Depending on what type of substance has gotten onto your screen, different methods and cleaning solutions can be used to bring the beauty of your enclosure back to life. Keeping your enclosure clean will also elevate the health standards of your outdoor living space, so it's definitely worth the time and effort to take care of. Let's start with the gentlest cleaning process, and ramp things up from there.
Gentle Cleaning
When you're looking to remove basic grime and pollen, a gentle cleaning approach is all that's needed to completely clean your screened enclosure. Dirt and pollen can easily accumulate on your screen's material, forming a film that can eventually harm the structural integrity of your screen if left untreated. Luckily, these substances are quite easy to remove.
When only a gentle cleaning is needed, you can complete the job by hand. For substances like these, you can use dish soap and a bucket of warm water. A brush with gentle bristles will serve you well, and you'll want to have a garden hose on hand to help you rinse your screen. Take care of the screen in pool enclosures by using the brush to gently clean it with the water and soap solution. Rinse with your hose, and allow it to air dry. If there's still a bit of a film on your screen, repeat the process one more time, and your enclosure will be good as new!
Deeper Cleaning
Sometimes you'll need to clean a little deeper if you're dealing with extraneous substances like mold and algae. If you're looking to get rid of set-in stains, you'll need to use this slightly harsher cleaning process as well. Mold and algae can form if you've neglected cleaning your screen for a while because the pollen and spores that were easily taken care of come together to make these pesky substances. But no worries! It's not too difficult to clean these off either.
You're going to want to enlist some vinegar to help you get the job done. Make a mix of 50/50 hot water and vinegar in your bucket, and start cleaning. You may need to scrub a bit more aggressively, but don't put too much pressure on your brush or risk damaging your enclosure. Rinse with your garden hose, and allow your screen to air dry.
Heavy Cleaning
Care for your screened-in pool enclosure can require you to step up your game and bring in the heavy hitters if you're dealing with stubborn stains and substances. This is when we break out the bleach. Take note - bleach can sometimes cause discoloration of aluminum, and it can be very corrosive if mixed too strongly, so you want to get the mixture right. Mix 3 parts water with 1 part bleach. Take to scrubbing, and be sure to wear gloves! Once you rinse and air dry, the stubborn stains and substances should be gone.
Lastly, if you're still running into trouble, you might want to consider bringing in a pressure washer. This measure should be taken with caution because the intense pressure will damage your screen if not applied properly. You could bring in a soft washing specialist because professionals are well-versed in how to clean your screen without harming it. If you decide to take on the job yourself, never go higher than the lowest setting on the pressure washer!
No matter what level of cleaning your screened-in enclosure needs, the job can get done thoroughly with a little time and effort. When you use the right process, your screen will look brand new, and last longer so that you can get the utmost enjoyment out of your outdoor living space.
