Window screens do two important jobs: they keep insects out and they protect your window glass from impacts. Over time, screens in Arkansas homes take a beating — pollen and dust plug up the mesh, UV rays make the material brittle, pets and ветвдддд children damage the mesh, and storms push debris into them at speed. Here is what every Arkansas homeowner needs to know about keeping their window screens in good condition.
How Often Should You Clean Window Screens?
At minimum once a year — and ideally twice. In Conway and throughout Central Arkansas, spring is the most important time to clean your window screens because of pollen. A screen that has collected a full season of oak and cedar pollen is not just dirty — it is partially blocked, which means less airflow through your windows when you want them open. Cleaning screens restores full airflow and lets you see through them more clearly as a bonus.
The right way to clean screens: remove them from the window, lay them flat on a hard surface like a driveway, and scrub both sides with a soft brush — a kitchen scrubbing brush or a soft-bristle car wash brush works well — using mild soap and water. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose and let them dry completely before reinstalling. Do not pressure wash screens — the pressure can stretch or tear the mesh.
Common Screen Damage and What to Do About It
Small holes or tears: If the damage is minor — a small tear or a hole from a cigarette ember or similar — you can repair it with a screen repair kit from any hardware store. These kits contain a small piece of replacement mesh and adhesive. They work best on tears no larger than a couple of inches. Larger tears generally require replacing the whole screen panel.
Pet damage: Dogs and cats that scratch at screens — especially at doors — create tears along the bottom edge that are often too large for a simple repair kit. If your pet regularly damages window screens, consider upgrading to a heavier-duty pet screen material, which is woven from a thicker, more resistant material.
UV damage and brittleness: If the mesh cracks or crumbles when you touch it, the screen material has simply aged out. UV exposure over years makes the material brittle regardless of how well you maintain it. At that point, replacement is the only option. Screen replacement for a standard residential window runs $15-30 per screen if you do it yourself, or $40-60 per screen if you have a hardware store or window company do it.
Dented or bent frames: Aluminum screen frames can be dented by impacts — a ladder placed too close, a ball thrown too hard, a storm-flung branch. Small dents do not affect function. Larger dents that distort the frame shape can prevent the screen from sitting flat in the channel, which means gaps where insects can get in. A bent frame usually requires replacing the whole frame assembly.
When to Call a Professional for Screen Work
If you have more than five or six screens needing attention, or if any of them are on second-story windows that require ladder access, it makes sense to have a professional handle the full set. We offer screen cleaning and minor repair as part of our residential window cleaning service. For screen replacement on hard-to-reach windows, we can handle it as a separate service.
What we check on every screen during our residential service: mesh condition — tears, holes, UV damage; frame condition — bends, gaps, missing spline; spline condition — the rubber cord that holds the mesh in the frame, which can crack and shrink over time; and attachment hardware — the clips or latches that hold screens in the window frame.
Preventing Screen Damage
A few habits go a long way toward keeping your screens in good shape. Keep pets’ nails trimmed, or use window film or a pet barrier on doors with screen access. When running a lawn mower or weed eater near window screens, rinse them afterward — the impact of debris thrown at the mesh at speed can stretch or tear the material. If you store screens for the winter, keep them in a dry place; stacking wet screens promotes mold and accelerates frame corrosion.
Contact Spotless Window Washing at 501-278-7169 to add screen cleaning to your next window service.
Licensed and insured. Serving Conway, Greenbrier, Beebe, Heber Springs, Searcy, Greers Ferry, Little Rock, and all of Central Arkansas since 2003.
M. Victor Kilgore has been cleaning windows across Central Arkansas since 2003. As the owner of Spotless Window Washing in Searcy, he provides residential and commercial window cleaning services throughout Heber Springs, Greers Ferry, Little Rock, and surrounding communities. A family-owned and operated business, he and his wife share insights on window maintenance, lake home care, and keeping properties looking their best year-round.