How To Clean The Glass Behind A Screen Door

A dirty glass behind a screen door isn't a welcoming sight. For some households, this door is also the first thing friends and family see before entering the home. So now you're wondering, how to clean the glass behind the screen door? We researched and asked the experts and shortened the answer for your convenience.

Take note that maintaining the glass and the screen door generally use different cleaning solutions. Therefore, it's a good idea to disassemble the screen door and remove the glass connected to it to achieve a proper cleaning job. This way, you can clean the glass properly without affecting the screen door. Here are the steps to remove the glass from the screen door and how to clean it:

1. Find the finger pulls or small indents at the bottom of the glass.
2. Use two fingers to squeeze the indents and start pulling the glass out of the frame.
3. If the glass has a notch, slide it up first before pulling it out.
4. Once the glass is in a 45-degree position, slide it up and take it out of the frame.
5. Wet the glass surface with a clean cloth or rag dipped in a mild soapy solution.
6. Let the solution sit for several minutes before wiping it off with another clean cloth.
7. Apply a mild glass washing product using a microfiber cloth or non-abrasive applicator.
8. Wipe the glass washing solution immediately after the entire glass surface is covered.
9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 on the other side of the glass.
10. Reassemble the glass and the screen door to the frame.

Cleaning the glass behind a screen door can be a reasonably straightforward process. However, missing some details in the task can make you commit to costly mistakes. Continue reading to know the particulars related to this undertaking so you can clean the glass on your screen door properly and without errors.

Cleaning The Glass Behind Your Screen Door

Ensuring that the glass behind your screen door remains spotless requires that you have the necessary tools for the job. Careful handling of the fragile material is also vital to the success of this task.

What You’ll Need

• A set of clean cloth or rags
• Power towels
• Microfiber cloth
• Mild glass cleaning solution
• Squeegee
• Bucket of water

Steps to Remove the Glass from the Screen Door

Removing the glass from the screen door should come first before cleaning the clear material. Cleaning both the screen door and the connected glass at the same time, and with the same cleaning solutions, can introduce issues.

For example, cleaning the mesh on screen doors may require a pressure washer. Using that tool on glass can crack or destroy the glass connected to the screen door. Thankfully, you don’t need any special tools to remove most glass fixtures attached to screen doors. So you can proceed to do the following:

1. Search for the finger pulls or indents, which are generally at the bottom of the glass.
2. Squeeze the indents using two fingers and start pulling the glass out of the frame. Take note that some screen door models may have a notch on their frames. If so, slide the glass up first before pulling it away from the finger pulls.
3. The glass should start coming out of the frame from the top. Once the glass is leaning at about a 45-degree angle, pull or tug it upward to remove the bottom area away from the frame. You may need to jiggle the glass slightly for it to come out of the frame.

Steps to Clean the Glass

Once the glass is out of the frame, set it aside in a relatively open area. Make sure that you’re in a location where you don’t want other items to get wet, such as your garden or garage. At this point, use the cleaning materials that you prepared earlier.

1. Dip a clean cloth or rag in a bucket of mild soapy water solution. Wipe the glass surface using the cloth or rag to help loosen dust, dirt, and other debris.
2. Let the soapy solution sit for several minutes. Wipe it off afterward with a clean cloth or paper towels. Make sure to work your way from the top of the glass to the bottom to avoid leaving a soapy residue.
3. Apply the mild window washing solution onto a microfiber cloth or non-abrasive fabric and use it to wipe the glass surface.
4. Wipe the glass immediately after covering it with the window washing solution. Letting the mixture sit for extended periods can cause blotches or streaks. Use a squeegee or another clean cloth for this step.
5. Repeat the steps on the other side of the glass.

After cleaning both sides of the glass, reinstall it to the frame along with the screen door. You only need to follow the steps to remove the glass from the screen door and its frame in reverse for the reassembly.

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How do You Remove Streaks From Glass?

Using too much or too little glass cleaner can cause streaks. If this issue occurs, you can remove it using the following steps:

1. Use a clean and dust-free microfiber cloth to wipe the dust, dirt, and loose debris from the glass.
2. Apply a small amount of elbow grease on the streaks until they vanish.
3. If step 2 doesn’t work, use a mild dishwashing liquid with a clean cloth and wipe the streaks.

Make sure to work fast because elbow grease or dishwashing liquid may aggravate the problem if they sit for extended periods.

Additionally, you may use other cleaning solutions other than a mild dishwashing liquid for this project. Other options include black tea and ammonia, but the latter can have an off-putting smell.

How Often Should I Clean My Screen Door?

Many screen doors have vinyl-coated fiberglass mesh, which is reasonably durable and doesn’t deteriorate quickly with long-term exposure to dust, dirt, and different weather. Thankfully, fiberglass doesn’t rot or rust over time. Still, it doesn’t mean the material is immune to ruin.

With that in mind, the frequency in which you clean your screen door can depend on your location. Fiberglass materials may degrade faster than average when exposed to airborne salt content. Therefore, if your home is near the coastline, you should clean your screen door more often as opposed to having a downtown property.

Here's a quick list of how often you should clean your screen door:

• Over 6.2 miles from the coastline: At least once every 3 to 6 months
• Within 3.1 to 6.2 miles from the coastline: At least once every 2 to 3 months
• Within 0.62 to 3.1 miles from the coastline: At least once every 2 to 4 weeks
• Within 0.31 to 0.62 from the coastline: At least once every 1 to 2 weeks

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Should You Wash Window Screens?

It’s important to wash window screens as frequently as possible to prevent dust, dirt, and harmful bacteria buildup. Many screens act like filters that help prevent unsafe substances from entering homes.

However, an unsafe buildup of these things can encourage many health risks, particularly if your household doesn’t have proper ventilation. The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) states that good indoor ventilation can help control harmful air contaminants and humidity. Without it, household members can be at risk of contracting illnesses from high concentrations of allergens, dust particles, and mold spores.

How Do You Clean Windows Without Removing the Screen?

Regular cleaning and maintenance for your windows are possible without removing the screen by using certain methods. These techniques can include dusting, vacuuming, and wiping the windows with a clean cloth or rag dampened with a reliable window cleaning solution.

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Final Words

Make sure to gather the necessary pieces of equipment, such as a squeegee, paper towels, and a mild window washing solution before you start cleaning the glass behind your screen door. Carefully remove the glass connected to the door and set it aside. Furthermore, don’t let the cleaning solutions sit on the glass pane for extended periods or they’ll cause streaks. Follow due diligence for this task, and you should enjoy a crystal clear glass for your screen door when you’re done.