How To Clean Security Screen Doors & Windows
Security screen doors and windows are a great way to add an extra barrier against forced entry by home invaders. The tightly-woven stainless steel mesh resists knives, crowbars, and other tools commonly used by burglars to commit break-ins. However, this fine mesh can also accumulate buildups of dirt.
These buildups can inhibit visibility and make your screens look untidy. They can also potentially hurt the durability of the screens in the long run. Routinely cleaning security screens will help ensure that they continue to provide that extra layer of security to keep threats outside and buy first responders more time. Keep reading to learn how to clean screen doors and window film, so they stay clean and in optimal shape.
Step by Step: The Best Way to Clean Screens
1) Vacuum the Screen
Use a light handheld vacuum or a vacuum with an extendable hose attachment. Turn the vacuum on and run it over the front of the screen to suck up loose dirt, dust, and debris. Start at one side and vacuum from top to bottom, then work your way to the other side with overlapping strokes to ensure you don’t miss any parts of the door screen.
2) Make a Cleaning Solution
Fill a bucket or another container with about 1/2 a gallon of water. Pour in 1/4 cup of all-purpose cleaner. Mix the water and all-purpose cleaner to create your screen door cleaning solution.
3) Wash the Security Screen
Dip a clean sponge or microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution, then wring out the excess liquid so it isn’t dripping. Wipe the entire screen down, applying gentle pressure to loosen any stuck-on grime. Rinse out the sponge or cloth and repeat the process until the screen looks clean.
4) Rinse and Dry the Screen
Turn on your garden hose to low pressure and spray down the entire screen thoroughly until all the cleaning solution is gone. Make sure to do this as soon as you finish washing the screen so that the cleaning solution doesn’t have time to dry and leave a soapy residue behind. Pat the screen dry with a clean towel after you rinse it to soak up the excess water, then let it air dry.
5) Clean the Tracks and Frame
Open up your security screen door so you can access the tracks and frame. Wipe down all the grooves in the tracks and frame using the same cleaning solution and sponge or microfiber cloth, but avoid the locking mechanism. Use a clean, dry towel to wipe up the excess water, then let everything air dry.
Tips for Cleaning Screens:
- Blast stubborn dirt and grime away with an air compressor or use a stiff-bristled dust brush to brush it away.
- Don’t use sandpaper or other abrasive materials that can cause surface scratches on your screens.
- Put down some old towels or rags on the window sills and floor below the screens to absorb excess water and make cleaning up easier.
- You can purchase a special window screen cleaner, which is a roller brush that you can use to wash your security screens instead of a sponge or microfiber cloth.
- If the locking mechanism ever seems stiff after cleaning your screen door, apply graphite powder to the locks. Never use WD-40 or oil on your security screen door locks as they attract dust and dirt.
How Often Should You Clean Screen Doors and Windows?
The environment you live in affects how quickly your security screens get dirty. In highly urban environments, or near the coast, you should clean screen doors every three months or so. In less urban and rural areas, you should be fine if you clean your screens once every six months. If you live in a highly industrialized or polluted area, or right next to the ocean, you may need to clean your screens up to twice a month.
Security screens can also accumulate more grime during particular seasons. For example, at certain times of the year, there are higher concentrations of pollen in the air, which can easily float into your screens and get trapped. If you notice seasonal buildups in your screens, it’s best to clean them at the beginning and end of the season.
No matter what conditions you live in, the more frequently you clean screen doors and windows, the easier it will be to get rid of dirt and debris. If you notice that it takes you a long time to clean your security screens, try to do it more often so the job takes less time and effort. You’ll appreciate the improved visibility and appearance, and your screens will stay in optimal shape and last longer.
Benefits of Screen Door Cleaning
The most important reason to keep your security screens clean is to maintain their optimal performance so they continue to serve their principal purpose of protecting your home. However, there are additional benefits to having clean security screens that you might not initially think of. Besides providing an extra layer of security on top of your doors and windows, security screens also act as filters that help block outside dust, dirt, and pollen from entering your home when you open your doors or windows.
Since security screens have this filtering property, they can quickly build up dusty deposits if you tend to leave your doors and windows open for airflow often. As the screens accumulate these buildups, the airflow they allow into your home is reduced. The more frequently you clean your security screens, the more airflow you will be able to enjoy in your home when you want to let some fresh air in.
Another benefit of maintaining clean screen doors is keeping up the presentation of your property. Front doors are often the focal point of a home, so a dusty, dirty looking security screen covering up your door greatly detracts your home’s curb appeal. A well-maintained security screen will keep your entryway looking classy!
Window Film A Must For Building Repositioning
To stay relevant in today’s marketplace, repositioned assets have to keep up with a new generation of sleek, efficient green buildings. One way for owners and developers to quickly add value during repositioning efforts is by improving window quality. Energy-efficient windows can help keep buildings from falling behind a greener market.
“Sometimes building owners’ budgets won’t allow for the expense of full glass replacement,” Window Film CEO Brad Campbell said. “Using window film to convert existing, single-paned windows into high-performance glass can be a more cost-effective solution.”
Southern California is dotted with commercial buildings that were constructed prior to the use of high-efficiency glass. Reflective glass, which offers some increase in efficiency, has been in use since the 1970s, Campbell said, but this glass falls far short of today’s super-efficient low-emissivity or “low-E” glass.
Low-E glass is made of nano-coatings that block infrared rays while allowing visible light to pass through, keeping buildings cool in direct sunlight and warm in cold weather. This kind of glazing is integral to the most energy-efficient properties in today’s market, including net-zero and LEED Platinum buildings. It is also an important step for buildings looking to attain compliance with California’s Title 24 efficiency standards.
Low-E glazing was introduced in 1981, but was not used widely in commercial construction until the mid-1990s, Campbell said. Now, it is standard on new commercial construction, but thousands of legacy buildings in SoCal are still stuck with outdated glazing, which means they could be wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in heating and cooling costs.
If an owner or developer is building from the ground up, installing low-E glass can ensure long-term savings and uphold efficiency standards. But Campbell said window film can achieve the same level of solar performance as dual- and even triple-paned low-E windows on existing buildings.
And often, replacing old windows with low-E glass does not make sense for repositioning projects or renovations on existing buildings, as low-E glass can cost eight times as much per square foot as window film.
Campbell cited a cost savings study done on Disney Channel’s building in Burbank, California, where Campbell Window film installed 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Window Film. For 16 years after initial installation, the building forecast savings of $251K/year, with payback on the investment reached in only the third year after installation.
Keeping buildings cooler in the hot months of the year can also keep tenants around longer, Campbell said. Comfortable tenants mean higher occupancy and lower tenant turnover. Combined with energy savings, tenant happiness can drastically increase buildings’ return on investment through the repositioning process.
Campbell said building owners are hesitant to fork over the initial cost of window film, even with the guarantee of a reduced energy spend and the accompanying long-term savings on utilities. Part of the problem is what appears on profit-loss statements.
“Money put toward energy bills, which has been termed ‘purple money’ does not figure alongside so-called ‘green money’ on profit-loss statements,” Campbell said. “Consequently, the initial investment in energy savings is not seen as incentive enough.”
Commercial real estate owners sometimes look at purple investments as capital expenditures, Campell said, rather than a means to savings. He said he has seen success by helping companies quantify the amount of returns they can expect from an investment in window film.
Readmore: Security Glass Can Stall Intruders In Active Shooter Attacks
Security Glass Can Stall Intruders In Active Shooter Attacks
In an active shooter situation, every second counts. Time is needed to take meaningful action, exit or barricade a room and keep others as calm as possible. Deterring or slowing an intruder is key to increasing the chances of survival. If a facility has access controls and all doors remain locked, occupants may feel a false sense of security. Locked doors, alarms and cameras are important, but ignoring windows and glass doors is a fatal flaw in many active shooter protection strategies. “If the door has a window pane, or if there is a window adjacent to a locked door, breaking the glass to gain entry is a tactic an intruder will likely use,” Campbell Window Film CEO Brad Campbell said. For safety, most buildings mandate fire exit panic hardware, which makes sure no occupants get trapped inside during a fire emergency. When an occupant slams into a door from the inside, the panic hardware triggers and the door flies open. While this is ideal for fire safety, it is a vulnerability when it comes to security. An attacker can simply break a window, reach in, and pull the panic bar to gain entry. This can be done more quickly than using a key to unlock a door and renders access controls useless. Glass doors and windows in entrances of buildings must be tempered for safety. Tempering is a process by which glass is heated and then rapidly cooled to create internal compression. By design, when the glass breaks, it shatters into tiny pieces, preventing any large shards of glass. The result is a safer window, but a substantially higher security risk. An attacker need only strike or shoot the glass for it to burst and fall into a pile of gravel.
To prevent entry, some organizations use security window film, but on tempered glass, film must be attached at the edges to prevent the whole broken piece from being dislodged. Often, especially on doors, attachment options are limited and can readily fail. Even if the attachment works, the film itself can be punched through with a hammer or the butt of a gun. “Window film may slow an attacker, but if he is prepared, the delay is often only a few seconds,” Campbell said. “He need only punch a hole large enough to insert his hand and pull the panic bar or access the thumb turn on the lock cylinder. Window film, however, is a viable solution for non-entry areas, especially when the glass is annealed.” When glass is annealed, it is heated and then allowed to cool slowly, to remove internal stresses and toughen it. Laminated glass, which consists of two pieces of glass with a film sandwiched in between, offers similar protection, but the vulnerability of puncture remains. Laminated glass can be thwarted in seconds if the attacker is prepared with an object that can penetrate or punch through the glass. And while an organization could turn to bulletproof glass to protect its entrances, it is prohibitively expensive. Additionally, the sheer weight of bulletproof glass often means owners need to remove the existing doors and windows and add in new framing, or change the hinges and door closers to accommodate the extra weight.
Campbell explained that his team at Campbell Window Film saw a clear gap between the lower-level and the high-end protection options, and developed a product called Riot Glass, model number AP25, to fill it. “This system includes an unbreakable, containment-grade panel and a retrofit framing that is attached to the outside surface of a door or window frame,” Campbell said. “It becomes a shield that protects the glass and prevents access.” While AP25 does not stop bullets, it will not crack or shatter under gunfire. Even after being riddled with bullets, it remains a barrier to entry because it cannot be dislodged, and a would-be intruder’s hand cannot pass through to open the door. AP25 is lightweight and can be retrofitted onto most glass doors. It can also be mounted in front of the windows adjacent to the doors for added protection. “Police response times vary greatly, but range on average from three to five minutes,” Campbell said. “We often see that a lot of damage can be done within that time frame, so slowing or preventing entry is crucial. This is why we set out to create a protection system that is affordable, superior in strength, lightweight and easy to install.”
Readmore: Is the Windows Security film worth it?