There are two purposes for door and window screens. The first is to let fresh air in and the second is to keep insects out. It seems no matter how small the hole is in the screen, bugs can get in. Clean your screens on a regular basis because the first big rain you have will transfer the dirt from the screen to the door. Before you put any screens in or take them out for winter storage, be sure to clean them thoroughly.
First, spray each one with a garden hose in an outdoor area. Then get a bucket of soapy water and use a sponge or a brush to clean them. For greasy spots or stains, soak them with a lot of soapy water, then take the garden hose and rinse it completely off. Let them dry and then put the screens in the windows and door or store them for the winter.
Patching your screen is easy to do, but if you really care about your house and want it to look well kept, you will not want to make this kind of repair. It might look better to replace the entire screen or buy a new one. If you decide to patch it, go to a hardware store and buy a screen patching kit. Then pick out your patch. If it seems too big, you can cut it to fit the hole in your screen. Place the patch on the interior side of the screen directly over the hole. Feed the wire though the screen until all four corners of the patch are installed. Cut the patch over a trashcan or another container that will catch the pieces of wire that you are cutting so you don’t make a mess.
If you need to replace the screen because of a big tear, or it is in bad shape, then you need to go to the hardware store and buy a new screen and spline, which is the rubber rope that keeps the screen in place. The first thing to do is take out the old screen from the door or window, and then use a screwdriver to pry out the old spline. Take it to the hardware along with the old screen so you will get the same size. If you can get anybody to help, it will make the job much easier. Now put the new screen cloth over the window or doorframe and leave a one-fourth overlap all the way around. Before you start this, the screen frame should be laying on the floor against a wall. Cut all four corners at an angle so the screen won’t bulge.
Begin in a corner with the spline tool down on the screen and into the channel. Make an indent on the screen as you go back and forth on one side of the screen. Now insert the spline in the channel and use the other end of your spline tool to push it inside the channel. Do all four ends of the screen like this, and then cut off the excess screen close to the frame with a utility knife.
When you are done, your screens will be fit for use once more, and you will have saved the cost of a complete replacement.
