How to clean screened windows??

Chriss Grijak
by Chriss Grijak

I’ve used Windex Outdoor window cleaner and various other methods using Dawn dish soap thru a hose sprayer. Nothing has worked…in fact, these methods left water marks all over the windows even when I used Cascade! Does anyone have any ideas on how to clean screened windows without killing the surrounding plants? Would just plain window cleaner and water work thru a hose sprayer?


  13 answers
  • Lindsay Aratari Lindsay Aratari on Jul 13, 2021

    I use Young Living's Thieves cleaner on my windows

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Jul 13, 2021

    A vinegar water 50/50 combo has always worked great for us HOWEVER, you would have to be very careful with any plants that get hit by it. You could always do your windows and then come back and spray your plants off with regular water.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Jul 13, 2021

    I know someone in window cleaning business and they use a spray bottle with one squirt of Dawn blue dish detergent, warm water and shake it up they don't use rags but a squeege to get the cleaner off, no rinsing they do inside and out windows this way and just use a rag to wipe the squgee- you need to remove the screen to get the windows clean then scrub screens and let dry before putting back on

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jul 13, 2021

    Hello. That is a tricky one. In my particular situation our rural well water has a significant high mineral content in it. We find that we have to hand dry our cars after washing almost immediately otherwise we can count on water spotting. I hope you find the perfect answer.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jul 13, 2021

    Depending on the age of your screens, their quality, and what material they are coated with, unfortunately sometimes the coating disintegrates with cleaning.

    If the spray goes through the screens towards the glass, there is a tendency that the coating particles attach to the window glass. As it is hard to clean off the glass, yes, this situation can indeed be very frustrating.


    Is there any chance that the screens can be removed from the windows before cleaning?

  • Janice Janice on Jul 13, 2021

    Hi Chriss, there really is no way to clen windows well and without streaks or spots withut removing the screens.

  • In order to get the glass clean, you will need to remove the screens. I use window cleaner and newspaper to avoild streaks.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jul 14, 2021

    The only true success I’ve had is removing and cleaning. Although a high pressure hose attachment or pressure washer did a very good job.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Jul 14, 2021

    If you just want to clean screens use a cloth with dish soap and water soap the screen up then rinse with clear water do this by hand rubbing the screen with the cloth it will come clean

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jul 14, 2021

    The screens need to come off because they contain flecks of trapped dirt and grime, It will be nearly impossible to do an effective job with them in place, even if you spray from different angles. Once they are down, you should be able to get clean and streak free windows.

  • Dee Dee on Jul 14, 2021

    Windex outdoors does a great job with a regular hose.

  • Annie Annie on Jul 18, 2021

    You probably have hard water. Thats where the water marks are coming from. Use no water and lots of window cleaner, and dry towel or paper towel