Insect Screen Care and Maintenance

HomePlus insect screens protect you from annoying bugs when your doors and windows are open in summer.  With simple maintenance they will give you years of worry free service.

MAINTENANCE:

Regular care and maintenance is recommended to maintain the efficiency and longevity of your insect screens. For best results, thoroughly clean screens at least once a year, or more often in areas with high pollutants or high concentrations of sea air.

Insect screens are designed for insect control in your home and are not intended for the retention/security of animals or children, inside or outside your home. They are not designed for windy conditions, so windows or doors should not be left open on windy days.

CLEANING:
FRAME: The care & maintenance of the insect screen aluminium frames is outlined below.
Spot cleaning on screens is best done with a vacuum cleaner using a soft brush head, removing much of the surface dirt. Use the vacuum cleaner and nozzle head to clean the screen tracks, removing dirt and debris.

ANNUAL SCREEN CLEAN
1 - Use a vacuum cleaner or brush to remove loose dirt.
2 - Clean the tracks and frame with warm soapy water.
3 - If possible remove screens for cleaning outside. Mesh cleaning is best done with a gentle rinse from the garden hose, then a gentle scrub with a soft bristle brush and warm soapy water, followed by a rinse with the hose.
4 - For non-removable screens, rinse with a sponge and fresh water and clean as above.

DO check your mesh regularly to catch any rips or problems quickly for repairs.
DO NOT use solvents or harsh detergents on any of the insect screen parts, frame or mesh.

POWDER COATED / ANODISED ALUMINIUM - CARE & MAINTENANCE

To comply with warranty requirements and to extend the effective life of anodised/powder coated finishes, very simple maintenance and regular visual inspections should be scheduled and undertaken.

MAINTENANCE:
In general, anodised or powder-coated aluminium in urban areas should be cleaned every three months and every six months in rural areas. In industrial and marine environments (within 1km of the sea), monthly cold water washing as well as six monthly washes, with warm water & detergent, is necessary.

NOTE: It is universally recognised some sunscreens adversely affect powder-coated finishes and this should be avoided near the product in question.

CLEANING:
1 - Carefully remove any loose surface deposits with a wet sponge by gently rubbing.
2 - Clean by gently rubbing the surface with a soft brush (non-abrasive) and a dilute solution of a mild detergent, e.g., pH-neutral liquid hand or dishwashing detergent in warm water to remove dust, salt, and other deposits. For stubborn stains use only recommended solvents on the affected area, e.g., Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or methylated spirits and rinse off with clean water. Do not use other aggressive solvents.
3 - Anodised finishes with greasy deposits or hard to remove grime, should be cleaned with a soft cloth dipped in white spirit, turpentine or kerosene then wiped with a dry rag.
4 - Rinse the surfaces with clean fresh water after cleaning to remove all residues. A quick wipe-over with an absorbent cloth or chamois will prevent water marks from forming

DO remove obvious deposits as they occur.
DO NOT use abrasive steel wool, scrapers, scouring liquids or powders to remove paint splashes - these will damage your anodised/powder coating.
DO NOT use aggressive solvents, thinners, petrol etc... on powder coating as these solvents will attack gloss levels and reduce its life expectancy.
DO NOT let any solvents used on anodised finishes come in contact with any rubber components as they can degrade them.
DO NOT expose your anodised/powder coatings to excessive heat, heaters or hot air guns - these may damage the coating.

DO NOT allow sunscreens to come into contact with powder coated services