Lanai Grime? Here's How to Clean Your Pool Enclosure Fast

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Are you a homeowner asking, how do I clean my pool enclosure? If so, you’re not alone, and especially if you live in the tropics! A pool enclosure blocks dust, dirt, and other debris from ending up in the pool. In turn, that debris often builds up along the enclosure and exterior pool deck surfaces.

Additionally, airborne pollution, soot, pool chlorine, and other residues often mean a dirty pool enclosure. Growing mold, mildew, algae, and similar contaminants can also discolor an enclosure and create an unsightly appearance. To address all these issues, check out some quick tips for how to clean a pool enclosure, fast.

How do I clean my pool enclosure?

Before you try any homemade solutions, ensure you cover landscaping features as well as electrical fixtures and outlets. Also, consider removing patio furniture and similar items from the area. Additionally, you might even want to cover your pool, if you have a pool cover. These simple steps will keep those items free of splattering and cleaning residues.

Moreover, ensure your kids and pets are out of the way during lanai cleaning. This is especially vital when using pressurized water, even from a garden hose. Pressurized water can injure children and smaller pets easily. Additionally, they can get in the way and make a bigger mess than when you started!

Start with a good brushing

Before cleaning your lanai or other area with cleansers and water, start with a thorough brushing. First, use an outdoor broom with a telescoping handle so you can reach ceiling corners and other areas. Also, don’t hesitate to brush off the screens as well as other surfaces! A good sweep removes thick dust and dirt and makes other cleaning methods easier and more effective overall.

Lightweight lanai cleaning

For lightweight cleaning, start with a few squirts of dish soap in a bucket of warm water. Use an outdoor scrub brush and apply this soapy mixture, scrubbing as you go. Also, use a garden hose to remove dirt and grime as you work, so you can repeat this scrubbing as needed.

Additionally, you can add this soapy mixture to a garden hose attachment. Apply it liberally to thick dirt and grime, allowing those residues to dissolve while cleaning. Again, rinse thoroughly and often as you work so you know what areas need added attention.

Clean mold and other growth with bleach

Bleach is an excellent cleaner for mold, mildew, moss, algae, and other such growth. Add 3 quarts of bleach to a gallon of warm water and apply it liberally. Moreover, be sure to scrub this mixture onto the growth and rinse as you work.

Can you use vinegar on a pool enclosure?

Vinegar and water are also a great mixture for using on mold and other growth. However, you can skip the immediate rinse and let it air dry instead. Acidic vinegar inhibits future mold and algae and can keep your enclosure clean for months.

How do you keep a screened-in porch clean?

Keeping your screened-in porch clean ensures a healthy outdoor environment. It also makes regular washing easier overall! With that in mind, check out a few simple suggestions for keeping your home’s outdoor lanai clean:

• Cover outdoor furniture when not in use. Without covers, dust, pollen, and other irritants work their way into cushions and other materials. Also, quality covers repel moisture that risk mold and mildew growth.
• You might spray a protective coating such as Scotch Guard onto fabric furniture cushions. These coatings keep out moisture that risks mold growth while making furniture easier to clean.
• Invest in vinyl blinds or curtains for your screened-in porch. These work well to keep airborne dust and irritants out of that area.
• If you can’t find outdoor curtains for your lanai, buy some painter’s cloths! These dense and durable cloths protect that porch from airborne debris and moisture. Also, they block light that risks fading patio furniture.
• Circulating air keeps dust and pollen from settling onto surfaces. Consequently, you might keep a ceiling fan running on low. If your patio doesn’t have a built-in fan, invest in a small floor fan! Aim it away from a seating area, to blow dust and dirt back out the windows.
• Trim nearby tree branches around your lanai. Trees shed leaves, twigs, and other debris, and provide a roosting spot for birds. Consequently, cutting back branches means less debris, bird droppings, and other unwanted items along your outdoor space.

How do you clean screen enclosures and lanais?

One of the best ways to clean screen enclosures is to dismantle those screens entirely. Removing the screens allows you to scrub them thoroughly yet safely, with less risk of damage. Also, you can then clean inside those crevices where the screens fit into the porch walls.

First, ensure you know how to remove those screens before just pulling and tugging at their locks. Second, set them on a tarp or cloth rather than concrete or pavers, to prevent scrapes and tearing. Then, use a handheld outdoor brush and gently remove surface dirt and debris.

Next, use your hose to clean out the screen openings along porch walls. Scrape away any tough, built-up dirt and grime. You can even apply a bleach and water or vinegar and water solution to moldy areas. Lastly, rinse thoroughly.

Your next step is to address the screens themselves. Start with a brushing or scraping, to remove surface dirt and grime. Then, use a soap and water mixture for thicker dirt, mud, and other tough residues. Flip the screens over more than once, to ensure a thorough clean and rinse thoroughly.

Once you’ve finished washing the screens, reassemble the windows. You might give them one last rinse, to remove any streaks or missed spots. Above all, ensure you rinse off your brushes and other tools as you work, so you don’t smear more dirt across them while cleaning!

Power washing a screened-in porch

Pressure washing with a garden hose and standard nozzle attachment offers some added cleaning power for outdoor surfaces. Also, that added pressure can help you reach cobwebs, dust, and other debris clinging to far corners.

However, homeowners should avoid renting pressure washing equipment and using it to tackle their outdoor areas. One reason is that high-pressure washing can easily split screens and dent those lanai walls! Two, the wrong techniques can also kick up dirt or damage landscaping features. In turn, you’ll end up with more mess than when you started.

Instead, call a professional for power washing services for your lanai when needed. A professional ensures safe yet thorough cleaning. Also, many professionals offer soft wash pressure cleaning. Soft wash systems use low-pressure cleaning, avoiding damage to screens, metal walls, and other materials and surfaces.

Above all, professionals know how to reach far corners of your screened-in porch without damaging it. Their expertise and equipment ensure a thorough clean, both inside and out. They can also typically tackle tough mold, algae, and mildew, as well as thick pollen and dust. In turn, you’ll breathe more easily when enjoying your lanai!

How do you pressure wash a screen enclosure?

If you do want to try pressure washing a screen enclosure, start with a good brushing. Next, use the lowest pressure on your garden hose nozzle attachment. Try a detergent and water mixture for thick dirt. Then, if the lanai still needs cleaning, use power washing equipment with a low setting.

First, try plain water with a wide nozzle. A wider nozzle means a gentle yet large spray, so you avoid damage while cleaning your lanai quickly. If this doesn’t get surfaces clean, use a detergent attachment and a narrower nozzle.

Work slowly and ensure you keep the power washing wand moving constantly. Also, stand several feet away from a surface while you work. Above all, don’t increase the pressure for tough spots! If you need added cleaning, use a higher-quality detergent rather than more pressure.

Lastly, avoid using the power washer on wood, glass, and thin metal. Even the lowest pressure can break, dent, or shatter these materials. Moreover, call a professional if you try DIY power washing but your lanai still looks dirty or dingy. A pro will have high-quality cleansers and the expertise needed to get the job done right!

Can you pressure wash lanai screens?

A homeowner should avoid any pressure greater than a garden hose on lanai screens. One reason for this is that pressurized water can rip right through those screens. Two, improper pressure washing techniques might only kick up dust, dirt, and pollen. In turn, you might end up with damaged screens and more mess than when you began washing them!

To avoid these risks, use the suggestions mentioned above for brushing and then gentle, lightweight cleaning. Ensure you rinse those screens often as you wash, using a low-pressure garden hose nozzle attachment. Above all, call a professional for tough, thick dirt and grime rather than using higher pressure and harsh cleansers.

Frequency for pool enclosure & lanai cleaning

Most homeowners find that annual or twice-per-year pool enclosure cleaning is enough for their property. However, you might increase this schedule for your property in certain cases, including:

• If anyone in the family suffers from allergies or similar sensitivities, clean that pool enclosure often! Monthly and even weekly cleaning removes pollen, dust, cobwebs, bird and insect droppings, airborne pool chlorine, and other similar irritants.
• If you cook outdoors and especially in that screened-in porch area, it might require more frequent cleaning. Smoke, soot, ash, airborne grease, and other residues often cling to lanai walls and screens. In turn, that porch typically needs cleaning more often throughout the year.
• Be prepared to clean your lanai more frequently if you have children or pets. Often, kids and animals track dirt around a lanai easily. Also, tossing balls against lanai walls, pets rubbing their noses and paws on those walls, and other issues can mean a very dirty outdoor space!
• Never overlook the benefit of lanai cleaning before putting your home on the market. No doubt that screened-in porch is a selling feature for potential buyers. However, they might not appreciate a dirty, dingy space! Additionally, neglecting to clean the lanai can make your entire house seem rundown.

Above all, remember that there is no reason to avoid cleaning a lanai when needed! If you notice dust or grit clinging to screens or mold developing, give those areas a thorough scrubbing. Storms might also deposit sand, silt, and other debris onto your screened-in porch. Consequently, clean that area as often as needed to ensure a welcoming space!

Is it bad to pressure wash a pool enclosure?

Homeowners need to exercise caution about pressure washing a screened-in porch, as said. Power washing risks shredding screens, denting metal, damaging landscaping, chipping wood, and other similar issues. Also, working with pressure washing equipment is dangerous! It’s easy to injure yourself or someone else with heavy-duty power washing equipment.

Homeowners often make the mistake of failing to rinse detergents and cleansers thoroughly. In turn, this leaves behind a sticky residue that attracts more dirt than before! This risk is why it’s vital that you rinse thoroughly and often while cleaning your lanai.

On the other hand, there is no risk to proper lanai washing techniques, with the right detergents. You aren’t going to “dry out” metal screens and walls when washing your lanai. Additionally, cleaning helps protect lanai surfaces from damaging grit, sand, and corrosive chemicals. You’ll also breathe easier after removing mold, dust, pollen, chemical residues, and other irritants from your lanai!

ProClean Pressure Washing Palm Harbor is happy to help answer the question, how do I clean my pool enclosure? Hopefully you found this information helpful and informative! If so, please be sure to share it with family and friends. Also, if you’re ready for expert cleaning, call our Palm Harbor pressure washing contractors. We offer FREE price quotes and expert, guaranteed services. Above all, our customer service skills are second to none. For more information, use our contact form or just give us a call.