Screens and tracks are the parts everyone forgets, and they’re where the grime hides. You can wash the glass until it shines, but if the screens are grey and the tracks are full of grit, the whole window still looks tired. Here’s how to do both properly.
How to clean window screens
Take the screens out and label each one with painter’s tape so you know which window it came from. Screens are cut to fit one opening and rarely go back right if they get mixed up.
- Brush or vacuum each screen to lift loose dust, pollen and cobwebs.
- Wash with warm water and a drop of dish soap, using a soft brush. Work gently so you don’t stretch the mesh.
- Rinse with a hose on low pressure. Never use a pressure washer: it tears or bows the screen.
- Let them dry fully before putting them back. A wet screen traps fresh dust.
How to clean window tracks and sills
Tracks collect a surprising amount of grit, and it turns to dark paste once it’s damp. Lift the loose dirt before you add any water.
- Vacuum the track with a crevice tool.
- Loosen what’s left with an old toothbrush.
- For baked-in grime, sprinkle baking soda, add a splash of white vinegar, let it fizz for a minute, then scrub and wipe it out.
- Wipe the track dry, and check the small drainage holes at the outer edge are clear.
One rule: never paint or caulk over a dirty track. Clean it first, or you seal the grit in.
Mistakes to avoid
- High pressure on screens, which stretches the mesh
- Harsh chemicals or scrubbing pads on glass and frames
- Putting screens back while they’re wet
- Blocked drainage holes, which let water pool on the sill
When it’s worth calling us
If you have a houseful of windows, screens on the second storey, or you’d simply rather keep your weekend, this is the work we build into every clean. Every Loop visit covers the glass, frames, tracks, sills and screens, cleaned with pure water, finished with RainBlock, and guaranteed streak-free for 7 days.
Ben Slade runs Loop Window Cleaning, a family business based in Bright's Grove that cleaned windows for more than 250 homes from Sarnia to Port Elgin in 2026. About Loop