Have you been wondering how to keep kids, pets, and bugs from destroying the screens in your doors and windows? You are not alone. After having a beautiful new door installed, the last thing you want to look at is gooey bug guts, and holes in your screens. Here are a few tricks the team at All-Weather want to share that will keep your screens clean and looking like new.
Bye Bye Bugs
Bugs stuck to your screens, and even worse bug guts, are just plain gross! Try these suggestions to minimize unwanted embellishments on your screens:
- Grow insect repelling plants near windows and doors. A few lovely and fragrant selections are Rosemary, Lemongrass, Citronella-scented Geraniums, and Marigolds. As a bonus, you can use the Rosemary and Lemongrass in your cooking.
- Turn the lights off. Turn porch lights on only when needed. Many night-time insects are attracted to the light and will use your screens as a landing pad. Be careful too, of leaving lights on inside. When it is dark outside, and inside lights beckon, bugs will flock to your screens.
- Dab essential oils on your door frames, window frames and screens to keep the bugs away. Try citronella, tea tree, rosemary, lavender, clove, peppermint, or combine two or more, until you find what works best for you.
For Curious Kids & Playful Pets
Kids and pets are also enemies of screens. Here are a few things that can help keep your screens intact and looking beautiful even when toddlers, kittens, and puppies, are on the attack.
- Keep a spray bottle with water handy, to warn away the kitties and pups, (don’t do this to your toddler!). If you see them trying to paw at, or climb a screen, spray the screen with water. The water will deter your pets and should soon train them to keep away.
- Place a baby gate in front of the screen door. Baby gates are a temporary and moveable solution.
- Install a screen door saver, like one from Safety First. It is a more permanent solution than a baby gate and protects your screens from kids and pets.
- Put a favorite scratching post near the door or window your cat has targeted for scratching (bad, kitty!). Her favorite scratcher may lure her away from the screens.
