What Pros Do Differently
Cleaning lanai screens wrong tears the mesh, bends the frame, and leaves streaks. Here is how professionals clean Naples pool cages and screen enclosures without damage — and why the pressure matters more than the chemical.
Tears Screens
Prevents Tears
Prevents Streaks
Screen Tears from High Pressure
Standard pressure washing PSI (1,500–3,500) tears pool cage screen mesh on contact. Naples screens are typically 18×14 or 20×20 mesh — fine enough to tear from direct high-pressure spray at close range. Even a brief burst with a standard pressure nozzle can create a tear that requires panel replacement. The correct pressure for screen cleaning is 100–300 PSI maximum with a wide fan tip maintained at distance.
Frame Bending at Joints
Pool cage aluminum frame is light-gauge material. High-pressure water aimed at frame joints, especially the vertical spline channels that hold the screen, can deform the aluminum. Once bent, a frame joint is visible, catches debris, and may not re-screen cleanly. Direct high-pressure at frame connections is the cause.
Streaking From Wrong Sequence
Cleaning screens before cleaning the cage frame produces streaks — algae and mold rinsed from the frame flows down across the already-clean screens. The correct sequence is always frame first (top to bottom), then screens. Within each screen panel, rinse from the top down to prevent streaks from above settling on cleaned sections below.
Apply Solution to Frame and Screen at Low Pressure
A diluted sodium hypochlorite and surfactant solution is applied to the entire enclosure at soft wash pressure (50–150 PSI). The surfactant helps the solution cling to both the aluminum frame and the screen mesh during dwell time. The chemistry does the work — not the pressure. Dwell time of 5–10 minutes allows algae and mold to die and detach from both surfaces.
Rinse Frame First, Top to Bottom
Rinse the cage frame (horizontal and vertical members, corner joints, door frames, ridge) from top to bottom before touching the screens. Any residue from the frame drips down onto screens that have not yet been rinsed, which is fine — they will be cleaned next. Doing this in reverse order produces streaks.
Rinse Screens Inside-Out at Distance
Rinse screens from the inside of the enclosure outward at 100–300 PSI maximum with a wide fan tip. The inside-out direction pushes debris through the mesh in the direction it entered naturally (from the outside), which reduces resistance and tearing risk. Maintain 18–24 inches minimum distance from the screen surface. Never aim the wand perpendicular at the screen from close range.
Final Outside Rinse at Low Angle
A final rinse from outside the enclosure at a low angle removes any remaining surface residue. At this point the screens are clean and the frame is clean — the final rinse is completion, not cleaning. Avoid any high-pressure concentrated stream at this stage.
We provide lanai screen and pool cage cleaning in Naples FL at the correct pressure and sequence — see all service areas.