If you have a pool cage in Central Florida, you have probably seen it: black spots and streaks on the aluminum frames, the kick plates at the bottom, and inside the gutters. Over time the screens themselves look gray and dingy, and the whole lanai feels dirtier than it is.
Here is what causes it, what you can do to slow it down, and how a professional cleaning removes it without damaging your screens.
What is the black stuff on my pool cage?
In most cases it is a mix of algae, mildew and dirt. Pool cages are a perfect place for it to grow: they stay damp from humidity, rain and pool splash, they collect pollen and dust, and the horizontal frame members and gutters hold moisture and debris.
You will usually see it first on:
- The tops of horizontal frame members and beams
- Kick plates along the bottom, especially near sprinklers and landscaping
- The enclosure gutters, where leaves and water collect
- Shaded corners that never get full sun
Why it keeps coming back
Hosing it off only removes what is on the surface. The growth that remains in seams, gutters and the texture of the frames regrows quickly in Florida weather. That is why treating the growth, not just rinsing it, is the key to a clean that lasts.
What you can do between cleanings
- Keep gutters clear. Leaves and standing water in the enclosure gutters feed growth.
- Adjust sprinklers. Irrigation hitting the kick plates keeps them wet and stained.
- Trim back landscaping. Plants against the screen hold moisture and block airflow.
- Rinse off pollen. A gentle rinse during heavy pollen season helps, but keep it low pressure.
What not to do
- Do not blast screens with high pressure. It stretches and tears screen material and can pop splines out of their channels.
- Do not climb on the enclosure. Pool cage frames are not built to hold a person’s weight.
- Do not let cleaning runoff go into the pool. Protect the water when cleaning anything above or around it.
How a professional cleaning works
A proper screen enclosure cleaning uses a low-pressure soft wash approach:
- Furniture is moved and the pool water is protected
- Frames, kick plates and gutters are treated to break down algae and mildew at the root
- Screens are washed gently, never blasted, so they stay tight and intact
- Webs and nests are removed from corners and the roofline
- The lanai floor and pool deck are cleaned so the whole space is finished at once
Most homes benefit from a screen enclosure cleaning about once a year, and more often for shaded or lakefront properties.