Fly screen cleaning is the most overlooked part of a window clean — and the part that makes the most noticeable difference to how much light gets into your home. Here's exactly what it costs, what's included, and why professional cleaning beats a wipe-down.
Fly screens are almost always added to the main window clean. For a full breakdown of Melbourne window cleaning costs including the base clean, see the complete Melbourne window cleaning cost guide.
Fly screen cleaning cost in Melbourne
The flat rate is $5 per fly screen — regardless of size, location, or screen type. No tiered rates for large screens, no surcharges for upper-floor screens, no surprises on the invoice.
| Number of screens | Total cost |
|---|---|
| 5 screens | $25 |
| 8 screens | $40 |
| 10 screens | $50 |
| 15 screens | $75 |
| 20 screens | $100 |
For most Melbourne homes, fly screens add $40–$75 to a window cleaning job — typically added alongside a single storey or double storey window clean. That's the full cost — removed, washed, rinsed and re-fitted. There's no separate line item for removal or re-fitting.
What does fly screen cleaning actually involve?
A professional fly screen clean is significantly more thorough than wiping them down on the frame.
Remove
Each screen is removed from its frame carefully. Screens with clips, spring-loaded mounts or older frames are handled individually — this is the step where careless operators leave scratches on the surrounding paintwork.
Scrub
The screen is laid flat and scrubbed with a soft brush and cleaning solution, working the mesh thoroughly to loosen trapped dust, pollen and insect debris.
Rinse
The screen is rinsed thoroughly with clean water. This is the step most DIY attempts get wrong — a partial rinse leaves a soapy residue in the mesh that attracts dust faster after the clean.
Re-fit
Once clean and shaken of excess water, each screen is re-fitted to its frame. Springs, clips and push-tabs are all re-secured properly.
Why dirty fly screens matter more than most people think
Fly screens are one of the most dust-accumulating surfaces in a Melbourne home — and because the build-up is gradual and uniform, most people don't notice how dirty they've become until they're cleaned.
A dust-loaded fly screen mesh can block 20–30% of incoming natural light compared to a clean screen. Every time you open a screened window, air passes through the dirty mesh and carries dust particles into the room. The mesh also traps airborne pollen — particularly relevant in Melbourne's spring season — and a heavily clogged screen restricts airflow noticeably, reducing the effectiveness of natural ventilation even with the window fully open.
The practical effect: rooms that face south or have limited direct sunlight can feel measurably darker with dirty screens in place. Cleaning them is the cheapest light upgrade you can make to a Melbourne home.
How often should fly screens be cleaned?
For most Melbourne homes, every 6 months — at the same time as your window clean. Properties near Port Phillip Bay accumulate salt particles in the mesh faster than inland homes and may benefit from quarterly cleaning. Homes under large trees, particularly plane trees or eucalypts, see heavy pollen load in spring and autumn.
Can I clean fly screens myself?
Yes. Remove the screen, lay it flat on a clean surface, scrub with a soft brush and mild soapy water, and rinse thoroughly with a garden hose. The key step most DIY attempts miss is the rinse — a partial rinse leaves soap residue in the mesh that traps more dust faster. Let it dry fully before re-fitting.
At $5 per screen, most Melbourne homeowners find it's not worth the time — particularly when the screens are done as part of a larger window clean with no additional call-out cost.