Should you remove your mosquito net for winter?

• The main reason for installing insect nets is protection against mosquitoes. However, modern nets can do much more, for example, block exhaust fumes and particulate matter.
• The cons of removing nets for winter are clear: the effort you have to put in when you remove them and the loss of functionality, especially in the case of advanced models.
• The pros are mainly related to their protection. Leaving the nets for the cold season might be risky and always means their fast degradation.
• Taking them down for the winter is an excellent opportunity to clean the mesh and the entire construction. You will need lukewarm water, a soft cloth, and a mild detergent. Never do it in freezing temperatures!
• Modern insect nets can ensure comfort and health for residents. Check in this article all the benefits a high-quality solution with a specialised mesh can offer.

Mosquito nets are the most popular and effective solution to the problem of insects in the house, so it is worth setting them up. However, there's the question of whether you should remove your net for winter. Modern models can appear virtually anywhere. Their high-tech nets offer protection against a much longer list of problems than just mosquitoes alone. What is the argument for removing the mosquito net in autumn and winter, and what urges us to leave it all year round?

• Seasonal protection and more
• What kind of visitors do mosquito nets protect us against?
• What else will a proper net block?
• Mosquito nets during the autumn/winter season
• Does it make sense for the nets to remain during winter?
• Are nets and frames prone to damage during winter?
• Should you remove them or not?
• Advantages of taking down insect nets for the winter
• Disadvantages of removing mosquito nets for the winter
• Final decision: should you remove a mosquito net for colder seasons?
• Mosquito net maintenance and their removal for the winter
• How often should you clean your mosquito nets?
• How should you clean a mosquito net?
• What not to do?

Seasonal protection and more

Insect nets are predominantly used in warmer climates, where mosquitoes transmit the most dangerous diseases. It is them who give this appliance its name. Although if you live in a temperate zone, you do not have to worry about malaria and other serious illnesses, a mosquito bite can still cause various infections, and their buzzing around the ears is highly unpleasant. Mosquitoes, moreover, are only the tip of the iceberg.

What kind of visitors do mosquito nets protect us against?

Insect nets, especially modern ones, provide a barrier not only for mosquitoes. If this were the case, leaving them in place for winter would not make sense. In reality, mosquito nets protect you from other creatures, including:

• flies,
• wasps,
• bees,
• hornets,
• spiders,
• moths,
• beetles,

and many others that wake up at different times of the year and make your life miserable.

Beyond that, there are also modern types of mesh with a very dense weave that can do much more.

What else will a proper net block?

If you look at specialised nets, you will immediately notice that their weave is multilayered and highly dense. So much that it can retain single molecules of chemicals, not even to mention larger creatures, which are large, of course, only by the standards of the microcosm surrounding them.

What do these include specifically? E.g.:

• mites,
• fungal and mould spores,
• allergens of various types,
• bacteria and viruses,
• car exhaust fumes,
• PM10 and PM2.5 airborne particulate matter.

In other words, allergy sufferers, people living in areas exposed to heavy traffic or other air pollutants, and people with lowered immunity should opt for mosquito nets to reduce the risk of diseases.

The facts above seriously impact the decision to remove insect nets in autumn and winter. By taking it down, you may lose protection against especially harmful particulate matter, which reaches its highest levels during the heating season.

Mosquito nets during the autumn/winter season

Winter is a highly challenging time for insect nets, during which you need to establish two main points:

• are they still necessary, and
• is it still safe to keep them on the window?

Fortunately, it is not too hard.

Does it make sense for the nets to remain during winter?

This question has already been answered above. There are two main arguments for leaving mosquito nets in place.

The first thing is one warmer day is enough for a stronger sun to start rousing insects. Keeping mosquito nets on windows and doors will ensure you are ready for this.

The other issue is the advanced features of meshes, such as smog shielding. Although the concentration of particulate matter in the air decreases each year, the positive changes are not affecting all areas equally. In most regions of the UK, the air quality may still be far from acceptable.

Are nets and frames prone to damage during winter?

Nets are relatively delicate products. They do not have the strength of burglar-proof roller shutters. Strong winds, rain, and, above all, hail and snow can pose a potential threat, especially to various sliding solutions, including pleated ones. Low temperatures can also be detrimental to nets with rubber seals.

Some manufacturers even recommend removing their mosquito net for the winter, as otherwise, the user loses the product warranty.

Should you remove them or not?

Advantages of taking down insect nets for the winter

There are many reasons for removing mosquito nets for the winter. Taking them down makes sense primarily because of the need to:

• protect them from damage,
• prolong the life of the product,
• conveniently clean them.

Unfortunately, there are several potentially damaging elements and mechanisms for mosquito nets during winter. The most destructive are:

1. Moisture remaining on the mesh may lead to mechanical damage when it freezes.
2. Moisture and low temperatures may result in the gaskets losing their plasticity, causing the mesh to fall out of the gasket seat.
3. Removing the mosquito net is not always easy, and unskillful efforts may damage the window and door frames.

Pulling the mosquito net for the winter ensures its durability.

Disadvantages of removing mosquito nets for the winter

Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages or, if you prefer, advantages of leaving the mosquito nets in place over the winter period.

Two main issues stand out here:

1. Possibility to use the functionality of a mosquito net at all times.
2. No effort or risk associated with the removal of the net.

Uninstalling a window net deprives you of all the advantages of having it in the house.Furthermore, if its installation is challenging, it won't be easy either.

In the case of plain designs such as frame mosquito nets, removal for the winter is usually effortless. They are installed using special mounting plates, which allow convenient extraction of the entire construction later.

Many sliding solutions also allow uncomplicated removal of the net. The mosquito net structure remains in place while the mesh winters safely inside.

Alas, many constructions are so-called permanently mounted mosquito nets. Of course, dismantling this net type is possible, but that involves considerable effort, and unskilled attempts may have regrettable consequences.

Final decision: should you remove a mosquito net for colder seasons?

It's understood you must make this decision individually. It is easiest to uninstall frame and sliding mosquito nets designed for easy removal.

The decision may also be made for you if the net warranty explicitly requires it.On the other hand, if your product is permanently installed and the manufacturer expects the mesh to remain in place, there is no reason to go ahead with it.

It is a very beneficial solution if you can roll up the mesh or hide it in a box or profile. The first option is typical for solutions integrated into roller shutter boxes. The second is common in pleated mosquito nets, which are not exposed to harmful factors when fully closed. You can then remove or roll it up with similar effects on its safety and durability.

Mosquito net maintenance and their removal for the winter

While considering whether it is worth pulling down the mosquito net for the winter, you need to address another topic. It is their cleaning and maintenance.

How often should you clean your mosquito nets?

There is no such thing as a single set rule for how often you should clean your mosquito nets. You usually do it when you clean the windows, although typically, these are only cursory treatments. For effective cleaning and maintenance of a mosquito net, it's advisable to remove it. So, if you plan to take it off for the winter, you can take advantage of this opportunity.

How should you clean a mosquito net?

Maintaining a mosquito net is much easier when you remove the whole of it or at least detach the mesh. While it is not always necessary, it simplifies the task and reduces the risk of damage.

If it's relatively easy to uninstall the mosquito net, it's worth pulling it down for washing not only before winter. By cleaning it, you can eliminate dust and pollen, scrape off any insects that may have gotten trapped, and improve its aesthetics.

Washing itself is not a huge challenge. If the mesh is still in place, wipe it with a damp cloth and mild detergent, provided its manual does not instruct otherwise.

You can wash a removed mesh in a bathtub. It is first rinsed in water with detergent and then in clean water. You need to dry the mesh before installing it back in. During the winter, it is essential to dry the mesh if you insist on having it back in place.

What not to do?

While the above instructions for dealing with a soiled mosquito net are certainly not overly demanding, it is still worth mentioning a few things that may lead to a minor mishap.

1. Hard cleaners – sharp sponges or rough materials of any kind can damage the mesh and decorative coatings of the frame.
2. Strong detergents – the use of caustic detergents can lead to chemical damage to the insect net components and the seals to lose their properties.
3. Excessive pressure – if you put too much pressure while cleaning the elements, especially on an installed net, you may mechanically damage it.
4. Steam cleaning – using steam cleaners to clean mosquito nets is prohibited. Liquids that may come into contact with the net should not significantly exceed room temperature.
5. Frost cleaning – during cleaning and maintenance, the air temperature should not fall below freezing, and the temperature of the mesh itself should not be below room temperature. It would make it difficult for the mesh to dry.

As you can see, these are common sense recommendations.

In conclusion, it is worth removing mosquito nets for the winter if only to wash them thoroughly. Overwintering in a dry and warm place is advisable, especially if the product is easy to disassemble and reassemble.

It's different with permanently installed mosquito nets and insect nets using specialised meshes. With the latter, you do not want to lose the properties of the mesh for many months, and with the former, the scale of the challenge may intimidate you. Modern meshes are usually created from a combination of fibreglass and PVC, so their durability is satisfactory. While winter conditions will harm, e.g. the seals, it is not a disaster if an insect net overwinters on a window or door.