The short answer
In most cases, yes. A window screen collects a season of dust, pollen and pollen-glued grime, and a freshly cleaned pane behind a grey, loaded screen still reads as hazy from inside. Having screens removed, wet-washed, dried and re-seated on the same visit protects the result of the window clean and noticeably improves airflow on an open-window evening.
What a dirty screen actually does
Screen mesh is a huge amount of surface area in a small space. It traps fine dust and pollen, then holds it in place when spring pollen turns to paste. From inside, that film sits right in your line of sight and greys out the view even when the glass behind it is spotless.
It also chokes airflow. A clogged screen moves noticeably less air, which matters on the handful of mild Charlotte evenings when you actually want the windows open.
What proper screen cleaning involves
Screens are removed and tagged to their opening, washed wet — mesh and frame — rather than just brushed off dry, rinsed with filtered water, dried flat so they don't warp, and re-seated where they belong. Anything torn or bent is set aside and shown to you rather than forced back in.
Last reviewed September 2026. Written by the Aloe Cleaning team.