How to Clean Pool Cages & Screen Enclosures in Florida

Why Florida pool cages grow algae and mildew so fast

A screen enclosure in Florida lives in nearly ideal conditions for organic growth. The heat and humidity stay high for most of the year, the screens are constantly damp from rain, pool splash-out, and morning dew, and there's plenty of airflow to carry spores in. Add the shade and debris from nearby oaks and palms, heavy spring pollen, lovebug season, and — for homes near the coast — salt air that helps grime cling, and you have a surface that goes from clean to green surprisingly quickly.

On top of the algae and mildew, sprinkler overspray leaves hard-water spotting on the lower screens and kick-plates, and wind-blown dirt cakes into the mesh. The result is the familiar Florida pool cage: a dingy gray-green film on the screens, black streaking down the uprights, and a grimy band of buildup along the bottom. It isn't just cosmetic — left alone, that organic growth and trapped moisture work on the screen and the aluminum over time.

Why you should never pressure wash a screen enclosure

It's tempting to point a pressure washer at a dirty cage and blast it clean, but that's how enclosures get damaged. Screen mesh is thin and is held in the frame by a flexible rubber splinepressed into a groove. High-pressure water punches holes in the mesh, drives the spline out of the channel so the screen sags or pops loose, and can bend, dent, or loosen the aluminum frame members and their fasteners. Even where it doesn't cause obvious damage, a high-pressure rinse only knocks the top layer off and leaves the algae spores behind to regrow within weeks.

This is the same principle behind why you never pressure wash a roof — delicate surfaces need a different approach. For a fuller breakdown of when each method is right, see our guide on soft washing vs pressure washing.

The correct method: soft washing

Soft washing is the right, safe way to clean a pool cage or lanai. It uses low pressure — about the force of a garden hose — combined with a biodegradable cleaning solution. Instead of relying on force, the solution does the work: it breaks down and kills the mold, mildew, and algae on the screens and frame, then everything is gently rinsed away. Because the growth is killed at the root rather than just knocked off, the enclosure comes out cleaner and stays clean far longer than a quick blast ever would.

A thorough soft wash covers the whole structure, not just the obvious panels: the screen mesh on all sides and the roof of the cage, the aluminum frame and uprights, the kick-plates along the base, and the door tracks and hardware. The lower screens and kick-plates — where hard-water spotting and the heaviest buildup collect — get extra attention. Adjacent surfaces are rinsed so you're not left with runoff or overspray staining your deck or pavers.

Pool cage cleaning vs the screens' glass neighbors

Many homes have glass right next to the enclosure — sliders, windows, and screened-in porch panels. Those are cleaned with the same care, using the two methods we use on all glass: by hand with a squeegee and microfiber for a streak-free finish up close, and a water-fed pole with deionized, pure water for higher panels and large runs. Pure water dries with no spots or residue, which is why it pairs so well with a freshly washed cage — see how it works in our guide to water-fed-pole window cleaning. If your glass keeps spotting after cleaning, our notes on hard-water stains and why windows streak explain the cause.

How often should you clean a Florida screen enclosure?

For most Florida homes, cleaning a pool cage once or twice a year keeps it clear and protects the aluminum and screens. Enclosures under heavy oak or palm cover, on the water, or in high-pollen areas tend to need it on a twice-a-year or seasonal rhythm — and it's smart to have the cage cleared of loose debris before hurricane season, when storms can pack screens with leaves and grime. The right interval depends on your specific lot, which we're happy to assess during a free on-site quote. (Cleaning the cage is also a natural time to look at the rest of the exterior — for example, how often to clean your gutters under all that same tree cover.)

What drives the cost of cleaning a pool cage

We don't quote a flat rate, because no two enclosures are the same. The price is driven by a handful of factors:

Size of the enclosure — total screen area and the footprint of the cage.
Height and stories — tall, two-story, or high-peak cages take more setup and time.
How heavy the buildup is — light maintenance vs years of algae, streaking, and grime.
What's included — screens only, or frame, kick-plates, door tracks, and the deck or pavers too.
Access — landscaping, furniture, and tight corners that affect how the crew works.

The fastest way to get a real number is our instant estimate, followed by a free, no-obligation on-site quote. You can also bundle it with related work like paver cleaning and sealing on the pool deck. See pricing factors for the rest of the exterior in our guide to window cleaning cost in Florida.

The bottom line

A Florida pool cage is built to be soft washed, not blasted. The right approach is low pressure plus the correct cleaning solution — across the screens, frame, and kick-plates — so the green and black come off, the algae stays gone longer, and the aluminum and mesh are protected. At Fresh Frames, every enclosure cleaning is licensed, insured, and backed by our Spotless Promise — free re-clean within 72 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Can you pressure wash a pool cage or screen enclosure?+

You should never hit the screens or frame joints with high pressure. High PSI tears the mesh, blows out the spline that holds the screen in the frame, and can bend or loosen aluminum members. Pool cages and lanais should be soft washed — low pressure plus a cleaning solution that kills the algae and mildew at the root.

Why does my pool cage get dirty and grow algae so fast?+

Florida heat, humidity, and near-constant moisture make screen enclosures a greenhouse for mold, mildew, and algae. Pollen, oak and palm debris, lovebug residue, hard-water spotting from sprinklers, and salt air near the coast all build up on the mesh and frame, so a cage that was cleaned a few months ago can look green and grimy again quickly.

How often should I have my screen enclosure cleaned?+

For most Florida homes, once or twice a year keeps a pool cage clear and protects the aluminum. Screened lanais near heavy oak or palm cover, on the water, or with a lot of pollen and algae pressure often do best on a twice-a-year or seasonal rhythm. We can recommend a frequency for your specific property during a free on-site quote.

Will soft washing actually get the green and black off the screens?+

Yes — and it keeps it away longer. Because soft washing uses a cleaning solution that kills mold, mildew, and algae at the root instead of just blasting the surface, the screens and frame come out clean and stay clean far longer than a quick high-pressure rinse that leaves the spores behind to regrow.

Do you clean the frame and kick-plates too, or just the screens?+

Both. A proper pool cage cleaning covers the full structure: the screen mesh, the aluminum frame and uprights, the kick-plates along the bottom, and the door tracks and hardware. We also rinse adjacent surfaces so you are not left with overspray or runoff stains on your deck.

What does it cost to clean a pool cage in Florida?+

Price depends on the size of the enclosure, its height and number of stories, how heavy the algae and debris buildup is, whether kick-plates and pavers are included, and how easy the access is. The fastest way to get a number is our instant estimate at /estimate, followed by a free, no-obligation on-site quote.