I moved into my new old house last year; new because I had never lived in it before and old because the original construction dated back about six decades. I love the character and charm of my older home, but what I didn't like was the way bugs could get into my house all spring and summer long because the screening material on the windows had sadly deteriorated.

I needed replacement window screens in the worst way, but one trip to the local home improvement store proved that this task was much easier said than done. I spent some time staring at the display of these supplies, but somehow the time I spent didn't make it any simpler to choose and purchase all of the equipment that I would need to put a new face on my home.

I left the store rather discouraged, but decided to try my hand shopping for replacement window screens online to see if the process would become any clearer to me. Sure enough, the websites for these companies were laid out in easy-to-read language and instructions that not only allowed me to choose the supplies I needed, but also collect all of the necessary information to complete the job on my own.

I was also relieved to find that if the chore proved to be too much for me to accomplish by myself, there were companies listed that could take care of installing replacement window screens for me -- all I would have to do was sign the check when the job was completed. And for the do-it-yourselfer, supplies were much easier to find online than on the jumbled shelves at the neighborhood hardware store.

After measuring all of the windows in my home that required renovation, I went to a discount site and ordered the precise supplies that I would need. I also read through the information and instructions that were listed to ensure that I'd be able to install my new replacement window screens properly, since improper installation could still leave cracks and openings that would allow a variety of outside debris and various creepy-crawlies to get in.

Now that I've successfully installed the replacement window screens that I needed, I'll be able to enjoy a whole spring and summer without the worry of unwelcome flies, moths, and mosquitoes sneaking inside for a visit. Completing the project myself was a lot easier than I thought it would be, and I saved big on my replacement window screens in the process. I couldn't ask for anything more -- except maybe a couple of volunteers to help me wash my new windows!

One of the first things I do each spring when the weather warms up is to clean my house from top to bottom. Many families do Spring cleaning each year because their homes have been battened down for the cold winter months, and they want to get some fresh air moving through the home. The home feels dirty, no matter how well you have cleaned, and that means cleaning things that may have been neglected. One of those things would be the window screens, as they need special care before the summer comes in full force.

The first thing you should think about would be to clean your windows. That chore is easy enough to do right, though it can be a pain. You have to remove your storm windows, if you have any, and put up your screens. Some windows come so that the storm windows and the window screens are attached all year long, you just pull down the one that you want to use. Either way, you should check your screens for signs of wear and tear, holes, and dirt that may be clogging the holes.

When it comes to dirt, you have a few options. You can remove the screen entirely and put it in the bathtub. Soaking can take off most of the dirt and grime. You can also do this outside with a hose. If you don't want to go that far, you can also use lint rollers to remove some of the build up. That may sound silly, but it really does work when you have build up of lint or dust on your window screens. Another option would be to use the vacuum cleaner to suck the dirt off, but that only works if you have a powerful enough vacuum cleaner.

When it comes to holes, there may be little that you can do to fix the window screens. You may be able to find some patches that can be used to put over smaller holes to stop insects from coming in, but anything large may mean that you have to replace your window screens completely. You can replace the entire thing, but it might be cheaper to remove the old screen from the frame, and to buy replacement to go in. It's actually not that hard to do, and an easy DIY project that you can do each year when the temperatures go up.