You and your family love your outdoor time, from firepits to cuddling together to watch a movie under the stars.
But with all the fun comes the “adulting.” Occasionally, you have to use some elbow grease and give that outdoor movie screen a good cleaning…but you don’t want to do anything to damage your investment.
I’ve done a little research…and tried some stuff…and complied it here to help answer any questions you might have.
Can You Clean An Outdoor Movie Screen?
In general, if you only use your outdoor movie screen a few times a year and pack it away between uses, then there is no heavy cleaning required. However, if you use your screen throughout the year then you will want to make an effort to keep the screen nice and clean.
Let’s say you only bring the outdoor movie screen out a few times a year, as long as you brush off any leaves or dust that might blow onto it before putting it away, then more effort probably isn’t necessary.
On the other hand, if you have movie night several nights out of the year you may be tempted to leave your screen out in the elements to save time on putting it up every time you want to watch a movie.
If this is the case then you will want to clean your screen every few uses…especially if you live in a location that gets a lot of rain or has a lot of dust blowing around (one or the other pretty much describes most places.)
The frame is likely made of a heavy-duty but light material like aluminum. Aluminum is even easier to clean than the screen since almost any product you use for cleaning countertops or other surfaces in your home will work just fine.
Can You Clean An Inflatable Movie Screen?
In general, inflatable movie screens are made from durable plastic-like PVC, so they usually just need to be wiped down with a dry or slightly damp cloth before putting away. If you do use a damp cloth, make sure you let everything dry completely before putting it away to avoid mold and mildew.
If you leave your inflatable movie screen out for long periods of time…assuming you also turn the blower fans off so that it partially deflates…then you will want to at least cover the screen with a tarp or drag it under a covering.
Leaving it out, partially deflated or otherwise, will allow it to be rained on or have debris blown onto it requiring a more involved cleaning. You also run the risk of it getting punctured or cut.
The best way I’ve found for cleaning my inflatable movie screen is to use a soft cotton cloth with either warm water or a little dish soap and water…and wipe it down.
I recommend avoiding the use of any harsh cleaning products like bleach since it can damage the material.
Can You Put An Outdoor Movie Screen In The Washing Machine?
With the harsh chemicals in laundry detergent and the extreme agitation that washing machines cause it is not a good idea to wash your outdoor screen in this way. Furthermore, all the water can weaken your screen and cause it to tear or crimp.
If you do end up with some dirty spots on your outdoor movie screen, try these steps:
- Use a soft, dry cloth to brush dust and dirt away
- If that doesn’t work, lightly dampen the cloth with warm water
- To go one step further, add a tiny bit of dish soap to the warm water
- If those three steps don’t work, then you may want to contact the screen manufacturer and see what they recommend
Can You Put An Outdoor Movie Screen in the Dryer?
If your outdoor movie screen is wet, then you will want to hang it up and let it air dry. Putting it in the dryer is not a great idea since it can cause the screen to melt or catch fire.
If you can hang your screen over a shower curtain rod to do the bulk of the drying that would be ideal. After that, try to drape it over some chair and run an oscillating fan for a day or two to completely dry it out.
You can also use a hairdryer on low heat for a few minutes to help speed up drying time, but do not put the screen in the dryer as this will likely cause damage.
How Do I Keep Bugs Off My Outdoor Movie Screen?
Typically, dryer sheets or cloths sprayed with peppermint oil or cooking oil work well to deter bugs. You can also burn citronella candles (but don’t get the flames too close to the screen) or try draping the area with mosquito netting.
Bugs are usually attracted to light…and mosquitos are attracted to people. To help everyone have a better viewing experience and to avoid waking up with bug bites and stings, here are a few ways you can help keep them away:
- Dryer Sheets
- Cooking Oil, Peppermint Oil, or Bug Spray
- Hang Bug/Mosquito Netting
Dryer Sheets
Try hanging one or two dryer sheets onto the screen. The smell will repel bugs and it will also leave your outdoor movie screen smelling fresh all night long.
After you pack away your screen, you can throw a few dryer sheets in with them to keep the screen smelling clean just in case any moisture causes some mold or mildew…they will also keep bugs and rodents from trying to make a nest in there.
Cooking Oil, Peppermint Oil, or Bug Spray
An easier way to do this is to coat some dryer sheets or paper towels with a little bit of cooking oil or spray them down with an insect repellent meant for clothing. Either option should work well, but I recommend the cooking oil since it’s more natural and won’t leave behind any chemicals.
Bug/Mosquito Netting
Another option, albeit a less popular one due to the fact it’s a bit more tedious, is to hang some mosquito netting over your outdoor movie screen. If you have enough netting you can drape the entire area…snack area, seating, projector, and screen!
Final Thoughts
The great thing about outdoor movie screens…besides having some awesome movie nights under the stars…is that the maintenance and cleaning of them are pretty simple. Just brush off dirt and keep them dry.
The big takeaway is that you should never pack them away from wet or damp because you will have an even bigger issue when you go to use the screen again…MOLD!
You also want to avoid using any harsh cleaning liquids since they can damage the screen. Still, on the fence about what type of outdoor movie screen is right for you, I’ve written a few articles that answer a few more common questions: