How to Prepare Motorized Outdoor Screens for Winter

Alton Bay Blinds • 22 October 2025

In the cold winter months, the best way to maintain your motorized outdoor screen is to prepare it properly for the season. The cold weather, and especially the wind, can damage it. To get the most out of it, retract your screen and don’t pull it out until spring.

A motorized outdoor screen on a home's patio with outdoor furniture placed inside the area at Alton Bay Blinds near Hampton, NH

At Alton Bay Blinds, we offer Mirage motorized screens to homeowners near Hampton, NH. Our team is here to help you learn how to care for outdoor screens to preserve them throughout the winter and use them again come spring.

1. Freshen Up the Tracks

First, you’ll want to clean the tracks for your motorized outdoor screens. Remove any dust or debris with lukewarm water and mild soap. Avoid using grease or oil, including WD-40, because it can attract insects and dust and clog the track.

If necessary, you can use a quality silicone spray lubricant on the tracks.

2. Clean the Screens

Once the tracks are clean, wash the actual screens. Start by vacuuming any dust or spiderwebs. Then, using a combination of mild soap and water, wash down the screens with a soft cloth.

Rinse your motorized outdoor screens with the hose and allow them to air dry before retracting them.

3. Inspect the Motorized Outdoor Screens for Any Damages

While you’re cleaning the screens, inspect for wear and tear and signs of other damages. Here are a few checkpoints:

Are there any places where the mesh is wearing?
Do you notice any loose screws?
Are there any issues with the mechanical aspect of your outdoor screen?
Are all of the electrical components in good order?

Resolve any issues, like tightening loose screws, that you can take care of on your own. If there are larger problems, such as a tear in the mesh of your motorized outdoor screens, contact Alton Bay Blinds, and we can tell you your best options.

4. Retract Your Motorized Outdoor Screens

Remembering to retract your motorized outdoor screens is one of the most critical steps because if you keep your screen open all winter, the snow, rain, ice, and especially wind can harm it. Even 15-mile-per-hour winds may damage the screen or blow it off track.

While it’s unlikely you’ll need to mend your motorized outdoor screen because of the high-quality brand we offer, it’s always possible. To be safe, retract the screen until danger has passed, usually during the spring thaw. Additionally, anytime throughout the year if the winds get gusty, be sure to retract your screen.

Shop Outdoor Screens Near Hampton, NH

Our team is happy to share even more tips on how to care for outdoor screens. With these preparation steps, you can keep your deck or patio a private oasis that keeps out bugs and rain and provides shade. Our Alton Bay Blinds team will help you decide the screen type and measure your space for a perfect fit.

Contact us online or call (603) 474-6099. Alton Bay Blinds proudly serves Hampton, Hampton Falls, Rye, Seabrook, Alton Bay, Gilford, Portsmouth, Meredith, Moultonborough, Laconia, Wolfeboro, and New Castle, New Hampshire; the Seacoast and Lakes regions; and Boxford, Boston, Essex, Newburyport, and Georgetown, Massachusetts; and Southern Maine.

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