Mosquito net on the balcony: how to choose and properly care for?

The most common and effective insect repellent at home is a mosquito net. Most often it is installed on windows and a loggia. But what if the balcony is not glazed? In this case, a protective mesh on the door will help. In order for it to fully meet its performance, it is important to familiarize yourself with the information about the features of this type of protection in advance.

The main purpose of the presented item is protection from insects. Mosquitoes and midges cannot penetrate the fine mesh, and the apartment is left without buzzing winged guests. However, different types of meshes can perform additional functions. For example, the anti-dust mesh will protect the room not only from insects, but also from dust, especially this variety is relevant for apartments located on the ground floor.

For installation on the balcony, PVC products are used, they are slightly smaller in size than the nets designed for entrance doors and made of aluminum. The mosquito door is equipped with handles, hinges and a frame with mesh fabric inside. Usually, the frame fits snugly to the opening and does not require additional locks, but in order to better fix the structure, installation of spring-loaded hinges or door closers is possible.

For installation on a balcony or loggia, the following options for mosquito nets are used.

By design, it is similar to the classic sash of a balcony door, that is, it opens from or towards itself from one side. It is a lightweight frame with a canvas inside. The frame can be made of wood or plastic, and its size is determined by the parameters of the doorway. For fixing, the product is equipped with hinges or a canopy with an automatic closer. The design is quite simple, so self-installation is quite possible, which will save money on installation services.

This product also has disadvantages. So, an open mesh door will occupy a certain area of ​​the balcony room, and in fact it can be small even without that. But the canvas and frame, if necessary, can be easily cleaned. For the winter, the product is taken out, washed and stored until summer. Hinged nets blend well into the interior of the room, as they are almost invisible, like the frame. As an option, grids of various colors are available for sale - you can choose the copy that is most suitable for the design, for example, a sample with cells for a shadow pattern.

This type has gained its popularity not so long ago. It is very different simple installation and ease of use... This look is easy to dismantle and wash. The design assumes the presence of two identical strips, along the edges of which magnets are located. Going out to the balcony, a person does not have to perform any actions with his hands - the mesh fabric will open itself under the pressure of the emerging person and automatically close itself in the center into a single structure under the influence of magnets.

Such a mesh can be attached to the doorway with Velcro, buttons, tape or by means of screw fasteners. The most budgetary option is double-sided tape, although this is not the most aesthetic solution. Not only the hostess, but even the child can fix the magnetic mesh on the balcony opening - this variety is so easy to install.

To understand the mechanism of operation of the presented type, you can imagine a sliding door that slides parallel to the wall. The base of the product is dense, it consists of two vertical mesh plates. There are rollers at the top and bottom. In appearance, the structure looks like a monolithic canvas. When the door is closed, it is assembled according to the accordion principle and is conveniently formed on one side of the opening.

This is one of the most compact varieties. The disadvantages include the massiveness of the mesh door, for example, at the end of the season it will be difficult to hide it until next spring. In addition, the installation of such an option is not easy, and it is quite problematic to clean such a structure - it cannot be washed in a machine, all that remains is to vacuum or wipe it with a napkin. But such an instance can often be found in an unusual design.

This type is a structure that is closed according to the principle of blinds. A drum is installed on top from the outside, where, when opened, a mesh fabric is wound. The edges of the mesh are attached to the door frame by means of plastic or metal plates - such a mechanism eliminates gaps and secures the door well. This option attracts the attention of buyers with its compactness, however, it also has some disadvantages. So, it is impossible to remove the mesh for washing, therefore cleaning is rather difficult. Another disadvantage is the need to bend over every time you exit the loggia.

This is the cheapest option. It looks like a frame with a mesh fabric inside fully bonded to all four edges. This product is inconvenient for daily use. The fact is that the edges of the mesh do not detach from the frame, which means that when you exit to the balcony, you will have to move the entire structure.But it can be used, for example, when airing a room during a long absence of the owners or put it in a dacha where people do not live permanently.

The mechanism looks like the doors of a wardrobe. The mesh door is mounted on the outside of the balcony opening. This is a fairly convenient option, but it is not suitable for every balcony. In a small apartment, it cannot be installed due to the design feature. In some private houses, balconies can have fairly wide doorways, where sliding mosquito nets will fit. In stores, you can find options that differ in the type of grain. In addition to the standard mosquito net, the canvas can be presented in the following types.

• Anti-pollen. It is a nylon fine mesh with rectangular meshes. Most often it is mounted on the first floor balcony. The most suitable option for allergy sufferers.
• Anti-dust... Also a fine-mesh specimen that does not allow dust and other debris to enter the apartment.
• Anticoshka. More often it is made of denser materials - steel or polyester. The pet is not able to tear such a canvas and get to the open balcony, that is, the cat is protected from escapes and accidental falls from a high floor.

Before buying a mosquito net, use the recommendations for choosing this product.

• Pay attention to the material. The modern assortment is represented by items made of cotton, polyester, nylon, fiberglass. Each of the options is selected taking into account the operating conditions. For example, when choosing between nylon and polyester, keep in mind that nylon tends to fade quickly in the sun, which means that it is better not to buy it for installation on a balcony located on the sunny side. Also consider the possibility of allergies in someone from the household to the materials presented.
• Study the type of fastener carefully. If the buyer does not want to spend money on paying for the installation of the grid, then it is recommended to give preference to the options with magnets - they are mounted easily and quickly.
• The fineness is selected based on personal preference. Of course, the smaller the cells, the more effective the mesh will be, since even the smallest insects cannot penetrate through it, moreover, this type will be able to protect the house from dust. However, a very fine mesh will become an obstacle to full air circulation.

As a rule, the presented product, due to the peculiarities of operation and constant presence in outdoor conditions, gets dirty quite quickly, therefore, it often needs cleaning. Cleaning is possible in several ways.

• You can periodically wipe the mesh with a sponge soaked in soapy water. This cleaning option is the only one for overhead and corrugated types. It is also more convenient for cleaning roller shutters.
• A more efficient way of washing is to soak the net. You can remove the canvas from the frame, place it for a while in warm water with diluted cleaning agent, rinse and put back.
• Some types of materials are machine-washable. But in any case, this method should not be abused, so as not to damage the mesh fabric.

In addition to cleaning the mesh itself, do not forget to remove dust from the frame of the structure. Some types of mechanisms require periodic lubrication of the hinges and latches - this procedure will improve their performance and further extend their service life.

How to choose the right mosquito net, see below.