A mosquito net is designed to protect our home from insects. But it has a number of additional benefits that are useful for people with allergies and pet lovers. A mosquito net will help reduce the amount of dust, lint, and debris entering your apartment, and it will also prevent cats and birds from escaping through the window.
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Types of mosquito nets
Today, a wide variety of mosquito nets are available. Almost any enclosed space may require protection from insects, as in addition to nets for doors, windows, and balconies, there are also options for cars, strollers, cribs, and gazebos.
The entire variety of meshes, depending on their design features, can be divided into:
- Framed screens are the simplest and most versatile type of structure. They consist of a fiberglass mesh stretched over an aluminum frame. They are easy to install, reliable, durable, and easy to maintain.
Frame mosquito nets are the simplest and most versatile type of design.
According to the method of fastening, there are:
- on Z-mounts - grooves are screwed into the top and bottom of the outer side of the window, into which the mesh is installed;
- on pins (rods) - using a drill, holes are made in the window sash, and the mesh is inserted between the sash and the window plane, while the rods enter the holes.
- Sliding - working on the principle of wardrobes, they take the position of any of the doors. Their popularity became possible due to the use of sliding glazing systems for windows and balconies. The aluminum frame profile is equipped with rollers and sliders at the bottom and top, respectively. The mesh adheres to the sashes using a special sealing pile.
Sliding mosquito net is indispensable for sliding window and balcony systems.
- Roller blinds—their main feature is that they roll up into a cassette. The design consists of a box with a spring mechanism inside, the screen, and guides. The spring allows the screen to be rolled up and stored within the roller shutter. This eliminates the need to remove the screen for the winter; it can simply be stored in the box. Roll nets are made from a special fiberglass, which ensures their long-lasting operation. The only inconvenience is that the size of the roll nets is limited - no more than two meters in height, and the area no more than two square meters.
Roll nets do not require storage space.
- Pleated blinds are accordion-like mesh made of a special plastic. They can be hung in virtually any opening, even those with spans over three meters. The folds are only 1 cm wide, making them virtually invisible, making them ideal for use in light-transmitting structures.
Pleated mesh is the most modern, but not the cheapest option.
- A magnetic mosquito net is a frameless structure resembling a curtain with magnets running along its length. These magnets automatically close the curtain panels after opening, ensuring a tight seal when closed. This is the most affordable mosquito net option. Made from lightweight fabric, these curtains are easy to use and practical.
The magnetic door mesh is convenient not only for people, but also for animals.
- Velcro mesh—the fabric is attached to the window frame with adhesive tape. Its advantages include the ability to be installed on any window, easy storage, and durable material, which, with careful handling, will last 3–4 seasons.
The mesh with Velcro can be installed on any windows and is easy to store.
- "Anti-cat" is designed to protect your pet (cats and birds) from falling out of or flying through a window. The net is made of durable, tear-resistant material. One drawback of this type was its black color, but light gray options are now available.
"Anti-cat" allows pets to enjoy the view from the window without fear of falling.
- "Anti-dust" nets are essential for people with allergies. Their main difference from regular nets is the mesh size, which is oblong and 0.25 x 1 mm in cross-section (common nets are 1 x 1 mm). Large dust and fluff particles have difficulty penetrating these holes. Their only drawback is that they become dirty quickly.
Anti-Dust – an assistant in the fight against allergies
Select the desired type of grid
The variety of mosquito nets makes it easy to protect almost any room from pesky insects. Now you need to decide which type is right for you. After all, a mosquito net on the windows is sufficient for protecting an apartment, while in a country house, it's advisable to also close the door, but you still need to ensure free entry and exit for household members and pets.
When outdoors, in a car or a gazebo, it's not always appropriate to use chemical insect repellents, and it's especially undesirable to spray babies sleeping soundly in strollers or cribs with all sorts of chemicals. But mosquito nets are available for such situations.
Mosquito net for windows
You can choose a variety of meshes for windows, depending on the requirements and preferences of the owners.
When choosing a net, it's important to consider the quality and strength of the threads, as well as the mesh size, which can range from 0.6 mm to 3 mm. A net with a small mesh size provides better protection against insects, even the smallest ones. However, this type of net also has a drawback: it doesn't allow fresh air to pass through well. Therefore, nets with small mesh size are generally chosen if there's a body of water nearby or if midges are a nuisance. For city apartments, nets with a mesh size of 1.5 mm are quite suitable.
The frame mesh is universal for all windows made of any material: plastic, wood, and old Soviet ones, as it has two types of fastening - external and recessed. When fastened into the opening (using pins), the mesh cannot be removed from the street, making this method the optimal option for ground floors.
Sliding screens are an ideal option for sliding windows and doors. Roller screens, Velcro screens, and pleated screens are also suitable for windows—the key is to consider your budget, installation method, and practicality.
If you have pets who love windows, install an "Anti-cat" screen for their safety, as a mosquito net won't always support the animal's weight. The mesh size of this screen is quite large, so it won't protect you from mosquitoes on its own, but it's very effective when combined with a standard mosquito net.
What types are suitable for doors?
A magnetic door mesh is perfect for a summer house.
A framed mosquito net is most often installed on a door. It opens and closes easily, just like a regular door. If there's not enough space to open a framed structure, a roller net is installed. However, this is more suitable for doors that are rarely used, as the roller mechanism will quickly wear out with repeated use, making it difficult for household members to enter and exit. Pleated or sliding nets are suitable for larger doorways. A magnetic door net is an excellent option for a summer cottage or summer home. It allows for easy entry and exit for both people and animals.
Mosquito net for car interiors
A mosquito net for a car is designed to protect the interior from insects and fluff when the windows are open, as well as to protect children and animals left inside the car from overheating, or from overheating during prolonged exposure to the sun. Suitable for all makes and models of vehicles, it's easy to attach and remove without leaving marks on the car body. It can be used in temperatures from -30°C to +70°C and lasts for several seasons.
The design consists of a mosquito net and fastening elements—self-adhesive fasteners and a fixing tape. The mesh size prevents even small midges from entering.
A car net is a salvation not only from mosquitoes, but also from overheating of the interior
Protection for baby strollers
Stroller nets not only protect children from mosquito bites but also prevent dust and lint from getting in. Modern strollers often come with a mosquito net. However, some budget-friendly options do not include this feature, or the net may wear out over time and need to be replaced.
There are universal, large-size mosquito nets that fit strollers, cribs, and baby carriers. An elastic band runs around the perimeter of the net for fastening.
Some strollers can be equipped with a mesh net that covers only the window. Since newborns mostly sleep during strolls, this is quite sufficient. In addition to an elastic band, a zipper or Velcro fastener can be used as a fastening.
An additional feature of the netting can be protection from sunlight. This type of netting is typically black or gray, suitable for hot summer weather.
A properly selected net for a stroller will allow your baby to enjoy a summer walk both in the forest and by the water.
When choosing a mosquito net for a specific stroller, you need to pay attention to the following:
- the baby will see surrounding objects through the small holes of the mesh, which means you need to choose meshes recommended by pediatric ophthalmologists;
- The mesh material must be of good quality so that it does not crease during storage, as using a wrinkled mesh can lead to image distortion;
- The size of the net should be selected based on the size of the stroller or the window opening it will cover, otherwise securing the net may be difficult or it will not be airtight and will not be able to fully perform its functions.
Relax in a gazebo without insects
A gazebo mosquito net provides comfort outdoors, protects food from insects, and protects paper and other lightweight items from gusts of wind. The camouflage fabric used to make the net is water-repellent, ideal for rainy weather.
Gazebo netting can be either roller (shutter) type, which resembles a curtain, or pleated netting. There's no need to disassemble the netting each time; cleaning it twice a year is sufficient.
Installing a mosquito net yourself
In order to save money, people often purchase a frame with a mesh from a company and install it themselves. First of all, it is necessary to take the correct measurements so that the mesh and frame fit correctly. With the sash open, the opening parameters are measured from one sealing rubber to the other.
The ready-made frame mesh comes with four Z-brackets (brackets). Holes for screws are drilled on the shorter side of the bracket. The brackets with larger shelves (4 cm) are attached to the top of the frame, while the brackets with smaller shelves (2.5 cm) are attached to the bottom, outside the window opening, 80–100 mm from the edges. The frame length will be 10 mm shorter than the distance between the grooves of the top and bottom brackets.
Once the fasteners are ready, the frame and mesh can be inserted. The top edge is inserted into the upper brackets, and the bottom edge is tucked behind the lower brackets, securing the mesh securely.
To remove the mesh, follow the reverse procedure. Grasp the handles, lift the frame slightly, pull out the bottom edge, and then pull the mesh out of the upper fastenings.
Video: Installing a mosquito net
The second and most reliable mounting option is a plunger (pin-type) installation, which is more expensive. The plunger is a metal pin with a spring, adjustable in length. For installation, holes are drilled in the window opening (the number of which corresponds to the number of plungers on the screen profile). The strips are inserted into the holes, and the plunger, with its head pressed inward, is inserted toward the mosquito net.
- The framed screen is attached to the door in the same way as a regular door, using hinges that screw onto the screen itself, while the other part screws into the door frame. It also includes a handle for easy opening and a magnet to secure the screen in place.
- Sliding screens are attached to guides that are mounted to the frame.
- Roller screen installation involves screwing guides to the sides of the door or window frame, into which a box with a spring mechanism and the screen itself are inserted from above. The screen slides along the guides and is secured at the bottom with a special latch or string.
- A pleated mosquito net differs from a roller type in that it has guides attached at the top and bottom, and the net slides sideways along them, gathering like an accordion. This type of net is not recommended for DIY installation.
- Velcro mesh is the easiest way to install it yourself. Simply select the appropriate mesh size, clean and degrease the opening, remove the protective strip from the mesh tape, and apply the adhesive side around the window perimeter.
- The magnetic mesh has the same simple mounting option: it is attached using special buttons or Velcro, which are included in the kit.
- When installing a car net, one fastener is attached to the inside surface around the window perimeter, and the other to the net itself. This allows the net to be easily removed and installed by simply fastening or unfastening the fastener.
Proper care for a long service life
Caring for a mosquito net is quite simple:
- removable nets must be put away for the winter, non-removable ones must be rolled up in a special box;
- At least once a year, before cleaning, vacuum or brush the mesh with a soft brush and wash it with soapy water or a cleaning solution. The fasteners themselves can be wiped with a damp cloth.
The advantage of magnetic and Velcro mesh is that they are washable.
Reviews
We often open the doors at our dacha in the summer. Friends recommended getting a mosquito net for the door. I don't regret it. It's convenient and practical. The best thing is that I don't get wasps and flies during the day, and I don't get disturbed by mosquitoes at night.
I've had my roller blind for 14 (!!) seasons. I bought it at a high price, back in 1997. I suspect it was a German one. Unfortunately, last year the teeth on the latch on the screen itself completely dried out and broke off, so I had to hook it to a pull-out cord. And you say it's unreliable... The mechanism works like a charm, no problem storing it, I wiped it down in the fall, let it go, and it's good until spring. The only downside (in my case) is the cord dangling when the screen is raised.
I've heard great things about the magnetic mosquito nets on my door. I'm glad I bought them. They're fantastic. It took me 20 minutes to install. They keep mosquitoes out of my house very well. And the cats can come and go without any problems.
Modern technology allows you to choose mosquito nets based on your preferences in terms of functionality, mounting systems, and price. Options include DIY manufacturing and installation, as well as professional assistance.
