By the Pressure Washing Clean team · Published November 4, 2026 · Updated November 4, 2026
Pool cage cleaning in Land O' Lakes is due once green or black growth shows on the screens. For most homes, that means once or twice a year, using a low-pressure soft wash instead of a high-pressure blast. Late fall, right after the rainy season ends, is a smart time to book it.
Want it handled? Call Pressure Washing Clean at (813) 808-6692 or request a free written estimate. We answer 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Most pool cages in Land O' Lakes need a full cleaning once or twice a year. Cages near lakes, ponds, conservation land or big oaks often need two, while open, sunny cages can go a year. A green tint, black spots or gray film on the screen is the real sign it is time.
Land O' Lakes earned its name from its many lakes. Homes along Lake Padgett, and in communities like Wilderness Lake Preserve, sit near water and shade. Moist, shaded screens grow algae and mildew faster than dry, sunny ones.
The green film is usually algae, and the black or dark gray spots are usually mildew, a type of mold. Both feed on the moisture, pollen and dirt that collect on the screen and frame. Neither goes away on its own, because rain spreads it and shade helps it grow back.
Mold needs moisture to grow, as UF/IFAS Extension explains. Tampa Bay has plenty of it. The National Weather Service Tampa Bay office lists Tampa's normal annual rainfall at 49.48 inches, based on 1991–2020 data.
UF/IFAS also notes that bleaching a mold stain is not enough on its own. The growth has to be physically removed, and the moisture source fixed, or it returns. On a pool cage, that means a cleaning solution, gentle agitation and a full rinse.
Algae and mildew hold moisture against the screen and frame. Over time, buildup makes screens look darker and blocks airflow through the mesh. It can also stain the pool deck below as rain washes it down.
The best time for pool cage cleaning in Land O' Lakes is late fall, after the summer rains ease. Growth peaks after the wettest months, so cleaning in October or November removes a full season of it. A second cleaning in spring, after oak pollen falls, works well for shaded cages.
NWS normals for Tampa show why summer is the heavy growth season. June averages 7.37 inches of rain, July 7.75 inches, August 9.03 inches and September 6.09 inches. Cleaning in the middle of that stretch works, but the growth can come back quickly.
The National Hurricane Center sets the Atlantic hurricane season from June 1 to November 30. Its peak is September 10. Cleaning once storm season winds down means the next storm will not dirty a freshly washed cage.
High pressure is the wrong tool for pool cage screens, because it can stretch mesh and pop panels loose. A soft wash uses low pressure and a cleaning solution to kill growth, followed by a gentle rinse. It cleans the screens and frame without forcing water through the mesh.
Most pool cages use an aluminum frame with fiberglass or polyester screen. HomeGuide says fiberglass screen can last 20 years or more. It also warns that fiberglass can start to shred within three years if it is power washed.
That is why method matters more than speed. Our technicians are trained through the Doug Rucker School program and use low-pressure soft washing on screen enclosures. Pressure Washing Clean is a licensed general contractor and fully insured.
| Factor | Soft wash (low pressure) | Pressure wash (high pressure) |
|---|---|---|
| Water pressure on the screen | Low, similar to a garden hose | High, focused stream |
| How growth is removed | Cleaning solution kills it, then a gentle rinse | Force blasts it off the surface |
| Risk to fiberglass screen | Low when done correctly | High: can stretch, tear or shred mesh |
| Risk to screen spline and panels | Low | Can push panels out of their tracks |
| Aluminum frame | Gentle on the painted finish | Harsher on the painted finish |
| Main goal | Kill growth, then rinse it away | Remove surface dirt by force |
| Best use near a pool cage | Screens, frame, door and kick plates | Concrete or paver deck only, with care |
The same soft wash approach protects stucco walls. You can read more about it on our Land O’ Lakes house washing page.
A careful crew wets down plants before any solution touches the cage and rinses them again after. It applies the solution at low pressure and aims it away from the pool. A thorough final rinse dilutes runoff so it does not pool in garden beds.
Ask your pool service about the pool itself before the wash. They may want to test or adjust the water after the cleaning is done. This simple step keeps the pool balanced without guesswork.
Land O' Lakes is in unincorporated Pasco County. Pasco County Land Development Code Section 902.1 prohibits non-stormwater discharges to the storm sewer system unless they are exempt. Commercial wash water is not on the exempt list.
In plain terms, a professional crew should keep wash water out of street drains. Rinsing into lawns and landscaped areas lets the soil absorb it instead.
HomeGuide's national cost guide lists professional pressure washing of a pool enclosure at $100 to $250. That is a national range, not a Land O' Lakes quote, since price depends on cage size, growth and access. Pressure Washing Clean gives free written estimates.
| Item (national ranges, HomeGuide) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Pool enclosure cleaning / pressure washing | $100 – $250 |
| Screen panel repair | $25 – $65 per panel |
| Full pool cage rescreening | $1,200 – $3,500 |
The comparison shows why cleaning is worth doing. Rescreening the whole cage costs far more than routine cleaning. Gentle cleaning helps the screen you already own last longer.
New clients get 10% off through December 31, 2026.
Have a paver pool deck? See our paver cleaning and sealing service. Our guide to paver sealing cost in the Lutz area explains pricing.
You can handle light upkeep yourself with a garden hose and a soft brush every few months. A full cleaning is harder, since it means ladders near a pool, cleaning chemicals and a high, wide surface. That work carries a real risk of torn screens and falls.
Many planned communities in Land O' Lakes have homeowners associations with rules for exterior appearance. A green or black pool cage that faces a street, lake or golf view can draw a notice. Check your community's guidelines and plan the cleaning before the next inspection.
We serve homes across Land O' Lakes, including Connerton, Bexley, Lake Padgett Estates, Wilderness Lake Preserve and Ballantrae. In lakefront areas, the side of the cage facing the water often grows first.
Boards and managers can learn about community-wide service on our HOA community pressure washing page. Homeowners can see everything we clean locally on our Land O’ Lakes pressure washing page.
No, it does not. Cleaning removes growth and dirt, but torn panels and loose spline, the cord holding the screen, need rescreening. HomeGuide's national guide lists panel repairs at $25 to $65 each, and a careful crew flags damaged panels before washing.
It usually makes sense, because growth rinsed off the cage lands on the deck below. Paver pool decks may also need fresh joint sand and a new coat of sealer after cleaning. Ask for both jobs on one estimate to avoid a second visit.
Often, yes, because strong storms throw leaves, sand and debris against the screens and frame. Check for bent members and torn panels first, and get structural damage repaired before any washing. Then a gentle soft wash can clear storm grime without stressing weakened screen.
It depends on shade, nearby trees and how much rain hits the cage. Shaded sides near ponds or woods turn green faster, while sunny, open cages stay clean longer. A light garden-hose rinse every few months helps stretch the time between full cleanings.
Not always, as long as the crew has backyard access, a working outdoor spigot and an unlocked gate. Keep pets inside while the solution is applied and rinsed. You may want to walk the cage with the technician first to point out problem spots.
It should be, since the door frame, kick plate and closer collect the same growth as the screens. Hinges and the lower track also trap dirt and pollen. Ask that the door, kick plates and bottom rails appear on your estimate so nothing is skipped.
Call Pressure Washing Clean at (813) 808-6692, or request your free written estimate online. We are open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, across Land O' Lakes, Lutz, Wesley Chapel and Odessa. New clients save 10% through December 31, 2026.
Licensed, insured and Doug Rucker School trained. Free estimates for homes and businesses across North Tampa Bay.
