Shutters are a wonderful way to spruce up any room. They offer superb light control, they’re secure, excellent for insulating the home, and of course, they look fantastic.
Some people think adding plantation shutters to their home means a lot of extra cleaning, but in comparison to drapes and blinds, shutter maintenance is very straightforward. So, read on for our top shutter maintenance tips...
Our top shutter maintenance tips
Everyone loves a home that’s easy to keep clean. Shutters can actually help you achieve this. Like any furniture, they do gather dust, but with a little regular care, your shutters can stay looking as good as new for years to come.
The right tools for the job
The material your shutters are made from plays a crucial role in their care. We offer a range of options, including hardwood, faux wood, and polyvinyl. While all are relatively low-maintenance, understanding the specific properties of your shutters will help you keep them looking their best.
Hardwood shutters - like any wood - hate being wet, so we advise our customers to avoid getting them too wet. Polishes and cleansers are best.
Faux wood offers greater durability, making it easier to clean, while polyvinyl shutters are the most resilient and can withstand more rigorous cleaning methods. In fact, they're completely waterproof, but it's still best to dry them after cleaning to avoid water stains.
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Wipe away the dust
It's easy to clean dust from shutters, especially if you opt for solid shutters as they can be wiped in one simple motion. For slatted shutters, open the slats as wide as you can and give them a wipe with your cloth or feather duster.
Start in the middle of each slat and work towards the edges and back in towards the room so you’re not pushing dust behind the shutters.
Use feather dusters to reach above the tops of your shutters or around the back. Tooth brushes are also great for reaching any nooks and crannies.
If you’re in a rush you can always clean your shutters in the closed position. Simply close all of the slats and wipe down with a duster. If you use cleaning products remember to check they’re appropriate for the surfaces they’re used on.
Treating shutter stains
If your shutters get stained or marked then simply treat them as you would any other piece of furniture. Use a damp cloth for easier marks, and cleaning products as appropriate for harder-to-shift stains.
Remember, wood needs to be dried after you’ve wet it to prevent it warping or splitting. If you're cleaning waterproof shutters, you can use more water as they won't warp or crack.
Suck it up
For a thorough clean, you can let your vacuum take the strain and de-dust your slatted shutters.
Do not use a floor attachment on your shutters; you’ll need a dusting attachment (sometimes called an upholstery attachment) to avoid damaging the finish.
Polishing shutter hinges
Maintaining hinges is an important step in shutter maintenance. Your shutters should work well throughout their lifetime but checking on your hinges a couple of times a year will keep them swinging for years to come.
Treat shutter hinges like door hinges and lubricate them twice a year with a light oil. Do this with due care for the surrounding materials and finishes. Use masking tape if you’re a liable to spillages or carelessness and wipe the hinges clean with a damp soft cloth after lubricating.
Check all of the screws in your hinges are tightened when you lubricate them. Use a screwdriver to keep them tight if they start to loosen, or to loosen them if they become too tight. A touch of metal polish to finish off the job should give you the perfect finish.
Simple as that!
Shutters don't need too much maintenance or cleaning. In fact, it’s one of our favorite things about them. Drapes can be real dust traps and need specialist cleaning, not to mention the time it takes to bring them to the laundromat.
Most of the time, a quick wipe down is enough to keep your shutters in tip-top condition and even the more involved shutter maintenance tasks are well within the bounds of even the busiest of homeowners.
Thinking about fitting shutters to other rooms of your home? Our shutters are easy to measure, easy to install yourself, and will save you money. Talk to our team for advice!