How To Keep Your Plantation Shutters Clean And Pristine

Home & Garden Blog

Window shutters easily add value to your home, but if neglected, they become dirty and they can turn from a beautiful add-on into a blemish on your property. Luckily, they are easy to clean and maintain. You should clean them periodically to prevent dust and stain build up.

Regular dusting

Your plantation shutters need to be dusted every couple of weeks to prevent them from accumulating grime. You can use a dusting cloth or a disposable duster do so. Open the shutters and dust the entire structure from top to bottom. Pay particular attention to the upper side of each slat on your blinds, because that is where most of the dust will settle. Dust each shutter on both sides, as well as the window details and sill.

This basic cleaning process should keep your plantation shutters looking great for years to come, but there is more you can do.

Basic cleaning for vinyl or painted plantation shutters

If your shutters need an extra dose of care, you can use a simple mix of a teaspoon of dish soap in a gallon of hot water. Dip a soft cloth or sponge in the solution and wring it thoroughly. The sponge or cloth should be barely damp, or else you'll have water streaks leftover after cleaning. Clean as you would if you would be dusting, from the top towards the bottom, one slat at a time. Afterwards, pass over where you cleaned with a dry cloth to remove any water or soap residue.

Basic cleaning for wooden shutters

If your roller shutters are classical plantation shutters and thus made of wood, you should avoid water and soap as it may warp the wood or even stain it. Wood plantation shutters should be cleaned at least once a week using your vacuum, with the soft brush attachment. If your shutters come in contact with a lot of pet hair, dust or pollen, you may need to vacuum them more often.  

Every month you should wipe them with a dusting and with wood polish after dusting them thoroughly. This will keep the wood shiny and vibrant.

If your shutter's wood has small grooves or crevices that have collected dust and dirt, you can spray a toothbrush with polish and use it to clean out the hard-to-reach areas. If you still can't clean them like that, try a cotton bud dampened with spray polish.

Cleaning exterior plantation shutters

Exterior shutters accumulate much more dust and grime than interior ones, so their cleaning should be more thorough. Begin cleaning by using a water hose to spray away any loose dirt or debris. If you have a pressure washer then use that, as it will likely do an even better job than the hose and even completely eliminate the need for dusting. After washing the shutters, you can clean them using the same procedure for the vinyl/painted interior shutters.

Shutters are a durable item, and if cleaned often and thoroughly they can look like new for years to come. For more information, contact a company like Queensland Blinds and Awnings.

18 December 2014