How to Clean Shutters

Cleaning shutters is a lot easier than you might imagine: keep reading to learn more!

Shutters have become one of the most common solutions for natural lighting and temperature control for homeowners all around the country. The reason why this fixture has become so popular is that it brings a vast array of amazing features and benefits within one single item. Shutters are generally really aesthetically pleasing, and they will match most interior design looks and styles. In addition to that, their functionality is infinitely more versatile than other solutions, such as traditional blinds, and they are very low maintenance.

In particular, cleaning shutters is quite easy. Keep reading to learn more about the simple steps of the process to make sure you take care of your prized shutters and never let that dust settle for too long!

The Tools You Will Need for Cleaning Shutters

Cleaning your shutter might require some essential tools. In most cases, you’ll want to avoid using too much water or soaking your shutter, particularly if your shutters are made of beautiful timber. As you might know, excessive moisture is not exactly wood’s best friend, and in the long run, using too much water to clean your shutters might indeed cause the wood to wear out, swell or warp, if you are very unlucky.
The same can be said for chemical cleaners and other household products. Many plantation shutters are made with materials that can lose their color and liveliness if you expose them to harsh chemical cleaners for a long time. The best approach is to use a few simple tools:

•  A dusting cloth, possibly lint-free.
• A small dusting brush
• A vacuum cleaner
• A brush or small mop that can be soaked in water

How to approach the cleaning shutters

The first thing you will want to do is definitely to look at the broader picture, so to speak. By that, I mean that you should focus on cleaning smaller areas and nooks later, but first focus on giving your shutters a broad, overall initial clean-up. A vacuum cleaner can be absolutely perfect for this. You can use it to remove as much dust and dirt as possible, before moving on to the next step. If you do not have a vacuum cleaner that’s suitable for the application, or if you simply do not wish to use one, you can do the same with a dusting brush or cloth.

The next step of the cleaning process will require you to look closely, and clean the space in between each shutter. This location might not be easy to access with the initial “broad strokes” cleaning, so you might want to take your time and do each shutter individually, so you make sure you catch as much dust and debris as you possibly can.

After the second step, you can move on to the next. You can use a small brush, mop or cloth to gently soak it in water. Make sure that the tool you use is not dripping wet. As mentioned above, too much water might actually damage your shutters in the long run. While you will need a little bit of water to enhance the accuracy of your cleaning operations, it is important to remember that too much water is not recommended, and it might do more harm than good.
Once you make sure you drained away all the excess water, use your mop, brush or cloth to scrub any area that might seem stained or sticky. If you want to, you can use lukewarm water, which might help you remove the most stubborn stains.

Once you have done this, it is important to use a dry cloth to remove any water residue that you might have left behind. Don’t skip this step, as it is critical to preserving the long-term health and durability of your shutters!

Not all shutters are created equal: if you have plastic or polywood shutters, for examples, you might be able to use cleaning chemicals without worrying too much about ruining high-value timber. This might make the cleaning a bit faster if that’s your case. The methods should be just about the same as described above, only by using your chemical of choice instead of simple water.

In some cases, exterior shutters might be challenging to clean, because dirt, bird droppings or other debris can get stuck in there. Even mold can become a problem! In most cases, soap, chemicals or bleach can do the trick and help you restore the cleanliness of your shutters, but you need to pay close attention before you go on and treat your shutters to any given product, as chemicals might cause surface discoloration. If you aren’t exactly sure, and if you don’t feel like taking any risks, you can treat a small area first, using it as a “patch test” before moving on to the rest of the shutters.

How often should I clean my shutters?

This is a difficult question to answer because the frequency and amount of cleaning you will need to do will vary depending on where your shutters are located. For instance, an outdoor shutter installation will require more aggressive and more frequent cleaning than your bedroom shutter in the vast majority of cases.

In addition to that, certain shutters located in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens could be prone to accumulating grease or other residues, particularly if they are close to a sink, with water splashing all over, or a stove top.

There is no set rule as to how often you should clean your shutters. The best habit you could adopt is to use your judgment. Does your shutter look like it might need a little extra love? Can you spot dust or stains? If the answer’s yes, by all means, feel free to clean your shutters!

In conclusion, It’s highly recommended to keep your shutters clean reasonably regularly: this will allow you to enhance their durability and make sure that they look great and work well for many years to come.