Do's and Don'ts for Cleaning Window Shutters

Guide to Cleaning Window Shutters

Window shutters are an excellent way to add beauty, style, functionality, privacy, and light control throughout your home. Moreover, the wide variety of options available at Budget Blinds makes it easy to find shutters that complement your home’s style, or we can custom match existing shutters.

To maintain their beauty and ensure the brightness of the finish, it’s essential to clean shutters regularly. To help you select the ideal cleaning regimen for your shutters, we’ve put together a guide to cleaning different types of window shutters. This will put to rest any doubts about what cleaning products to use and what to avoid for safely maintaining your shutters.

Do’s and Don’ts for Cleaning Window Shutters

Let’s face it. Cleaning shutters is not the ideal way to spend your weekend. Having to clean every slat is a boring and often procrastinated task. If only shutters could clean themselves or just get washed in the rain! Okay, enough with the wishful thinking, Let’s get started with the best ways to efficiently clean shutters so you can get back to your weekend.

If you dust your shutters frequently, they shouldn’t require deep cleaning more than once or twice a year. But of course, this also depends on the dust and grime they are exposed to.

Plantation Shutters

Dusting Regularly

Exterior Plantation shutters can get especially dirty, depending on the weather. Interior window shutters also gather dust, which is why it is essential to clean these regularly. Wipe the dust off each slat of interior shutters with a dry or microfiber cloth. You can also use the vacuum with a dry brush attachment on a low setting to clean each slat. Since dust from the top slats will settle on the lower ones, start at the top and work your way across each slat until you get to the bottom. Be sure to clean the windowsill, as dust will settle there as you clean your way down. Rotate slats and repeat the process. Similarly, dust your exterior shutters regularly, too.

Cleaning with a Damp Cloth

If dusting doesn’t leave a clean surface on your shutters, wipe down interior shutters with a damp cloth to remove stubborn dirt. Use a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar with a dash of mild dish soap and wring the cloth almost dry.  Pay special attention to removing dirt buildup in the hinges and the corners of louvers. An old toothbrush is good for getting into cracks and crevices.

Similarly, you can wipe down exterior shutters at least once a month to prevent dirt buildup. However, in places with bad weather, it’s highly recommended to clean them more regularly to help maintain materials like vinyl and painted finishes.

Shutters – Aluminum, Vinyl, Painted Wood, and Faux Wood

Dust shutters regularly to make deep cleaning only an every-now-and-then event. Close shutters as flat as possible and dust with a shutter cleaner such as a feather duster or soft dust cloth. Start at the top and work your way across each slat. Work all the way to the bottom, then rotate slats and repeat the process, remembering to dust the windowsill, too.

For an enhanced dust-resistant finish, do a “once over” with a dryer sheet or a duster lightly sprayed with a non-silicone, anti-static spray. For quick and easy cleaning of louvers, you can purchase specialty tools that clean both sides of several slats at the same time.

Another easy cleaning alternative is to vacuum slats with a brush attachment on a low-intensity setting, starting with the topmost slat and working your way down. Rotate slats and repeat the process, finishing off with the dryer sheet treatment.

Real Wood Shutters

When cleaning real wood shutters, it’s important that they never get wet. It’s recommended to regularly dust wood shutters to maintain their shine. The best way to dust wood shutters is to dust the top, bottom, and side of each slat  with a dry or microfiber cloth for a clean and shiny appearance. Once a month, you can clean each slat (top, bottom, and side) with a soft cloth that has been lightly sprayed with furniture polish or lemon oil. These ingredients help preserve the natural beauty of the wood.

Deep Cleaning Real Wood Shutters

Badly soiled wood shutters can be cleaned with a clean cotton cloth and mild detergent in lukewarm water, wrung almost dry. After cleaning, rinse the area with clear water and dry it with a cotton cloth immediately to protect the wood from any moisture.

Exterior Shutters—Aluminum, Vinyl, and Composite

For cleaning exterior shutters in a two-story house, you may have to use a ladder, extensions rods, and a helper for safety. For speed cleaning, start by brushing all loose dirt off the shutters. Hose down the shutters first and then scrub them with soapy water and a mop. Rinse immediately so the soapy water doesn’t dry. Follow by wiping them dry with a clean microfiber mop. An alternative cleaning method is to brush away loose dirt and then power wash with a pressure washer, rinsing and drying as just described.

Budget Blinds for All your Window Covering Needs

With regular dusting and periodic deep cleaning, you can keep your window shutters looking as good as new. However, if your shutters are beyond the cleaning stage, consider installing new shutters from Budget Blinds. We have a wide range of window shutters to meet both your aesthetic and functionality requirements.

If you have specific requirements or would like help in deciding the perfect window coverings for your home, schedule a complimentary in-home consultation. Our experts are trained in evaluating your requirements, taking precise measurements, and fitting your home with the window treatments that perfectly match your needs.