We’ve talked plenty about plantation shutters in the past, about their benefits as window coverings, about how they’re the only covering solution that also adds value to your home when it comes to the real estate market. They’re a wonderful option for improving your home, so you should do your best to keep them looking great!

Note: Some cleaning recommendations will vary professional to professional. That’s bound to happen based off individual experiences and preferences. So take all these suggestions with, not a grain of salt per se, but with the knowledge that you yourself might prefer one method over another!

How to Clean Plantation Shutters

First, let’s hit some general cleaning tips!

Dust or vacuum every time you clean house
Dust window coverings once a month
Give a thorough cleaning once a season (summer, fall, winter, spring)
Twice-a-year do a deep clean (such as spring cleaning and just before the holidays)

These are general points, many factors like weather, smokers, allergy sufferers, messy, sticky kids and pets all contribute to the levels of dirtiness facing your window coverings and the needed cleanliness regime to combat it.

Aluminum, Vinyl, Painted Wood, and Faux Wood Shutters

When it comes to shutters made of any of these materials, you’ll want to follow these guidelines.

Dusting by hand, three popular methods:

For blinds, extend as far as they will go; close blinds and shutters as flat as possible. Use a feather duster or soft dust cloth and start at the top and work your way across each slat, all the way to the bottom. Rotate slats and repeat process.

Place a sock on your hand, slightly open the slats and run your hand back and forth, over and under each slat. When clean, do another “once over” with a dryer sheet to repel dust.

Use specialty tools for cleaning louvers that allow you to swipe several slats clean at the same time, both sides.

Go for the Vacuum

Using a vacuum can speed up the dusting drastically! Follow these simple steps to see:

Use a brush attachment and go over the slats, side to side, starting at the top and working your way down
Rotate slats and repeat
Finish by wiping slats with a dryer sheet or spraying with anti-static dust product

Real Wood Shutters

When it comes to shutters made of real wood you will want to be just a bit more cautious about how you approach it. For one, never get real wood blinds or shutters “wet.” Use furniture polish or lemon oil to help protect the wood and restore its beauty.

To clean real wood shutters:

Lightly spray a soft cloth with furniture polish and dust the top, bottom and side of each slat while the blind is mounted.
For badly soiled wood, use a mild detergent in tepid water and a clean cotton cloth. Clean the area and rinse with clear water; immediately dry with a cotton cloth.

TIP: Microfiber cloths work well thanks to their softness and ability to attract dust. There are a wide variety of these on the market so shop around and find one you like if that’s the way you decide to go.

Exterior Shutters—Aluminum, Vinyl, and Composite

Shutters on the exterior of your home bring a different challenge, but luckily that is easily met with a garden hose! You may need a ladder depending on how your home is set up.

Brush all loose dirt off the shutters
Hose down the shutters before scrubbing with soapy water and a mop
Rinse shutters immediately, don’t let the soapy water dry
Wipe the shutters dry with a clean microfiber mop
If you have a pressure washer, brush away any loose dirt, power wash, and dry

Follow all these steps and you can be sure you’re keeping your plantation shutters clean and looking great year-round. But what if you clean them and find they’re damaged, or just not looking as good as you thought? Well… there’s always time to upgrade or install new window covering solutions! If you need to install shutters in the first place, give us a call and schedule your free consultation!