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How to Clean Shutters
Graber Custom Shutters are classic. Shutters are sturdy. Shutters are easy-to-use. And shutters are the easiest window treatments to clean and maintain. On top of that, shutters can even add value to your home—their architectural quality is an enhancement that has a high appeal for many home buyers.
Maintaining your shutters can be as easy as vacuuming them with the upholstery attachment once a month or so. If you forget to do that for a period of time and dust builds up, cleaning that off is no problem. Even really grimy shutters can be brought back to new condition in no time. Let’s talk about cleaning your shutters in more detail.
The Simple Process
Clean shutters operate smoothly and can last for many years. Cleaning your shutters—or anything in your home—can help reduce the amount of dust and pollen in the air. Cleaning shutters also makes them look their best. And because shutters are so durable, it should be no problem keeping them looking like new for many years—even decades.
There are two ways to keep your shutters clean: dusting and vacuuming.
When dusting, use your feather duster to clean both the front and back of the shutters. Try to get into the spaces between the louvers (also called slats). Clean the top of the shutter as well as both sides.
Cleaning with the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner is just as easy. Vacuum all the same parts of the shade as you would with a feather duster. The biggest advantage of using a vacuum is that you can remove more of the dust that can accumulate between the slats.
But what if there’s dirt or grime on the shutters that can’t be dusted or vacuumed off? There are several ways to handle these stains.
When dealing with composite shutters, soap and water and a sponge or cloth is your best option. Because composite shutters are moisture resistant, they can stand up to getting wet. It’s one of the reasons why composite shutters work so well in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, mud rooms, and anywhere water and dirt might be an issue.
When cleaning wood shutters, you should use water much more sparingly. If you have to spot clean your wood shutters, use a damp cloth and mild detergent and be careful not to damage the wood’s surface or stain the wood. Almost any dirt can be cleaned off this way. Using lots of water or submerging the shutters can cause staining or warping—don’t do it!
The Simplicity of Shutters
That’s really all there is to say about cleaning your shutters. The ease of maintenance and the simple design of shutters has made them the go-to window treatment for fine homes for thousands of years. If you’re looking for a window treatment solution that’s truly worry-free and even adds value to your home, you cannot beat the classic shutter.
