Five easy ways to maintain your plantation shutters in good condition

Plantation shutters are one of the most stylish and effective window treatments available on the market. Their extra-wide louvers serve as excellent sun blockers, and the beauty of these blinds comes from their versatility. For instance, because of their size, they work well in just about any room. Long stretches of shutters transform an otherwise ordinary room into an elegant area with a view. Conversely, a narrow strip creates a stylistic appearance for bathrooms and kitchens.

Of course, they must be cleaned, and many people do not like blinds because they can end up being a trap for dust. However, such shutters are not mere blinds. Their width allows you to clean them easier and more effectively than blinds, making them an almost perfect choice if you want something different than curtains.

1. Duster

A feather duster is one of the easiest ways to quickly clean your shutters as they will wipe across the surface of each louver without snagging, which is common with traditional blinds. However, many people are allergic to feathers. In this instance, a handheld sponge duster will do the trick. In order to ensure you get the shutters clean, you should drag the duster along both the tops and bottoms of the louvers. However, because shutters are so effective at opening and closing, you don’t have to wipe each and every louver. All you need to do is open them until they are flat and dust the surface of the entire set of shutters. When that surface is clean, you can close them completely and repeat the process along the other side.

2. Light spray

For a more thorough cleaning than a dusting, you can spray window cleaner onto a lint-free cloth and wipe down the louvers. For dust that gets in the cracks where the hinges connect to the frame, you can wrap the cloth around your finger and gently wipe down the hinge pin. For the sides of the shutters, you can simply wipe along the outside perimeter of the blinds, and when both sides of the louvers are clean, you should wipe down the frame as well. Using a moist cloth is the best way to maintain your shutters as it brings out the shine in them and gives the room a fresh appearance.

3. Opening and closing them

To ensure the shutters do not stick, you should open and close them regularly when cleaning the hinge pins and sides of the shutters. If you do not open and close them throughout the cleaning process, the dust can become packed into the hinges, causing the shutters to stick. Additionally, if this dust collects, it can eventually cake around the pins and in crevices. Although this area of the shutters cannot be readily seen, the caked-on dust can become more packed with each cleaning. Eventually, the shutters will stick on a day-to-day basis, and you will have to spend a few minutes carefully getting rid of the problem. Opening and closing the shutters during your routine dusting sessions can help prevent this.

4. Monthly cleaning

Once per month, you should clean the entire surface of the shutters, paying very close attention to the pins where the louvers connect to the inner frames. Each set of shutters for each window consists of a frame and its own set of louvers. Each set must be cleaned around the edges and around the hinge pins. Although opening and closing them when you dust keeps the dirt from sticking, it does not actually remove the dust completely. Consequently, you need to conduct a monthly hinge session, so to speak, and wipe the outer frames and the hinge pins.

The best way to do this is to spray the hinges with window cleaner and wipe the louvers downward along with the hinges and outer frame. A light spray of window cleaner will help break up the dust, allowing you to wipe it off. If you only use a damp cloth, you will not be able to get into the crevices as effectively.

5. Operation

One of the best ways to maintain your shutters involves how you open and close them. For instance, you should always grip the shutters by the tilt rod. You should not actually open and close the shutters by grabbing the louvers. Opening and closing via the tilt rod will ensure you do not leave fingerprints on your shutters. It will also ensure you never scuff them. More important, opening them via the tilt pin ensures the force is evenly distributed across the louvers. If you open and close them at the edges, the hinge pins will eventually become loose due to unnecessary wear and tear.