How to Maintain Your New Shutters [infographic]

It is always exciting to see the transformation that new home décor or a home improvement provides, and you want that feeling to last. Regardless of the quality of the product, eventually you’ll need to perform some maintenance and cleaning. Shutters are no exception, and here at Blinds America, we want to share with you some helpful tips that will keep your shutters looking their best so you always appreciate your investment.

• Control the Environment- You’ll do less dusting and cleaning of your shutters if you are able to control the dust, dander, and other contaminants in your home. Changing your HVAC filters regularly, keeping windows and doors closed during high pollen months, and permiting smoking only outside on the deck or patio are a few ways you can do that.
• Choose Proper Cleaning Tools- While feather dusters might be fun, they aren’t very effective. They get the dust off the surface, but it flies through the air and then lands again. Consider a dusting cloth that grabs and traps dust instead or use a vacuum cleaner with a soft bristle attachment.
• Know Your Shutters- Shutters are made using a variety of materials, including composites, polyresin, and wood. Know what kind you have and the proper way to lean them. For example, you wouldn’t want to use too much moisture when cleaning wood shutters and take similar care with composite, but you can use a small amount of soap and water with polyresin shutters.
• Clean Frequently- If you have ever cleaned the top of the blades on a fan that has gone unnoticed for a while, you may have noticed that the dust becomes sticky. The same can happen with shutters, making cleaning them more involved. If you dust them regularly, you can avoid this buildup situation and save yourself some work.