How to clean shutters

Author Yvonne KealProduct Management SpecialistWritten 26/01/2021Updated 21/03/2023

Find out the easiest ways to keep your window shutters clean

Shutters bring many benefits to a home, but perhaps one of the best lifestyle benefits they bring is how little maintenance they need.

Light cleaning with a feather duster or clean, dry cloth is all you need to remove most every day dust and debris. For more thorough TLC, our handy guide talks you through easy ways to make sure your shutters stay in tip-top condition at your window.

Here we cover:

- How to keep your shutters dust free

- How to thoroughly clean each individual slat

- How to use a vacuum cleaner to keep dust at bay

- How to tackle stubborn marks or stains

Watch our step-by-step guide

Our easy to follow guide gives you plenty of simple cleaning tips and techniques to keep your shutters looking great for longer.

1. Simple cleaning with a feather duster

It’s really easy to keep your shutters free from dust and maintain their quality.

Simply adjust the louvres to the closed position and run a feather duster across the surface of the shutters to remove any dust build up.

You could also use a clean microfibre cloth, wiping the louvres in a downwards motion.

2. Clean each individual slat

For a more thorough clean, tilt the louvres to the open position and dust each slat from the centre to the outer edge.

Using a soft, clean toothbrush is a great way to remove dust from around the hinges of your shutters. This is where dust tends to collect so gently push this out with the toothbrush and wipe it away with a dry cloth.

A person is using a VAX cordless vacuum cleaner to clean white window blinds. They're wearing a black and white striped shirt in a bright indoor setting.

3. Use a vacuum cleaner

Alternatively, you can vacuum clean your shutters with an upholstery brush attachment so you don’t damage the slats.

This is a small, flathead brush with a row of short bristles.

Work in a downwards motion from top to bottom, paying particular attention to the bottom and side edges, where dust may gather.

You can also use the attachment to lightly clean the surrounding frame, to remove any more unwanted dust.

A hand uses a green sponge to clean white horizontal blinds, focusing on a section of the blinds in a brightly lit room.

4. Removing stains from your shutters

For heavier stains, give the affected area a gentle wipe with a slightly damp cloth or sponge.

If you have waterproof shutters (our Henley range) you can use a diluted mix of mild detergent such as mild dish soap and warm water.

If you have shutters made of natural wood (our Craftwood, Marlow, Windsor or Richmond range), do not use any chemical cleaning products as this may lead to warping or damage to the colour.

Once the stain has lifted, wipe away any excess moisture with a dry cleaning cloth.

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