How to clean shutters

Product Management specialist

Written: 26/01/2021

Updated: 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.

woman cleaning white shutters with cloth

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.

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.

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 wooden 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.

The best way to clean wooden plantation shutters

Once you have your beautiful new shutters fitted, you'll want to make sure they stay in tip-top condition at your window. However, wooden products do not cope well with excessive moisture. Wood is a natural fibre which responds by swelling and then shrinking back as it dries out. This can result in warping, which in turn leads to ill-fitting shutters.

Because of this, we never recommend using excessive amounts of water or liquid cleaning solutions to clean your wooden shutters. Light cleaning with a clean, dry cloth is all you need for most every day dust and debris.

Take a dry microfibre cloth or duster and run along the slats to remove dust.
Simply tilt your slats to the open position and wipe each slat from the centre to the outer edge. Or, if time is limited, adjust your slats to the closed position and wipe the slats and frame all over with a clean cloth.
Use a clean, soft toothbrush to remove any built up debris in the corners.
Dust can collect in corners of the frame and the ends of the slats. Gently push this out with a dry, clean toothbrush and wipe it away with a dry cloth.
Use a damp cloth on any other marks or stains.
For sticky and stubborn stains that you can’t remove with a dry cloth, rub lightly with a damp cloth until the stain lifts. Do not rub too hard or use any cleaning products, as this may affect the paint or varnish finish on your shutters. Once the stain has lifted, wipe away any excess moisture with a clean, dry cloth.

Grey full height shutters from housebeautiful range dressed on windows of cream living room. Cream sofa chairs can also be seen in the view.

Cleaning shutters with a vacuum cleaner

Alternatively you can clean your shutters with a vacuum cleaner as long as you have a soft upholstery attachment. Clean your slats in the same way you would with a duster, opening your slats to clean each one, or closing the slats and brushing over the entire shutter. You can also use the attachment to lightly clean the frame surround.

We hope you have found this guide to cleaning your shutters helpful. See our other ‘How to… cleaning guides’ for more top tips.