Plantation shutters are charming window treatments that can often be found in country, colonial and tropical homes. Typically made of wood, they can last decades with proper care and maintenance. However, they tend to accumulate a lot of dirt and can look shabby especially when they are installed as exterior window treatments. In some instances, they become homes for tiny insects that eventually create damage on their overall appearance and structure. In order to maintain or preserve the fine quality of your plantation shutters, Melbourne manufacturers issued easy cleaning tips.
You would require a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment (a duster and old toothbrush are fine substitutes if you do not have a vacuum cleaner), chamois or dusting cloth, and commercial wood polish. With your vacuum cleaner you can easily get rid of dust and other particulates that settle on the slats of the shutters; the brush attachment will gently “sweep” away dirt stuck to the slats.
After cleaning away loose dirt, you can further clean and polish the shutters using the chamois and commercial wood polish. With gentle wiping, you can pick up embedded dirt and restore the finish of the wood. Some wood polishing agents have the ability to temporarily protect the wood from water and even humidity, and there are also some that have the ability to repel insects. If you wish to provide more protection to your shutters, get the advice of the manufacturers about great wood polish products that you can use. However, most manufacturers nowadays treat the wood they use in creating shutters so they are water- and insect-resistant; all you really require is the usual commercial wood polish (like Pledge) available in the market.
Now, for really hard-to-reach dirt that’s settled in the crooks and crannies of the shutters, use a soft toothbrush and moisten it with wood polish. Narrow head toothbrushes are particularly effective in getting dirt from corners and the wood polish will make sure that dirt’s really stuck to the toothbrush.
Shutter manufacturers strictly advise against using soap and water in cleaning wood shutters as these two elements can morph wood and compromise not just the appearance of the window treatment but also its overall quality. Some people like to use soap and water to achieve a raw and rustic finish but this will make wood brittle and prone to breakage.
The key to maintaining the beauty of your plantation shutters is to clean them regularly; clean them every two weeks and you’ll have great-looking shutters for many years to come.
