We recommend plantation shutters to our customers at Colorado Shade and Shutter for a lot of great reasons. They offer a classic and timeless design, are available in a wide range of materials, can adapt to any decorating style, are durable, and made by some of the best brands in America like Norman. However, plantation shutters are an investment that will improve the value of your home over time, so proper maintenance and cleaning is important. Let’s take a look at four key tips to keep them looking as new as the day you purchased them.

WATER

Norman plantation shutters are built to the highest standards in the industry, and that includes using beautiful natural hardwoods. Water can cause hardwood to warp and expand over time, even when it has been properly treated to resist moisture. Be sure to wipe your shutters dry of any water drops that might come from nearby houseplants or open windows. This will prevent any headaches from warped or expanded louvers. Also make sure that cleaning solutions you do use are designed for hardwood, and do not contain too much water.

RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB

For plenty of cleaning jobs a simple cloth or a duster will work just fine. In other situations, a well-designed tool can make a big difference. There are a lot of great products out there designed specifically for cleaning window treatments. These tools can help you to get both sides of your louvers clean, or extend your cleaning into hard-to reach areas. Plantation shutters are a great option for all sorts of areas, not just traditional windows, and in many of those cases having the right cleaning tool makes things a whole lot easier.

SOLUTIONS

There is an endless menu of home cleaning products to choose from, but that does not mean that everything will work equally well on plantation shutters. The key here is to pick a cleaning solution that is designed for the material of your shutters. Composite louvers will require a different cleaning product than those made of hardwood. As we mentioned before, we also want to be aware of water-based cleaners and how much of those we use. When in doubt, reading labels is going to be your best bet. They will let you know if the product is a good fit for plantation blinds.

FREQUENCY

How often you clean your blinds is ultimately going to be a question of personal scheduling. Generally, weekly cleaning is not really necessary, while going a few months without a proper cleaning is considered too long. Try to find a sweet spot somewhere in the middle. What we want to avoid here is waiting too long between cleanings. This will help to avoid damage over time, and will help you notice any related maintenance issues that need to be addressed.