7 Top Tips to Care for your Indoor Shutters

You’ve had beautiful, custom-designed indoor shutters installed. Now, you want them to last as long as possible! Fortunately, these window treatments don’t require much attention. However, a little love every now and then will keep them looking in tip-top shape.

With this in mind, take a look at these hints that can teach you how to care for indoor shutters.

1. Dust Regularly

Dusting is the simplest and easiest step you can take to care for your shutters. It’s also very important!

Dust detracts from the overall look of your shutters. Excess dust can also make its way into moving parts and impact how well the louvers move. (All of that extra dust isn’t good for the air quality in your home, either!)

Use a feather duster or soft cloth to maintain your shutters. These will clean the surface of the shutters effectively without causing any damage.

2. Choose the Best Cleaning Products

Window treatments located in your kitchen can collect a film of grease. Children and pets also have a way of transferring dirt and grime to your shutters.

In these cases, you may need to use a cleaning product to clean your shutters thoroughly. We recommend using a dusting spray made for wood and a soft cloth.

If you need to clean a bigger mess, choose a mild detergent, like Dawn dishwasher soap. Make sure to spot-test a small area first to ensure the product won’t cause any harm. Then, wipe the louvers dry with a soft cloth.

3. Use a Paintbrush or Toothbrush for Detailed Cleaning

Your shutters have moving parts and small openings between the louvers and other pieces. From time to time, you may notice grime has accumulated that you can’t easily wipe away.

To clean this, avoid using abrasive scrubbers or sponges. Instead, use a soft toothbrush or paintbrush to reach difficult spots and remove the dust and dirt gently. Be careful not to scrub too hard to avoid damaging the sensitive parts of your shutters.

4. Open and Close Shutters Regularly

Some people are happy to keep their shutters in the same position both day and night. That’s perfectly fine, as long as you move the louvers open and shut from time to time. This keeps all of the moving parts as active as possible. It’s also your opportunity to ensure that everything is working correctly.

If the louvers stick or won’t move at all, you’ll want to have a professional take a look at them right away. Fortunately, by operating your shutters regularly, you will catch any issues sooner rather than later.

5. Operate the Louvers with Care

It’s important to operate shutters carefully so that you don’t damage them. If they come with a rod, use that rod to open them. You can also use the remote control provided with automatic shutters.

When your shutters are stuck, don’t try to resolve the issue by forcing them open or closed. Leave these fixes to the professionals to avoid breaking the louvers or damaging the connectors.

6. Keep Remotes and Accessories Up-to-Date and Working

If you choose to purchase motorized window treatments, you may have been provided with one of three options for operating your shutters: a remote, an app, or a smart home system. Each of these offers a convenient way to open and close your shutters whenever you want.

When you choose to use the remote, be sure to change the battery from time to time. However, if you select the app or smart home system to operate your shutters, you should make sure to keep all of your devices and apps up to date. This will ensure your system works as well as possible.

Finally, take good care of any other accessories that have been provided with your automatic shutters. By caring for these electronic components, you can ensure that your shutters can be used easily and automatically.

7. Call a Professional for Repairs

In the case of in-home accidents that can damage your shutters, or if you find they don’t operate correctly, contact the manufacturer or the representative who installed your window treatments. They will be able to find and fix any issues for you.

Remember that most service agreements and guarantees will specify that any repair work needs to be done by an authorized professional. Any unauthorized work or modifications could void your warranty.