Plantation shutters look beautiful, but they can get dirty over time, and if you want them to stay looking beautiful, you need a cleaning plan. To optimise your cleaning routine, there are several mistakes you may want to avoid. Here's what you need to know:

1. Don't Only Use Dry Dusting

Dry dusting can be effective in some cases. For example, you may want to keep a feather duster on hand for light dust removal on a daily or semi-weekly basis for interior shutters. However, dry dusting doesn't pick up all the dust.

If you truly want your plantation shutters to get clean, you should use a damp cloth to remove the dust. This is especially important in the small nooks and crannies of your shutters around cords or where slats meet each other.

2. Don't Use Harsh Cleaners

If you have wood shutters, stay away from cleaners with bleach or chlorine. These harsh chemicals can damage the wood or strip the paint on your shutters. Instead, only use water. If you need to use a cleaner once in a while to remove a tough stain or built-in grease, use a gentle water soluble cleaner.

If your wood shutters are varnished, you can use dusting spray on them if you like. That can also work as a substitute for water when wet dusting.

3. Don't Start at the Bottom

In life, you often have to start at the bottom and work your way up, but when cleaning shutters, you should take the opposite approach. Grab a chair or a step stool and start cleaning the top slats first. This allows any dirty water to roll down the shutters, and you can clean it off when you reach the lower slats.

If you start at the bottom, the dirty water will run onto the slats you have already cleaned.

4. Don't Use a Pressure Washer

If you are cleaning exterior plantation shutters, you may be tempted to use a pressure washer. If possible, you should avoid doing that — the pressure can be so strong that it damages the shutters. Instead, use a garden hose with a gentle spray of water.

5. Don't Let Water Sit on the Shutters

Whether you're cleaning exterior or interior shutters, once you're done, you shouldn't leave water sitting on them. The pools of water can penetrate the wood and cause it to warp or blister. Instead, use a soft dry cloth to remove any excess water droplets.

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