How to clean and maintain shutters

The routine

• · Tilt the louvres one way and dust along the top edges with a soft duster or a vacuum brush attachment.
• · Tilt them the other way and repeat.
• · Wipe frames and stiles with a barely damp microfibre cloth; dry immediately.
• · In kitchens and bathrooms, a mild soapy solution on the cloth lifts grease and steam residue.

What to avoid

• · Soaking timber panels or letting water sit in the louvre joints.
• · Bleach, solvents and abrasive cream cleaners on painted finishes.
• · Steam cleaners anywhere near a timber shutter.

Hinges, tension and sticking panels

Louvres that feel loose can usually be re-tensioned with a small adjustment at the hinge or tension screw. Panels that start to catch after the first winter are almost always the house moving rather than a fault — that's exactly what our aftercare visit is for.