
Your shutters are exposed to the elements every day.
Rain, wind, dirt, debris.
You name it and your shutters have helped keep it out of your home. But, with constant exposure, you’ll need to clean your shutters to keep them looking fresh and fantastic year in and year out. As an added bonus, regular cleaning will help improve the efficiency of your shutters and stop any small problems impacting your shutter’s movements (translation: you spend less on repairs and keep more cash in your pocket).
Prevention is always better than a cure, so learning how to clean the tricky inside surface of your roller shutters will help avoid a build-up of dirt and grime that becomes a nightmare to remove.
At Perth Homegaurd, we have 30+ years of experience delivering 100% Aussie-made shutters to homes across Perth – and we want to share our expertise with you. Here’s our simple, step-by-step guide to keeping the inside of your roller shutters clean so they operate smoothly and leave your home looking its best.
How to prepare your shutters for cleaning
Shutters offer a low-maintenance feature to improve your home’s security and aesthetic value. Thankfully, as robust protection, you won’t need to set aside time every weekend to clean your shutters. In fact, you’ll only need to clean your roller shutters three times a year to keep them free of muck and grime that can decrease performance and cause unsightly stains.
To prepare for your cleaning, you’ll need:
- Soft cloth
- Mild detergent (try 5ml dish soap with 1 litre of water)
- Warm water
- Soft-bristled brush (don’t have a brush? Try using an old toothbrush to get nooks and crannies)
There’s no need to use additional products like WD40 or other mechanical lubricants to try and clean or improve your shutters. Keep it, simple superstar. Ready to make your shutters look brand new again? Read on to learn how to clean the tricky inside of your shutters.
Looking to invest in new shutters? We wrote the guide on it…literally.
Access the Ultimate Roller Shutter Buying Guide
How to clean the inside of your roller shutters
Cleaning inside your security roller shutters can be tough…but not impossible!
You’ll want to use the same approach to your roller’s interior as you would with the exterior. This includes removing any obvious particles, spiderwebs, and objects before cleaning with warm, soapy water. Keep in mind, shutters work through interconnected aluminium slats, so there are spaces for muck to hide if you’re not thorough.
But follow our step-by-step guide to clean your shutter from the inside and you’ll never miss a spot:
- Lower your shutter halfway down. Some people prefer to clean the lower portion of a shutter from outside the home. This will help you remove any dirt or mess with your soft-bristled brush by getting hard to reach corners
- Look out for spiderwebs in the corners of your installed shutters. You may need a sponge on a stick or broom to clear hard-to-reach cobwebs
- Be cautious of avoiding too much pressure on your shutters to prevent them from becoming dislodged or damaged
- Use warm, soapy water to clean your roller shutter interior in an up and downward direction (cleaning from side to side can lead to misalignment)
- Return to your home and clean the remaining top half from inside and through an open window. This approach will prevent any muck or grime from coming into your home (as you’ve already removed it while working on the lower half)
- Remove all soapy water with a dry cloth and allow the guides to dry fully before operating your shutters again.
Prefer to clean behind your shutters from inside? There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to get underneath your shutters. Tackle the clean in whatever way makes you comfortable. As long as you’re removing spiderwebs and grime with your brush and cleaning the surface of your rollers with warm, soapy water (don’t forget to fully dry the rollers when you’re done), then you’ll be ticking every box and leaving your shutters in pristine condition.
Bonus cleaning tips
If you feel like ‘hot water and soap’ is a little too predictable, we’ve rounded up a few advanced cleaning tips to really make those rollers sparkle.
- Avoid applying or spraying water directly to your shutter’s pelmet or headbox to avoid damage. If you’re cleaning electric rollers, make sure the rollers are fully extended before turning the power off.
- Grease the bearings once every 12 months to help the rolling mechanism operate smoothly.
- Lubricate the guide rails to make sure your shutters are opening and closing easily without obstacles.
- Try speeding up the process by vacuuming your shutter slats with a brush attachment on a low-intensity setting to get rid of dust and spiderwebs quickly.
With regular dusting, cleaning, and drying you can keep your shutters looking brand new (and keep making the neighbours jealous that your Perth home isn’t just the most secure on the block, but the most stylish too).
Stay alert for wild weather to protect your shutters
Your shutters help keep your home safe when the weather is wet, wild, and windy. But don’t forget to return the favour and give your shutters a little love too!
Forceful wind and driving rain can damage the exterior of your shutters in the form of dents ad scratches, but it can also cause foreign objects and debris to become lodged in your shutters. Opening and closing your shutters without clearing these objects can lead to scratches, dents, or damage to the shutter interior.
Perth Homegard Tip: Even if your shutters don’t look dirty, a regular cleaning routine of up to 3 times per year will remove residue that’s tough to spot with the naked eye, but can affect your shutter’s performance over time.
Avoid using these cleaning products on your shutters
Your shutters are tough as nails – but they need a gentle clean! You can’t grab any old cleaning agent under the sink if you want to extend the life of your shutters, so you’ll need to be careful what you use on cleaning day.
It’s best to avoid:
- Steel wool
- Scrubbing brushes or scrapers
- Abrasive cleaners, solvents, or methylated spirits
These products may damage the surface of your shutter, whether used on the exterior or interior, so stick to warm, soapy water to help keep your shutters shining and secure.
Looking for more shutter tips and tricks? Check out some of our most popular guides below:
- Security Screens vs. Roller Shutters: What’s Right For You?
- What is the BEST Roller Shutter Material in Perth?
- How to Choose the PERFECT Roller Shutter Colour
- 5 Proven Benefits of Installing Your Own Roller Shutters
Are your shutters in need of repair?
Cleaning roller shutters is easy once you know what tools to use and what technique to apply – and that’s exactly what you’ve learned! As Perth’s leading roller shutter and security screen professionals, we specialise in the manufacture, supply, installation, and repair of a wide range of shutters and blinds.
Get in touch to learn more about our 100% Australian-made range (why import inferior products when we can keep jobs in Australia?), and competitive prices to update your home and enhance the value of your property.
Get in touch on (08) 9209 8100 or claim a free quote online.