Blinds and shutters turn yellow due to prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays.
Cleaning with a Damp Cloth
If dusting doesn't leave a clean surface on your shutters, wipe down interior shutters with a damp cloth to remove stubborn dirt. Use a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar with a dash of mild dish soap and wring the cloth almost dry.
Choosing the color for your plantation shutters can be as easy as knowing what type of shutter you need, or as open ended as your imagination. If you are using a polywood composite or synthetic shutter you are limited to white or off white but with real wood shutters any color is available.
When choosing plantation shutters, it is important to find fade resistant shutters that last in the sun and won't fade in any climate, regardless of what direction your windows are facing or how intense the summer sun or winter cold gets.
Both vertical and horizontal blinds have a tendency to accumulate dust, lint and other debris, resulting in discoloration over time. When your blinds are originally white, this generally means they turn a murky yellowish color that is unattractive and undermines the appearance of an otherwise clean room.
Will my room seem smaller with shutters? When decorating a room the main objective is normally to make a room seem as big and as spacious as possible. Adding shutters to your room will not detract from this and can even enhance the space.
Plantation shutters are made in several common colors, but you can have your custom made shutters painted any color if the need arises.
Most of the time customers are looking for a seamless look, where the window casing ends blends into the shutters begin. However, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to matching the two. There is nothing wrong with having shutters on a coloured trim, especially if you want to create contrast in a room.
Should they match the trim? Your shutters should coordinate well with these other items, but they absolutely don't have to be the same colors as each other. One option is to use the same color, but a lighter or darker shade of the paint, adding variety without the risk of clashing.
Plantation shutters are easy to clean and do not require heavy maintenance. On a regular basis, remove dirt and dust with a vacuum. If your shutters are extra dirty, wipe them down with white vinegar to keep them clean.
Plantation shutters can be used with any type of window. The mounting hardware used will be the only difference. Plantation shutters can be used on tilt out windows. Choose a mounting kit that will enable you to clean the windows as well as open the shutters.
There are a variety of vinyl restoration products available on the market, but the best I've found is 303 Aerospace Protectant. Just spray it on, wipe with a soft cloth, and your shutters will look (almost) as good as new.
The paint or PVC may easily yellow, or fade in a hot window. The cheap paint they use on cheap Plantation Shutters can have harmful VOC's in the paint. Things like phamadahyde and lead.
Once you've dusted and cleaned the blinds, you may be able to whiten them again. For plastic and aluminum blinds, fill your bathtub with cold water and 2 or 3 cups of liquid bleach. Take the blinds off the window and soak them in the bleach solution for about 10 minutes.
MYTH: PVC Shutters are the Same as Vinyl Shutters
However, when it comes to making exterior shutters, PVC far outlasts and outperforms vinyl. It's far more dense than vinyl and also considerably more attractive.
The color of your shutters does not need to match the front door or the trim. However, it should coordinate with the other colors. You can choose to use the same color with a lighter or darker shade. Another option is to use complementary colors for the shutters and the doors.
Do shutters have to match trim? The trim on your home is one of the three components that make up the exterior's color palette. Being that the shutters are considered an accent, you don't have to match the two. For the most part, they should be different from one another.
White is another popular exterior shutter color. They make windows appear larger and have an airy, crisp look. Navy blue shutters and gray shutters are common favorites, while deep greens are a popular shutter color for natural-tone home exteriors.
Opt for white or neutral shutters
White is one of the most enduringly popular of house shutter colors. It's not hard to see why, either. It looks clean and crisp, it helps reflect light back into the room, maximizing the daylight, and it's a classic option.
Wood is the most traditional material used in plantation shutter construction, but there are several areas where wood is not the best choice for your shutter. Since it is susceptible to moisture and humidity, we don't recommend wood shutters (or faux wood) in the bathroom, attic, and garage.
Whilst it's unlikely that your blinds will fade due to sun exposure, there is a risk that they may turn yellow over time – particularly if they are white. Blinds not only look great but can also serve a broad range of practical uses such as maintaining your privacy and keeping out sunlight.