How to Clean Hurricane Shutters

Hurricane Shutters are an important investment in your home. They provide protection in the event of a hurricane and it is very important to keep them operating at their best. Hurricane shutters are sometimes referred to as accordion shutters or storm shutters. We suggest following the instructions below once a year to ensure that your hurricane shutters are operating properly.

Annual Cleaning Instructions for Hurricane Shutters

Remove dirt with a vacuum

The first step in cleaning your accordion shutters is to remove any loose dirt in and around the track (bottom and top) of the shutter. The easiest way to do this is to use a shop vac or a vacuum. Use a bristle attachment and vacuum along the top and bottom of the shutter. Make sure to vacuum in front and behind the tracks. Switch to a vacuum attachment that allows you to get into narrow places and vacuum along the inside of the track.

TIP: After vacuuming, close the shutter and open it again. This will push any remaining dirt into the middle of the track where it can be removed more easily.

Wash off any stubborn dirt from the shutter

Once the loose dirt is removed, it is important to go after the dirt that is stuck on the hurricane shutters. The easiest way to do this is to approach it like washing your car. Use a sponge with a mixture of dish detergent and water. We recommend a mix of 2 gallons water and 1/2 cup of detergent. Put the shutter in the closed position and start from the top and work your way down applying the solution in a circular motion using a sponge. You want to let the mixture sit on the surface for about 5 minutes. After this time, use a damp rag to wipe down the entire shutter removing the solution. Make sure to clean the rag as you go (it will get dirty quickly). Repeat this process on the inside of the shutter.

Test, inspect, and perform hurricane shutter maintenance

Now that the hurricane shutter has been cleaned, it is a great time to inspect the operation of the shutter. Examine the lock to ensure that it is functioning correctly. Look for any signs of rust especially on the side tracks of the shutter. This is commonly seen in accordion shutters that do not use a closure track (which protects the screws avoiding rust). If you do have any rust clean it off as best as possible. You may consider lightly sanding the rust and applying a rust covering spray-paint such as Tremclad. Note that you may not get the exact color match so avoid using the paint unless it is absolutely necessary.

Check out our quick hurricane shutter maintenance guide for more details.

Now that your shutters are clean you can rest easy knowing that you are ready for another year of hurricane preparedness!

WARNINGS: Avoid using any abrasive cleaning chemicals on the hurricane shutters. Dish detergent mixed as suggested above works really well and should not harm the finish of your shutter.

If you have any other questions about hurricane shutters, or need help maintaining any shutters we’ve installed, give our customer service line a call.