How do I clean and care for shades, shutters, and wallcovering?

Routine care

Most treatments need very little, done consistently:

• Dust shades and shutters with a vacuum brush attachment every few weeks
• Wipe faux-wood and vinyl with a damp cloth — no solvents
• Spot clean solar screen fabric with mild soap and water, then let it dry fully down
• Have drapery professionally cleaned; do not machine wash lined panels
• Wipe vinyl wallcovering with a soft damp cloth; never scrub grasscloth

Coastal homes

Within a few blocks of the ocean, salt accumulates on hardware. Rinse exterior screens and wipe interior hardware more often, and specify stainless or marine-grade components from the start.

Sun damage

UV is what ages a treatment fastest here. Lining drapery, choosing fade-resistant screen fabrics, and running motorized schedules that close shades during peak sun all extend the life of everything in the room — including your floors and furniture.