FAQs
Why Are My Shutters Fading or Discoloured
Shutter fading is one of the most common complaints we hear, and it’s usually down to one of a handful of causes: prolonged UV exposure, harsh cleaning products, or moisture getting into the material over time.
The good news is that surface discolouration is often fixable, and even severe cases can be resolved by replacing individual parts rather than the whole frame.
What You’ll Need
Tools
- Soft microfibre cloths (two or three)
- Soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush for louvre edges
- Bucket
Materials / Replacement Parts
- Mild dish soap or specialist shutter cleaner
- White PVC restorer (for yellowed PVC shutters)
- Diluted white vinegar solution (optional, for mineral deposits)
- Diluted bleach solution (for mould-related discolouration only)
- Replacement louvres or tilt rod if individual slats are beyond recovery
How to Fix It: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Work Out What’s Actually Causing It
Before reaching for any product, figure out what type of discolouration you’re dealing with. The fix depends entirely on the cause.
- Yellow or creamy tinge on white PVC shutters: usually UV degradation or heat exposure from south-facing windows
- Grey or brown patches, sometimes with a musty smell: mould or mildew, typically from condensation in bathrooms or kitchens
- Streaky or patchy marks: often cleaning product residue, especially from anything oil-based or abrasive
- Localised staining near the tilt rod or hinges: could be moisture tracking from the frame, or a reaction with cheap metal fittings
Step 2: Clean the Surface Properly First
You can’t assess true discolouration through a layer of dust, grease and fingerprints. A proper clean is always the starting point, and occasionally it’s the whole fix.
- Mix a small amount of mild dish soap with warm water
- Wring out the cloth well before wiping any louvres (you want it damp, not dripping)
- Work each louvre from hinge side to tip in one pass
- Use a soft brush to get into the edges where the louvre meets the frame
- Let it dry fully before checking the colour again in natural daylight
Avoid multi-surface sprays, furniture polish, or anything with solvents. These are the single most common cause of patchy discolouration on PVC shutters.
Step 3: Treat the Discolouration
Once the shutters are clean and dry, you can treat what’s left.
For yellowed PVC:
- Apply a dedicated white PVC restorer with a soft cloth in circular motions
- Leave for the time specified on the product, then buff off
- For stubborn yellowing, a very diluted bleach solution (one part bleach to ten parts water) wiped on and left for five minutes can lift the colour, but rinse thoroughly afterwards and don’t use this on painted wood shutters
For mould or mildew:
- The diluted bleach solution works well here too
- Get into the edges of each louvre where mould tends to hide
- After treatment, improve ventilation in the room to stop it coming back
For cleaning product staining:
- Warm water and a small amount of white vinegar on a cloth can lift many residue-based marks
- Multiple passes may be needed
Step 4: Assess What Can’t Be Reversed
Some colour changes are permanent. UV degradation deep into the material won’t come back from a surface treatment. If you’ve cleaned and treated and the result is still noticeably off, take stock of the damage.
- If it’s one or two louvres: individual louvre replacement is usually possible and far cheaper than a full set
- If the frame itself is discoloured: this is harder to address piecemeal and may point to a wider moisture problem in the wall or window reveal
- If the shutters are painted wood and the paint has lifted or changed colour: sanding back and repainting the affected panels is a realistic fix
- Contact the original supplier for replacement louvres where possible, as colour matching with a third-party part can be hit and miss