Restoring old wooden shutters

All of the windows on the first floor have amazing shutters, or they will be amazing when they have been cleaned and brought back to life. hopefully they will all be able to be restored as the rot and woodworm does not appear to be too bad

This has been my job this week.

John has removed the shutters from the windows and I have been cleaning them.

This is not just a case of spraying some detergent and wiping.

First the shutters must be scraped, some of the dirt is solid and we need to get it out of the recesses on the mouldings. There is also loose flaky paint so this needs to be removed.

Then it is a case of using wire wool to scrub them, the colour of the water really makes me feel quite sick as does the idea that we have been living and sleeping with this much dirt.

Then they need to be cleaned and wiped to ensure that all the dirt and cleaning fluids are removed.

But once done what a difference.

The one that makes me feel most ill though is the kitchen cupboard doors. We have not been using the cupboard other than to store things that are double bagged, but this is the before and after photo of the kitchen cupboard doors.

Top tips

• If cleaning this much dirt always wear a facemask
• Don´t assume the rot and woodworm are beyond repair until you are back to the wood
• Don´t be disheartened if you get back to the wood and realise you will have to paint them, due to the poor condition
• Clean in a well ventilated room