The short answer
Dust persjani regularly with a soft brush, working along each slat. Wash with mild soapy water and a soft cloth, rinse lightly and dry thoroughly, especially timber. Never pressure wash timber persjani. Aluminium ones take a little more water but still need gentle cleaning. Do upper-floor shutters only from inside, and leave the outside faces to a professional.
What persjani are
Persjani are the louvred shutters that give Maltese streets their character. You see them on townhouses in Valletta, Birgu and Mdina, on village houses in Żebbuġ (Zebbug) and Xagħra (Xaghra) and on modern apartment blocks everywhere. They are usually fitted outside the windows and balcony doors, often in pairs that fold back against the wall.
The angled slats are what make them work:
- In summer, they block direct sun while letting air move through, so you can keep the windows open and the room shaded.
- In wind and rain, they shield the glass and frames behind.
- Against dust, they keep much of it off the window, though the slats themselves collect it.
Traditional persjani are timber, painted, often in deep green, blue or brown. Many newer homes have aluminium persjani, which look similar but need less upkeep.
Timber or aluminium?
Before cleaning, check which you have:
- Look: timber shows grain under the paint, and slats may have small cracks or flaking paint at the ends. Aluminium has crisp, even edges and a smooth factory finish.
- Touch: timber feels warmer and slightly soft. Aluminium feels cool and hard.
- Weight: timber is heavier to swing.
What builds up on persjani
- Dust along the top of each slat, especially after a dry summer.
- Red rain residue, a muddy orange film. See red rain and Saharan dust.
- Sea salt on seafront homes, which dries as a white crust and attracts damp.
- Cobwebs and insects in the corners and between slats.
- Bird droppings on upper shutters.
How to dust persjani
Do this every few weeks:
- Open the window so you can reach the shutter from inside.
- Tilt the slats if they move, so you can reach each one.
- Use a soft brush, a slatted-blind duster or a microfibre cloth and work along each slat from end to end, top row first.
- Do the other side of the slats, then the frame and hinges.
A vacuum with a soft brush attachment works well for heavy dust.
How to wash timber persjani
Two or three times a year, or after red rain:
- Dust first, so you are not turning dust into mud.
- Mix warm water with a little mild washing-up liquid.
- Wipe each slat with a soft cloth or sponge, wrung out well. You want damp, not dripping.
- Rinse with a second cloth and clean water.
- Dry thoroughly with a dry cloth, slat by slat, and leave the shutters open to air dry in the shade.
Avoid:
- pressure washers, which force water into the joints, lift paint and swell the wood,
- soaking the shutters or hosing them down,
- abrasive pads and strong chemicals, which strip paint,
- leaving them wet. Timber swells and the paint lifts if water sits in it.
When the paint is failing
If paint is flaking, the wood is grey or the slats are cracked, cleaning will not fix it. Timber persjani need repainting or repair every few years in Malta’s sun and salt. That is a job for a carpenter or painter.
How to wash aluminium persjani
Aluminium is more forgiving:
- Dust first.
- Wash with mild soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge.
- Rinse with clean water. A gentle hose rinse is fine on a ground floor.
- Dry with a microfibre cloth to avoid water spots.
Avoid abrasive pads and harsh chemicals, which dull or scratch the finish. On seafront homes, rinse salt off regularly to protect the finish and the hinges. See protecting your home from sea salt.
Hinges and fittings
Wipe the hinges and catches when you clean, and dry them. A drop of light oil on hinges once or twice a year keeps them moving, especially near the sea. Rust on hinges is a sign salt is getting in.
Upper floors
Only clean what you can reach safely from inside. Never lean out of the window or stand on the balcony railing to reach the outside face of a shutter. Upper-floor persjani are best left to a professional with the right equipment. See how high windows are cleaned in Malta.
Persjani, balconies and gallariji
Persjani are often part of a bigger picture: the timber balcony (gallarija), the glass behind it and the stone around it. Our guide to cleaning Maltese balconies and gallariji covers the rest.
Booking
We arrange window cleaning across Malta and Gozo, including persjani, frames and the glass behind them. Get a quote and let us know whether your shutters are timber or aluminium.