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Window coverings can add beauty to your home interior, provide a barrier against bright sunshine, and also serve as an extra layer of insulation. But whether you choose blinds, shades, drapes, or a less conventional window covering, there’s one thing to always keep in mind: safety. Here are five tips to ensure the window coverings in your Dayton home don’t put your family members, home, or pets at risk.
Especially if you have children in your home, it’s very important that you upgrade to cordless blinds. Children can get tangled in window blind cords, leading to injuries and even death. In fact, window blinds have caused at least 332 child deaths in the past 30 years. Don’t let your child be next. If you still have corded blinds, it is time to replace them. There are many cordless models that you can raise and lower just by pulling on the bottom bar. You can also find remote-controlled blinds and smart blinds that you can control through a smartphone app.
Whether you choose blinds, curtains, or shades, make sure they are made from a flame-retardant material. Flammable drapes may catch fire and cause what would have been an easily contained fire to spread through your Dayton home. Most synthetic window treatments are fire-resistant, but you may find “natural” window treatments made from materials like hemp and cotton that are not. Don’t sacrifice looks for safety; keep shopping until you find non–flammable window coverings that you like.
If you have drapes with tie-backs, you need to make sure the tie-backs are secure so that a child cannot strangle themselves or get a limb caught in the tie–back. Always tuck the extra tie-back material behind the curtain. When you have the curtains closed, tie the tiebacks in a bow or loop them around themselves so that a child cannot reach them.
When shopping for curtains, look for ones with short, elasticized tiebacks rather than long, rope-like ones. These shorter tie-backs are safer as they’re not usually long enough for a child to reach or loop around themselves.
Another major concern is that the window treatment could fall off, injuring someone who is standing nearby. For instance, a curtain rod could be quite heavy, causing a serious head injury to a child standing below. To prevent accidents of this sort, always follow the mounting instructions closely, regardless of what type of window covering you install. Check your window treatments periodically to ensure there are no loose screws that may cause them to fall.
When your kids are old enough to listen and understand, talk to them about the importance of not climbing on your window coverings or playing with the tie–backs. Make sure they know basic window covering safety rules, like letting mom and dad make any adjustments to the blinds and never trying to hang on the treatments.
In addition to making sure your window coverings are safe, you should also make sure your windows themselves are in good repair. If older windows are presenting a safety hazard in your Dayton home, contact Renewal by Andersen to schedule a free, in-home consultation. We can recommend new, safe windows that will protect your home and family members.