National Window Coverings Safety Month
October is National Window Covering Safety Month, so there’s no better time than now to review one of our most commonly asked questions - what should I get if I have children (or pets) in my home? The answer is simple - go cordless. Going cordless is a great first step, but there’s a lot more we can do in our homes to keep our loved ones safe. In this post, we will take a look at what cordless options you have at your disposal, how you can make existing window treatments safer, and other important steps you can take to improve safety.
What are my options?
Solana Shades offers a variety of cordless options on almost all of our products. You can find child-safe cordless options on Cellular Shades, Natural Woven Shades, Roller & Solar Shades, Dual Shades, Sheer Shades, and Roman Shades as well as on Faux Wood Blinds, Wood Blinds, and Vertical Blinds. We’ll talk later about which is safer - shades or blinds.
Cellular Lift & Lock Shade
Natural Woven Cordless Breeze
Roller Shade Somfy Automation
1. Cordless lift & Lock
Cordless Lift & Lock is a great, budget-friendly, cordless system that eliminates excess cords. Simply press the button on the bottom rail to lift or lower the shade. Release the button to securely lock the shade into place. Cordless Lift & Lock can be found on Cellular Shades, Wood Blinds, Faux Wood Blinds, and Aluminum Blinds.
2. Cordless Lift
Similar to Lift & Lock, Cordless operates the same, but without the locking button on the bottom rail. A light push or pull will raise or lower the shade to your desired position. The lack of a button can reduce stress on the mounting brackets that may happen with the Lift & Lock system. Cordless Lift can be found on Faux Wood Blinds, Cellular Shades, Sheer Shades, Wood Blinds, and Natural Woven Shades.
3. Automation
The ultimate level of cord-free comes with automated, or motorized, blinds and shades. Automated shades eliminate operating cords and provide convenience at the same time. While motorized may not always be the most budget-friendly option, it does have the most versatility in which products support the upgrade. Explore Dual Shades, Faux Wood Blinds, Cellular Shades, Roller & Solar Shades, Sheer Shades, Wood Blinds, and Natural Woven Shades to see what automated options you have. Note: Faux Wood Blinds and Wood Blinds offer automation, but it only applies to the tilt. You may still need to choose a cordless lift control.
Dual Shade PowerWand
4. More Child-Safety Options
A few other options that are Certified Best for Kids are Vertical Blinds, Panel Shades, and wand control options. These are all great options when searching for safe alternatives. Vertical Shades and Panel Shades are inherently safer by design since there are little to no cords exposed. Wand control is an excellent option because it eliminated additional cords. Wands can be found as an alternative to blinds tilts and even in motorized options. Regardless of your options, all window treatments come with federally mandated built-in safety measures like break-away points.
How can I make my existing treatments safe?
1. Move Furniture
Limiting access to window treatments is key. Move all cribs, beds, couches, dressers, and any other furniture that a child can climb away from windows.
2. Retrofit Old Treatments
The Window Coverings Safety Council offers Free Retrofit Kits and instructions on how you can make existing window treatment cords safer. While this is a good start, replacing window treatment with cordless options is the best solution. To get a Retrofit Kit you can contact the Window Covering Safety Council directly at 1-800-506-4636, info@windowcoverings.org, or www.windowcoverings.org.
3. Secure Cords & Chains
While we recommend cordless options for homes with children and pets, we understand some solutions and budgets may not allow for a totally cordless upgrade. With that in mind, it’s always best to secure cords out of reach of children and pets and make them as short as possible. Continuous loop controls should be pulled tight and secured to the floor or wall.
4. Replace
The last and most effective thing you can do to make your existing treatments safer is to replace them. It may be a big step, but worth every penny when it comes to the safety of the ones we love. When ordering, we recommend applying the upgrade throughout the entire home and scheduling professional measurements (offered at no cost at Solana Shades), so a trained design advisor can take exact measurements. Then, rely on trained installers to professionally and safely install your new treatments.
Automated Roller Shades
Which styles are best?
“Which is best?” is by far the most common question we’re asked when it comes to Child Safety, and it all comes down to one attribute - eliminate cords. So, we recommend shades over blinds when selecting a child-safe style so that there are no openings a child’s head can get stuck in. Shades but design are flat, single pieces of material with little-to-no exposed cords. Cellular is our number one pick, but for the totally hidden cords and the most extensive cordless selections. Roller, Solar, and Natural Woven Shades are all close seconds for similar reasons.
Stay Safe - Go cordless
Awareness and education are frontline warriors in the eternal campaign to keep loved ones safe. We know it’s not enough to simply produce and offer products that meet that goal; we want to partner with you to make smart, informed choices for your home and your family. From inspiration to purchase.
In conclusion, eliminate cords. Follow the easy steps outlined above and examine your home for any potential safety hazards. If you have any non-emergency questions, you can always call us (800) 210-5005 or email us at hello@solanashades.com. Download the safety checklist list below for free, no email required, to make sure your windows cords are safe.
If you’re ready to upgrade your window treatments or are purchasing for the first time, schedule an appointment today and let a design advisor help you select the best window treatment for your home and lifestyle. If you’re looking for more information on Window Coverings Safety, visit the Window Covering Safety Council’s website: www.windowcoverings.org.