GUEST POST
Changing out your window treatments can make a big difference to the look and feel of your home, but you may be surprised about the impact it can have on your family’s well-being as well.
The right window treatments like the ones seen here from Moshells can help to keep your home warm during the winter and prevent the heat (and the sun’s harsh rays) from infiltrating during the summer. They also help maintain your family’s privacy – an important consideration for safety.
And for families with small children (or who have one on the way), the type of window treatment you use is also important for safety reasons. Usually, the best option is curtains. Why? Because blinds, shades, and many other draperies can be hazardous for little ones. The dangling cords required for them to function properly have been known to seriously injure or even kill kids. More than 200 infants and young children have died after strangling in window cords, and that statistic doesn’t account for those who were injured – sometimes severely.
So how do you choose the right curtains that are both eco-friendly and right for your home? Here are a few things to consider when shopping:
Go with only natural fabrics. One of the most important considerations is the type of material to use. Avoid synthetic and petroleum-based materials such as polyester, nylon, and rayon. Not only are they not biodegradable, they also expose your family to unnecessary chemicals. Common natural fibers that are available for curtains include cotton, wool, linen, and silk.
Avoid any artificial dyes. Even if the material is natural, you still may be exposing your home (and the environment) to harmful chemicals if they are colored with artificial dyes. Consider finding a fabric with a natural color you like. Or you can find bright, vibrant options in color-grown cottons that have been cultivated on organic farms. This means they weren’t treated with potentially harmful insecticides or pesticides. For an elegant look, consider silk or bamboo curtains.
Consider your area’s climate. What’s best for your home depends highly on where you’re located – the right curtain can help lower your heating or cooling costs dramatically. In fact, some families even switch out their curtains depending on the season.
For cooler climates: Dark-colored wool is a very effective material. It’s like investing in a nice blanket for your windows. Darker colors are better because they’ll absorb the heat, bringing some of that warmth into the home. Wool is also naturally a fire- and stain-resistant fabric.
For warmer climates: Find a natural fiber other than wool in a light color. The light color will deflect the sunlight and help keep the room cool.
Be selective about which windows to update. Don’t have the budget to update the window treatments in every room of your home? Choose the windows where you can get the most out of the investment. The first consideration should be safety for younger kids. Are there any places where dangling cords might pose a risk? Pay particular attention to places where cribs, beds, furniture, and other surfaces exist that your little monkey may (will) climb. You can then buy retrofit safety kits to shorten cords in other areas of the home.
If you’re looking to decrease cooling costs, pay particular attention to rooms that get the most sunlight. South-facing rooms are usually the most effected.
Don’t forget the shower curtains. You think you’ve updated all the curtains in your home… but did you consider the bathroom? Shower curtains are often made of plastics that are far from eco-friendly (and sometimes come with a weird smell to boot!). Look for natural cloth alternatives or those made from PEVA, which is free from PVC and chlorine.
Keep those curtains clean – regularly. Even the most natural fabric can collect indoor air pollutants like dust, mold, or chemicals released in your home – and that can mean respiratory problems for your family. Clean them once a week with a vacuum that has HEPA filters so that you can remove the loose particles. For cotton, line, and wool curtains, you can sometimes hand wash them as well, though you’ll have to check the label to see what’s safe for your particular fabric.
Juliana Weiss-Roessler writes about eco friendly lifestyle options with her husband Josh. Follow her on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook.
