Along with keeping out the sun and offering privacy, blinds are a big collector of dust. It’s smart to add wiping your blinds to your monthly to-do, which keeps them free of debris. Not sure how to tackle this task? It’s actually so easy. Here’s what to do.
Quick Dusting
Open the blinds so you can easily reach between the slats. Dust the area with your favorite duster or a microfiber cloth. You can also use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to suck up any cobwebs or dirt that has made the space its home since your last cleaning.
Get Clean
Mix together a solution of equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle to use as an eco-friendly blinds cleaner. For really dirty blinds, you can also add one-fourth teaspoon of dish soap to help bust through buildup. Give the container a shake to distribute. Turn an old athletic sock inside out, and place it on your hand. Spritz the sock with the cleaner, and then gently wipe the top and bottom of each slat of the blinds. If you don’t have an old sock, a microfiber cloth works just fine too.
Final Step
Pull up the blinds, and give the window a quick cleaning using the same solution you used for the blinds. Wipe around the frame of the window, removing any last bits of dust or dirt. Then return the blinds to their original position, and enjoy the clean.
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1. Keep your blinds closed. As simple as it may seem, the Family Handyman notes that up to 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, and utilizing shades, curtains and the like can save you up to 7 percent on your bills and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. In other words, it essentially prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse, which is especially the case for south- and west-facing windows.
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A GRIEVING family has teamed up with the Echo to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of blind cords.
Toddler Sophie Allen died six days after her mother found her tangled in the looped blind cord in the bedroom of her Sunderland home.
At the two-year-old’s inquest last week, the city’s senior coroner Derek Winter heard that 28 children in the UK have been strangled by looped cords since 1999 – 15 in the last four years.
New safety regulations governing the manufacture of blind cords came into force in February but there are still millions of potentially deadly blinds in family homes across the country.
Now Sophie’s devastated parents, Peter Allen and Danielle Hudson, have joined the Echo in trying to prevent future deaths with our campaign For Sophie’s Sake.
The couple watched in agony as medics at Sunderland Royal Hospital and the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, battled to save Sophie in April. Tragically, all efforts failed and Sophie’s life support was switched off in the early hours of April 26 after scans showed there was no activity in the toddler’s brain.
They said: “Too many children die because of blind cords. They have been banned in America and other countries.
“The reason being, children still have accidents with blind cords when safety devices are fitted. Devices have failed in the past – cord breakers have not snapped and clips on the walls have been able to be pulled off.
“Basically, these safety devices still don’t prevent blind cord accidents.
“The design of the looped cord is wrong – there is no need to continuously pull a corded blind round and round on a loop.”
The parents, from Redhouse, also have a son and daughter, Jayden and Ameila.
They added: “Our campaign is to make people aware and make them safe for the millions of people that already have blinds fitted in their homes.
“However, our view is that eventually we need to get rid of them altogether.
“Cordless blinds are sold for next to nothing in some places, so why are manufacturers still producing corded blinds?
“We have heard that some blind companies are still fitting blinds without the devices, because the customer is refusing to have them in fear of compromising the warranty on fitted windows.”
Echo editor John Szymanski added: “Sophie’s death was a tragedy which could have been avoided.
“We are fully behind Sophie’s family in both raising awareness of this, and helping to stop it happening again, so no other parents have to go through this kind of grief and agony.”
On the morning Sophie died, her parents heard her playing with her brother in their bedroom at their home in Ramillies Road.
Her mum got up to go to the toilet and saw Sophie’s brother standing on his bed and that a storage unit in the bedroom had tipped over.
He told her Sophie was stuck and Ms Hudson assumed she was hiding.
But when she opened the child gate, she noticed a shadow behind the curtain and realised Sophie had the blind cord around her neck.
Her frantic parents tried to resuscitate the unconscious toddler before an ambulance was called.
An inquest in Sunderland heard that Sophie was “a very inquisitive child” and her death was a tragic accident.
New measures are welcomed
NEW safety regulations governing the manufacture of blind cords came into force in February.
But safety charity the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) fears there are still millions of the potentially-deadly blinds in homes across the country.
Charity spokeswoman Sheila Merrill said: “The arrival of the new blind cord standard is a welcome development, because it will help to strengthen the safety of all new blinds and save children’s lives.
“But it is important to stress that there are 200 million blinds already fitted in UK properties. This is why it is important to continue to raise awareness among parents and carers of making sure that looped blind cords are kept out of the reach of children. This can be done by fitting a safety device such as a chain/cord-break connector, chain/cord tidy or cleat.
“We urge people not to place a cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window and only install blinds that do not have a cord, especially in a child’s bedroom.”
Support for cause
DANIELLE and Peter are supporting another mum who lost her daughter in a blind cord accident.
The couple, who have set up a Facebook page called Blind Cord Safety in the UK, in memory of Sophie, are also in the process of creating a website for their cause, are in touch with Amanda O’Halloran, who lost her 17-month-old daughter Sophia a year ago.
Amanda, from Tirley in Gloucestershire, launched a campaign and petition called Sophia’s Cause, which calls for a ban on all corded blinds being sold.
So far, it has almost 8,000 signatures in support.
Sophie Allen, 2, was found hanging from a cord in her bedroom
Inquest hears cord wrapped around her neck while she looked out of bedroom window
Coroner Derek Winter demands more to be done to prevent future deaths
Says millions of families could have deadly blind cords in their homes
A coroner has demanded the government do more to improve the safety of blind cords warning millions of homes could still have deadly blinds after a two-year-old girl was strangled to death.
Sophie Allen suffered brain damage after she was found hanging from the blind cord in her bedroom at her home in Sunderland.
At an inquest into her death, it was heard that the inquisitive toddler, who was playing with her brother, is thought to have climbed on to a storage box to look at her pet rabbits out of the window.
Two-year-old Sophie Allen from Sunderland, who died after she became entangled in a blind cord in her bedroom
Sophie was found in this bedroom at the family’s home in Sunderland after looking out of the window to see her pet rabbits
But the box tipped over and Sophie got her head caught in the noose of the cord and when she slipped, it cut her air supply off.
She was rushed to hospital but despite doctors’ best efforts scans showed there was no activity in the toddler’s brain and her life support machine was switched off.
Now coroner Derek Winter has urged the Government to do more to prevent future deaths.
New safety regulations governing the manufacture of blind cords came into force in February.
But Mr Winter said this would mean there are still millions of potentially deadly blinds in family homes.
He added he plans to use his powers to write to the Government to see if more can be done to prevent future deaths.
Recording a conclusion of accidental death, he explained: ‘I will ask that they reply within 56 days as to what additional measures can be taken to highlight public awareness, so those people who have existing blinds fitted can take immediate action to take away the risk of those blinds, and the regulations that are in place from February are brought to everyone’s attention and the number of deaths from blind cords can be eliminated or almost certainly reduced.
Sophie, pictured with her brother Jayden, right, who she shared a bedroom with, and her baby sister Amelia
At the inquest in Sunderland it was heard that Sophie lived with her parents Peter Allen and Danielle Hudson, along with her siblings Amelia and Jayden, with whom she shared a bedroom.
The hearing was told that Sophie, who would have been three in December, was ‘a very inquisitive child’, and enjoyed looking out of her bedroom window to keep an eye on her pet rabbits.
NEW REGULATIONS ON BLIND CORDS
In February, new safety regulations came into effect covering cords on most types of blinds.
The new rules means that blinds must be ‘safe by design’ and supplied with an appropriate child safety device.
These devices break the cord or chain under pressure or provide the facility to store the cord out of reach.
Detective Inspector Shelly Hudson, from Northumbria Police, said at about 8.30am on April 20, Sophie’s parents heard the two children playing in their bedroom.
Her mother got up to go to the toilet and saw Sophie’s brother was standing on his bed and a storage unit in the bedroom had tipped over.
DI Hudson said: “Sophie’s sibling told his mam that Sophie was stuck, but because she was an inquisitive little girl, she assumed she was hiding.
‘She went quickly to the toilet and went back to the bedroom and as she opened the child gate, she noticed her brother was looking concerned and standing on his bed.
‘She asked him again where she was and he pointed at the storage unit next to the window.
‘She noticed a shadow behind the curtain, moved the curtain to one side and realised Sophie had the blind cord around her neck.’
The frantic mother freed the unconscious toddler and carried her downstairs where they parents tried to perform CPR.
When it did not work they went to a neighbour’s house to call an ambulance as Miss Hudson could not get through on her phone.
At an inquest, Sophie was described as an ‘inquisitive’ child who liked to look out of her bedroom window to keep an eye on her pet rabbits
The two-year-old was treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, pictured, after being transferred from Sunderland Royal Hospital but doctors were unable to save her
Sophie was rushed to Sunderland Royal Hospital before being transferred to a specialist children’s unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle.
But despite efforts of medics, her life support machine was switched off in the early hours of April 26.
DI Hudson said that 28 children in the UK have been strangled by looped cords since 1999, with 15 of the deaths in the last four years.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident (RoSPA) estimates there are more than 200 hundred million unsafe blind cords in the UK.
The charity has handed out more than 50,000 free ‘cleats’, which tie up blind cords, as part of an ongoing safety campaign.
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Q: Will solar blinds really keep my home cooler in summer? We have two large bay windows and I was looking at installing some Krumpers solar blinds or perhaps some awnings. I’m skeptical about the blinds since they still let heat inside the glass.
A: Your plan is a great way to reduce heat buildup during summer. And though I don’t have any personal experience with the blinds you’re thinking of, I expect they’ll help quite a bit. The research I’ve looked at with the Krumpers product impresses me.
Your concern about heat still getting between the glass and the blinds probably won’t turn out to be an issue. The light colour of solar blinds will reflect energy back out again through the glass, but you don’t necessarily need to go ahead on mere “blind” faith. Before you commit to buying, try simulating blinds by putting a sheet over your window temporarily during sunny weather. I think you’ll find it makes quite a difference, and proper blinds will make even more of a difference.
Although most people don’t realise it, openable skylights with blinds offer another option for keeping houses cooler during the summer. Even homes with central air conditioning often still have upper rooms that are way too hot in the summer. A few operable skylights left open even an inch or two allow hot air to escape outside, enabling the air conditioner to do its job upstairs. The best solar skylights don’t require wiring and they can open and close electrically, either on schedule or manually. They also close automatically when the first drops of rain hit.
Q: My girlfriend and I recently bought a condo. It’s a two bedroom in an older building, with fairly large rooms and windows. We don’t consider it our forever address, but we will be here for at least five years. That said, we need advice on our window coverings. Neither of us are really drapery type girls, but we do require privacy from neighbouring buildings. My girlfriend has an attachment to California shutters, but I find them dated and heavy looking. I prefer roller blinds, but she thinks they’re too utilitarian. Any ideas?
A: I’m not expecting to score points with your girlfriend when I say I side with you when it comes to California (plantation) shutters. I think they have a place (a beach house or in a bathroom) but I’m personally not a fan of these shutters from a decorative perspective. I realize you and I are in the minority; plantation shutters are loved by many because they’re an easy way to cover every window of a house without the effort or expense of draperies.
I like the simplicity of roller blinds, but, at the same time, I understand your girlfriend’s concern regarding the utilitarian look. If they are intended to be the primary window covering (as I assume they are in your condo), then I think they look best with simple, uncluttered furnishings.
They can be the perfect fix for lofts or condos, but if your tastes lean toward traditional decor, they’re probably not going to be decorative enough on the windows.
For a more layered look, I’ve used roller blinds in addition to linen sheers and decorative side panels. I like them mounted on the inside frame of the window behind a four-inch (10.16 cm) wooden valance (valance height will vary depending on the size of the window and blind) that is painted the same colour as the window trim.
You wouldn’t even realize they’re there until they’re rolled down at night for privacy.
Depending on how close your windows are to the windows of the neighbouring building, you may need to have the blinds down during the day and in this case, I like the roller shades pictured here by Delia Shades (deliashades.com).
Ten years ago, industrial designer Delia Heilig felt the same way as your girlfriend about roller shades, so she set out to change that. After perfecting the screen-printing process, Delia started designing and producing roller shades patterned after traditional window coverings from around the world.
When you view her website, you see Moroccan arches, French wrought iron work and Indian jali patterns, to name but a few. Delia stocks three weights of roller shade mesh and can line them with blackout lining if total light blocking or privacy is required. Every shade is made to order with window measurements you provide. Pricing is about $25 a square foot (0.1 square metre).
You may not want to use these in every room, but I think they’re perfect for principal rooms in which you’re looking to make a statement. And for the other rooms, investigate options at such stores as Blinds to Go or Home Depot.
Check the rules of your condo board when it comes to window coverings, because with any luck, your building doesn’t allow plantation shutters and you and I won’t have to take the blame for poohpoohing them in the first place.
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Deva blinds are very pleased to announce that we have a UK supplier for shutters.
Paul Pollard-Fraser, owner of Deva blinds said “I am really pleased that Luxaflex are able to manufacture shutters in their factory in Birmingham. Before we had to wait 12 weeks for the slow boat from China. Lot’s of my customers have just moved home and don’t want to wait 12 weeks for their shutters.”
“The faux white shutters come with a 10 year guarantee, are rock solid and will last for years and years, they are not easily knocked and bruised like wooden shutters.”
“Deva blinds make most of our blinds and when we are not in the position to make our blinds we like to source our blinds from UK manufacturers.”
“I think it a great step that we are able to offer plantation shutters that are made in UK and do not cost the earth.
Please contact us for a visit.
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TO WORK in Rod Chisholm’s niche field, you have to be a problem solver.
Mr Chisholm first began working for blind cleaning and repair company Amazing Clean 20 years ago, before leaving to work for himself.
He came back part-time to “help out”, and has ended up owning the business for the past three years.
Mr Chisholm said despite the specific focus of the business, which repairs, ultrasonically cleans and replaces blinds, the intricacies of different jobs ensured he never became bored.
“There are some challenges out there, especially when you get the real old blinds, you have to manufacture the parts yourself because there’s no place to order them,” he said.
“We have an absolute mountain of parts out here for old blinds.
“In peak times you’re absolutely flat out, we’ll do two house lots in a day. It does get full on at times, especially before Christmas.”
Amazing Clean’s equipment uses sound waves to clean the blinds, which Mr Chisholm said had the benefits of cleaning quickly and finishing them static-free, which reduces dust.
He said in a world with a throw away consumer culture, he still encouraged people to get the full usage from their blinds.
“Ninety per cent of the time, I would say that most blinds are recyclable, I suppose is the word,” Mr Chisholm said.
“For verticals, you’ve got at least 20 years’ life in them, venetians even more than that. Some have been on the windows for 40 years and we’re still cleaning them.
“Most of the stuff which was manufactured about five to 10 years ago is of good quality.
“Most of my new blinds are manufactured here in Queensland.”
Mr Chisholm said after 20 years working in the field, he no longer gets stressed about the normal ups and downs of business ownership.
“My plan is to just keep doing what I’m doing,” he said.
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When we find out we’re having children, we end up doing everything in our power to baby-proof our homes to keep our little ones safe and out of trouble. We pad table corners, deadbolt doors, lock cabinets, plug outlets and put window-blind cords up high out of the reach of little hands. Erica Barnes Thomas did everything she could to keep her two children, Charlie, 6 and Mac, 2, safe. She was vigilant and made certain that all safety precautions were taken, especially when she had roman shades hung in Mac’s room, having them installed with the pull-cord on the opposite side, so it was further away from her son’s bed, as well has having a child-safety release installed on the cord as well.
However, despite all the hyper-vigilance, tragedy struck. On Saturday March 1st, Thomas’ oldest son Charlie, woke up at 6:30 a.m., and went downstairs into the living room to watch cartoons. Mac was still asleep when his mother checked on him, which wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, as Mac would always sleep later than his brother. Thomas busied herself by getting breakfast ready.
The morning was set to be a busy one, as the family was preparing for Thomas’ husband Stephen, a U.S. Army physician to return home from deployment in Jordan. They still had a few last minute errands to run, but by 9 a.m., she decided that it was time to wake up Mac. However, when she walked into his bedroom, she found him lying on the floor, clutching his two favorite stuffed animals. Thomas explains what happened next “I thought he was sleeping, he looked like he was sleeping, but he didn’t get up. I thought ‘Maybe he’s really sick.’ As soon as I touched his cheek, I knew.” Thomas immediately called 911 and began CPR on her son, but it was too late. He had been strangled by a hidden cord that ran behind the window covering.
Mac is one of the four children in the last two months who have died of cord strangulation from pull-cords on window coverings. Nearly 300 deaths have been documented from strangulation in window-blind cords between 1996 and 2012. On average, 1 child a month dies from the cords that are on window treatments, according to Kim Dulic, spokesperson for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Dulic says, “all cords are bad, whether it’s on the front, back or side. Kids and cords don’t mix – that’s the message the commission wants to get out.”
Many parents already were aware to either cut the cords, tape them out of reach of their children, or tie it. But many parents are not aware that children can also strangle themselves on the cords that run through the blinds or down the back of the blinds. Various consumer and product safety groups have issued warnings and are now asking the government to take action and create mandatory standards for the window covering industries to follow.
Later on, when Thomas entered her son’s bedroom, she noticed a cord hanging from the window-shade. However, the pull-cord was still near the ceiling, out of reach. She believes that Mac must have woken up and climbed onto the only chair that was in his bedroom to look out his window, and must have gotten caught and strangled on the cord that ran behind the blinds.
CPSC acting chairman, Bob Adler offers some advice. “Make sure all loose cords in your home are inaccessible. The commission recommends buying cordless blinds. It is the safest option for your family.”
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TO WORK in Rod Chisholm’s niche field, you have to be a problem solver.
