The Finishing Touch

Blinds.com Partners with Mommy Bloggers to Promote Child Safety

Blinds.com and Amber, blogger for Miracles on Mama Street have teamed up to raise awareness for window blind safety. After a family in her community suffered the tragic loss of one of their children due to unsafe window blinds, Amber decided to take matters into her own hands. She immediately replaced all of her corded window treatments with cordless ones. She also told everyone in her network about the dangers of having out-of date blinds and shades in their homes. They also replaced all of their dangerous treatments with safe ones.

Amber realized that it still wasn’t enough, and that there were so many more people she could be reaching. She contacted us here at Blinds.com, and her cause touched our hearts.

Amber is reaching thousands of other mommy bloggers as well as parents dedicated to child safety. Please join the crusade to end senseless deaths like this by ensuring that your home is well equipped with safe window treatments, and that your neighbors’ homes are as well.

To make it financially possible for parents to replace dangerous, Blinds.com is offering 10% off our top rated and most popular product, the Blinds.com 3/8” Light Filtering Cellular Shade, when ordered with the cordless option. Simply use code “Mommy” at checkout.

To read Amber’s full account, visit her blog, Miracles on Mama Street, and support our efforts to increase awareness. Grab the button on the top left of her site, link to her post, and/or pass the 10% savings on to family and friends.  

Help us avoid heartbreak, and protect our children.

Sincerely,

Follow Amber and me on Twitter for updates and information regarding this special promotion.

It's Window Treatment Safety Week, How Are You Protecting Your Kids?

More than 140 children have died in the United States since 1981 by strangulation from window treatment cords, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It is easy to make today's window treatments safer for young children with just a few simple adjustments, to prevent these tragic accidents.

Cribs and furniture should not be placed near a window.
Even if you have child guards on the windows, young children are tempted to investigate cords dangling from window treatments. Since young children climb, never put a chair or other object near a window with a dangling cord.

7 Things You Need to Know NOW About Cutting Energy Costs with Window Treatments

In spite of the “greenwashing” going on these days, it is critical that we call attention to the things we can do here and now to cut energy costs and generally use less. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to save some money, would it? Let’s face it, green terminology can be very confusing. R-value, u-factor, detrimental energy loss… it’s often difficult to decipher what all of this means. For starters, visit EcoHome Magazine . It is a wonderful resource, filled with easy-to-understand information and tips you can use to make your home more energy efficient. In regards to window treatments specifically, here are some things you absolutely have to know to make good, environmentally conscious decisions when outfitting your abode: 

Shock and Sadness Following the Strangulation Death of Child by Window Treatments

This morning, it was reported that a one-year-old girl from Greenwich, Conn. became tangled in the corded Roman shades that hung above her playpen. The blinds were purchased from an Ikea Store, and have officially been recalled. If you own IRIS and ALVINE Roman blinds, manufactured in India and distributed by IKEA Home Furnishings, purchased between July 2005, and July 2008, please return them to your nearest Ikea for a full refund.

For more details, read the release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. You  can also report a dangerous product or a product-related injury by calling CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visiting CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html.

Although the topics here are usually light, this issue is near and dear to my heart, as I have seen first-hand the dangers of window treatments, and want to help in any way I can by sharing all the information I have. Accidents such as this should make us even more vigilant about keeping our children as safe as possible, and staying as informed as possible about the dangers of corded blinds. MAKE SURE your window treatments meet safety standards put forth by Window Covering Safety Council and that you take all necessary precautions. Purchase cordless blinds and shades or make sure corded blinds have safety features that are available on custom-made products. Purchase shutters for all of your windows, which never have cords and are virtually indestructible.

Blinds.com employs in-house safety experts who are waiting to speak to you about how to child-proof your windows. Most of our experts not only have over a decade of experience helping parents determine the best choices, but are also parents themselves and have the products they recommend hanging in their homes. Let’s eliminate heartbreak like this by only installing the safest window treatments possible. Our children deserve it.

Sincerely,

More window treatment safety information:

Blinds.com detailed safety information

Blinds.com information regarding lead paint in window blinds and shades

Parents for Window Blind Safety

Child Safety Month? More Like Child Safety Year

October was Child Safety Month, and that really got me thinking. EVERY month should be Child Safety Month. One of the things I get asked most often is “What are the best window treatments for a kid’s room?” Many parents are squeamish about putting window treatments in their child’s room, for fear of dangling cords. Those are genuine and well-deserved concerns.

According to the Parents for Window Blind Safety, “there are window blinds and corded window treatments being sold at department stores, hardware stores and discount stores that do not have the inner cord stoppers on the products.”  All Blinds.com products are up to date with the most current technology and best quality inner cord stoppers, which is extremely important to our manufacturers and to us. Parents for Window Blinds Safety also urge parents to use cordless blinds, as they are the safest options. The added benefit? Cordless blinds and shades are extremely sleek and stylish and the option is available on almost all the most popular blinds, shades, and draperies (all shutters are cordless).

1. I love this aluminum blind with LiteRise from Hunter Douglas because it comes in so many colors, yet it’s affordable and almost child-proof. LiteRise is a fantastic cordless option.

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Just say No to Naked windows!

So you never thought of your window as being naked, just because other people have blinds or drapes. Besides they give you a great view and fit your clean modern aesthetic. But have a little sympathy! How would you feel if you were left to ward off harsh sun, pelting rain or chilling cold in your birthday suit?

   

   Not convinced? Window coverings aren’t just stylish, they are functional. They add value to your home and can even make your home more safe. They also protect your furniture and increase your privacy. Keep reading for the top reasons to cover your windows:

     Window treatments can add safety by preventing potential thieves from identifying your home as a target. Install window treatments and prevent theft as burglars will be unable to determine if you are home, or worse yet, if your children are home alone. No one should be allowed to see into your home at night, or when you are not there during the day.

* Window treatments also add value and curb appeal to your home. Trying to sell your home? Ask your realtor, window treatments are an essential part of a properly staged home.  A small investment in window treatments will help you sell higher and faster.

    * Window treatments like Blinds.com solar shades can dramatically cut energy costs and protect your flooring, furnishing and skin from harmful UV rays.

    * You never even invited the new neighbors over to dinner! Why should they get a prime view of your bedroom? Proper window treatments provide appropriate privacy.  Cellular shades with a top down bottom up feature allow you total control over your degree of privacy.  Leave them fully closed, partially closed or completely open.