Instead of being operated by a traditional pull cord, cordless blinds feature either an internal spring-loaded mechanism or a motor. These can be used to roll the blind up or down, giving you ample control over both light and privacy in your home.
If safety is a top priority, then the clear choice is cordless blinds. However, if you're looking for something that won't require much maintenance and will last a long time, then corded blinds are the way to go.
Corded blinds are dangerous to children and pets. Roughly one child per month dies from blind cord strangulation, and more than 600 children per year are injured. That's nearly an average of 2 preventable injuries to a child per day.
Corded blinds can be great for certain situations. Some windows are very high, meaning you wouldn't be able to reach cordless blinds when fully retracted. In these situations, the cord system eliminates this problem, and makes it so that you can always control your blinds. Corded blinds typically last longer.
If safety is a priority for smaller family members, cordless blinds are the best option. If blinds are your preferred window treatment, but cords always seem to get in the way, choose a cordless blind — you'll get everything you're looking for from a corded blind, without any of the drawbacks.
Cordless shades are secure, durable, and simple to use. They're safer than traditional blinds, and avoid the possibility of strangulation because they lack any hanging cords. You simply open and close them by pulling them up or down with your hands.
Besides being safer for children and pets as outlined above, cordless blinds are easier to operate, offer a cleaner less cluttered look and are easier to keep clean. In addition, they're longer lasting because they don't become ripped and frayed from being raised and lowered by just the exterior cord.
Both wood and faux wood blinds are perfect for homeowners who want natural, warm beauty in their window coverings. And while you can't go wrong with either type of blind when it comes to matching your home's décor and style, faux wood blinds are the way to go if you're looking for the utmost in durability.
But keep in mind that battery operated shades will need to be charged periodically depending on usage. Most standard window treatments have an average lifespan of 3-10 years. How often you are using your blinds or shades can also have an impact on their longevity.
Metal blinds are the right choice for high traffic rooms where durability is key. They can last up to 20 years before needing to be replaced. Wood alternatives like metal blinds stand up to heat and humidity as well, which is why we recommend metal blinds for rooms like kitchens and bathrooms.
The Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) have a new standard to help with eliminating the strangulation hazard with corded window coverings. All manufacturers, distributors, or sellers can only stock cordless or inaccessible cord window coverings.
A wand tilt takes longer to operate and over time the wand tilts can become harder to twist the blinds open. Second, the cord tilt mechanism tends to last longer than the wand tilter. Third, because the cord tilt is easier to use, operators of the blind can close the slats tighter than wand tilt blinds.
Roller shades are some of the most modern blinds you can get. They are very sleek and simple and they offer a really neat and streamlined look. Your best bet is to avoid patterns and prints and go for those core colours we mentioned above.
This means that your top choices are Venetian blinds, faux-wood, and real wood blinds, and also vertical blinds, all of which have tiltable or rotatable slats or louvres. These enable you to maintain airflow, while still controlling the level of privacy and the amount of sun filtering through that you get.
Thermal blinds can be extremely effective depending on the type of window and how they are installed and used. The blind will need to be down to be the most effective, so there are no gaps around the edges that lets the warm air escape.
Canadian Tire cordless blinds recalled due to potential hazards of exposed cords. Health Canada has recalled about 110,000 Canadian Tire cordless blinds because the not-so-cordless blinds pose a strangulation hazard for young children.
Can they be washed? Always try dusting your shades with the methods above and save cleaning with water as a last resort. Getting your shade fabric wet frequently can cause the pleats to lose their shape. If dusting hasn't helped, stains blotted clean with a damp cloth, warm water and a mild detergent like dish soap.
So what's the average lifespan of blinds? Blinds, like shades, need to be replaced every few years. Often, you'll see signs of wear and tear on your window treatments that are a good indication they need to be replaced. We recommend replacing them every 6-8 years to ensure proper safety and ease of use.
Vertical Blinds
Arguably the easiest blinds to clean, vertical blinds feature long slats that run up and down rather than side to side. That means these versatile blinds collect less dust and dirt compared to horizontal blinds since the dust falls to the floor instead of on the vertical slats.
Shades are much more customizable than blinds. They're available with upgraded fabric collections, fabric wrapped valances to cover hardware, fabric fold styles, fabric liners and lift systems like top-down/bottom-up, cordless or motorized.
It is safe to say that plantation shutters will not go out of fashion anytime soon! They have been around for centuries, and their design and style evolution mean that they are an adaptable and timeless addition to whatever style of home you have. These window dressings can last for years if you care for them properly.
Test the Friction Clips
Therefore, if your friction clips aren't operating as they should, it could be the reason why your cordless blinds won't go down. Sometimes you'll need to remove a couple of these clips in order to get the blinds moving again.
Solar shades are designed to allow you to see out, but other's not see in, providing daytime privacy. The exact opposite is true at night! When a light is on in the room, people outside will be able to see directly into your home.
Raising & Lowering Cordless Blinds & Cellular Shades
How do you get cordless blinds to go up or down? Raising and lowering cordless blinds is the same process as Cellular Shades because the tension mechanism is in the bottom rail for both. You simply pull gently on the bottom rail, or lift it up.