When flowers and plants start to bud, allergies act up. In the mountains, it might be cottonwoods that triggers sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes. In other places, it may be the grasses, or even dust. Those who have chronic allergy problems dread the springtime and the discomfort it brings. However, there is one element that can be controlled throughout the spring/summer seasons and that’s the home.

While allergy triggers are released outdoors through plants and dirt carried along by the wind, they can accumulate in the home. Minute particles come to rest on fabric surfaces like couches, window treatments, blankets, clothes and more. By replacing fabric materials with woods, leather and plastic, it helps reduce the amount of dust and pollen that can collect there. Not only that, these surfaces is easy to clean with a quick wipe-down. The less particles floating around the house, the less likely people will be to suffer from allergies.

Because dust can trigger allergies, it’s crucial to vacuum and dust once a week. Furniture and blinds should be wiped down with a moist cloth or rag, or vacuumed. Aluminum mini-blinds can be taken off their mounting to be cleaned, whereas wood and faux wood window treatments can easily be cleaned on the wall.

There is another way to help reduce allergies and that’s by keeping windows closed as much as possible. Especially as summer winds start to blow, the dust builds up quickly. Dust can contain all sorts of allergens and can collect on virtually any surface in the home. Keeping windows closed and window treatments down during the heat of the day will prevent dust from sneaking in through cracks and reduce energy bills as it will block the sun’s rays that act to quickly heat up a home.

Be sure to clean your house once or twice a week to help relieve allergies. If possible, remove rugs and leave hard wood flooring, vinyl or tile that can be easily cleaned. Furniture and bed frames made of wood are also going to be easy to keep dust-free.

If you do have fabric, try to vacuum surfaces or wash them about once a week. Bed sheets breed dust mites and should be changed at least once a week, then cleaned in scalding hot water that is over 130 degrees. Not all materials can go in the washing machine so be sure to read instructions before cleaning.

Another factor in homes that not only causes allergies, but also can be a huge health risk is mold. Mold that grows in the corner of showers or along the grout line can be easily cleaned with a bit of bleach or cleanser that has bleach in it. However, if you have mold in your walls or ceilings, be sure to contact a professional to clean that out.

Millions of Americans suffer from allergies. By keeping a clean home and substituting wood, plastic and metal window treatments or blinds, furniture and decorations, homes can be kept relatively dust free and allergy free.

Learn more about wood blinds. Stop by Blinds Chalet to find out more about quality discount window blinds, shades, shutters and custom drapery.

Venetian blinds look good and they don’t cost a lot. There are a wide variety of venetian blinds on the market made from a variety of materials such as aluminum, faux wood and wood. Venetian blinds work in any space and can be had for as little as $14.00 a blind, up to $30.00 or more a blind. If it sounds too good to be true, don’t worry. Because so many people buy these blinds, window treatment companies can buy them in bulk, which means they save money and the consumer also saves money.

Aluminum venetian blinds are some of the cheapest blinds on the market. They come in a variety of bright and bold colors. In the mid-range but also very affordable are the faux wood blinds. They are often a blend of vinyl and wood, which gives them strength to last for years. Wood blinds tend to be the most expensive of the venetian blinds variety, yet their natural finish complements all types of offices and houses.

A great sampling of a venetian blind is the Embassy 2″ faux wood blind with designer tapes. The tape, or material completes the look of the blind by covering the routing holes for the tilting and opening and closing mechanisms. There are a good selection of shades and designs to pick from. The beauty of these window treatments is they work in kitchens, bedrooms, work spaces and even garages. They offer privacy, but still allow control of light.

For places in the home that produce a lot of dampness such as restrooms or cooking areas, then aluminum or faux wood blinds are the logical choice. They maintain their shape and are easy to clean. There is no worry about chips and cracks.

Faux wood mimics wood and has a variety of stains to choose from including light and dark. The lighter woods work to keep smaller rooms feeling larger, while the darker stains suit offices and large rooms that have wood accents. The decorative tapes come in a wide array of colors and patters, so have fun with them. Pick something that will compliment or contrast the design of the room.

Anyone can handle venetian blinds. They are simple to adjust for more or less light and are lightweight, meaning people of every age can open and close them. Trying venetian blinds in one room of the house might just encourage you to use them in every room. They have a classic style that won’t go out of date.

These faux wood, wood and aluminum blinds fold up tightly so they take up very little space. Views are unobstructed and these blinds will be sure to be around for a long time to come. Their cost versus life span is unbeatable.

Venetian blinds have long been admired for their versatility. They are a great addition to any room and will help increase resale value. If you’ve been thinking about new window treatments, now is the time to buy.

Want to find out more about venetian wood blinds, then visit Blinds Chalet for the best selection on blinds, shades and window treatments.

categories: window shades,window treatments,window blinds,interior decorating,home furnishings,real estate,house,home

One window treatment that is a perfect element for almost any home is the Noble Translucent Roller Shade. It doesn’t matter what season or what time of year…they offer a perfect decorative look that is offset with rich color choices that make every fabric roller shade an advantage to the interior design. The overall style of the product is designed to offer simple, clean lines that add warmth to interior spaces. The Noble Translucent Roller Shades come in classic shades: ivory, white and brown. They can compliment almost any interior space (commercial or residential).

Treading lightly on the earth is important to many consumers. These consumers look for eco-friendly products like roll-up blinds. Roller Shades are PVC-free; made with a polyester fabric with a unique ribbed pattern. It is important that fabric roller shades are PVC-free because PVC is harmful to humans and has long term negative effects on the environment.

“PVC is created by combining a high number of additives. This makes it very hard to recycle,” reports Eco-cycle.org. “As a result of PVC incineration, dioxins form. Dioxins are a highly toxic chemical group that can build up in the food chain (human). PVC also poses environmental hazards; those same dangerous toxins can easily leach into groundwater and leave it contaminated and unsafe.”

The fabric roller shade’s unique patented secure grip spine attaches the fabric to the roller and prevents it from falling off the tube as well as keeping the fabric aligned. Not only are the fabric roller shades easy to operate and install, but they filter light and block harmful UV rays. Prior to ordering consumers should consider and decide whether the window coverings will hang inside the window frame or outside. Providing the correct measurements allows the company you are working with to provide roller shades that suit your needs perfectly (most companies custom cut the fabric roller shades to order).

Consumers are looking for more and more eco-friendly options in window treatments. And the window coverings industry is giving them what they want. The higher the demand the more products are manufactured to meet the public’s needs. Leading companies not only meet the eco-friendly needs of consumers, but they are actually interested in protecting the environment. These companies offer information to educate consumers on how they can do their part to protect the environment as well.

Examples of eco-friendly window treatments are: Eco-Green line of roller shades and solar screen shades and honeycomb cellular shades (noted for energy efficiency that decrease utility bills as well as pollution).

Another important concept to understand in order to be “green” in the window covering industry is quality. Quality products typically cost more, but they last much longer. Purchasing “cheap” products will often result in a useless product within one or two years that will end up in a landfill and require an immediate replacement. Purchasing quality products means that consumers will not have to “throw out” and replace their window treatments nearly as often. It greatly reduces the amount of waste. There are many companies that embrace this philosophy of providing high quality, lasting, eco-friendly products such as Patagonia clothing gear (and other producers of clothing/window treatment materials).

Every living environment is the ideal location for Noble Translucent Roller Shades. This product is gentle on the earth. They look fabulous. They protect the inside of homes against UV damage resulting in fading of furniture, etc. And they last for years. Protect yourself from the coming heat of the summer sun by purchasing fabric roller shades today.

Want to find out more about eco-friendly window shades, then visit Blinds Chalet for the best selection on blinds, shades and window treatments.