Injecting some feminine energy into a room

If you're looking for blinds to place in your hospital, health clinic or doctor's office, there are important factors you will need to consider. Blinds for health care institutions are different from the regular blinds used in homes. This is because such blinds need to have important features such as antimicrobial properties, durability and fire resistance.

Many people (both patients and staff) will come in contact with your blinds on a regular basis. To prevent your blinds from becoming agents of spreading germs (or making your patients' rooms look dull), you should make sure your blinds or panel glides have these important features.

1. Antimicrobial fabrics

If you're considering fabric-based blinds such as Roman blinds, the fabric you use should have antimicrobial properties. Through regular use, your blinds can easily become filled with contaminated fluids, stains, dirt and even foul odours.

These contaminants can also spread from one patient to another when they change rooms (or during check-in/check-out). To prevent your fabrics from becoming agents of harmful germs and bacteria, consider using antimicrobial materials. These fabrics contain a thin layer with an antimicrobial finish, and they work continuously to eliminate any bacteria or viruses that come in contact with the fabric.

As a result, you can keep your patients safe from any harmful infections that may spread via your blinds.

2. Odour-resistant materials

The fabrics used in blinds can easily harbour foul odours in your premises. More specifically, thick and absorbent fabrics act as a landing ground for foul odours and stains.

So your patients can enjoy clean and fresh air, make sure your blinds have a thin layer of fabric and a smooth, outer surface. This is the best way of keeping your blinds free of contaminants that spread foul smells.

3. Designs that are easy to clean

As you would expect, your blinds will need to be cleaned and sanitised on a regular basis. Consider blinds that are easy to mount and dismount from your windows. You should also have tracks on your windows to make the blinds much easier to operate.

If using wooden blinds (or Venetian blinds), make sure the material is easy to sanitise even while the blinds are still on the windows. And if you're using fabric-based blinds, opt for those materials that are machine-washable.

4. Hypo-allergenic properties

Allergens such as mould, dirt and pollen can significantly affect your patients as they undergo treatment. For your health care facility, choose blinds that don't provide a welcoming environment for these allergic materials.

Some types of fabrics contain surfaces that eliminate allergens on contact. These hypo-allergenic surfaces are useful materials to consider for your blinds.