TIL miniblinds with pull cords to raise and lower them are now illegal to sell in the United States
TIL miniblinds with pull cords to raise and lower them are now illegal to sell in the United States
Replacing a broken set of blinds in my house and apparently no one sells the old standard kind where you pull the cord to raise them, I guess because kids and/or pets could tangle in the cord? Bit of an education in miniblinds today.
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External Venetian blinds are the best, but I think they aren't so popular in the US from what I heard?
I'm not sure what that is. Outside of the window?
Yes. It keeps the heat that is generated on the surface of the blinds outside your window, so the room doesn't heat up so much.
Wouldn't they get really dirty? I don't think I've ever seen this in the US.
Yes, it does become part of cleaning the window to also wipe the slats. They are usually made of Aluminium as far as I know.
I posted a picture in a nearby branch of the comment tree.
In the US nearly every window that opens has a screen in it to keep insects out. That's why venetian blinds have gone out of favor in the past 70 years.
I may be missing the point. How do the external venetian blinds clash with insect screens?
My father put screens in various windows in his house and still has the external venetian blinds nonetheless.
I may be missing the point. How do the external venetian blinds clash with insect screens?
I’ve never had external blinds, but I’d assume the issue is being able to access them to open or close them. I suppose for a single-story house you could go outside every time?
Ah no, no way!
You have an articulated rod on the inside which goes through a small hole to the blind cage outside, which you turn to move the blinds up and down, and the first bit of movement in either direction affects the tilt of the blinds. The rod can be straightened when you're not turning it and it has a plastic holder on the frame so it doesn't dangle around.
I'm not sure if I'm describing it well, here is a picture of the rod:
And a picture of the blinds:
Nowadays more and more people put in a little electric motor with a remote control instead.