Thermal curtains may sound like complicated stuff to may people, but they are in fact just common window coverings which have an additional layer, a lining made of a special material with insulating properties. More than this, for even better energy-efficiency, thermal curtains are firmly attached to the walls on all sides, so the cold air drafts can't travel towards the center of the room. Attachments can be with Velcro tape or magnetic strips. Both methods are very efficient and allow the curtain to be easily detached when necessary.
How Thermal Insulating Curtains Work
The thermal lining of insulating curtains is usually reflective and it gets attached to the outer side of the curtain, with the reflective face towards the exterior. This helps reflecting the sunlight, so thermal curtains can be used with success not only in winter but also during summer time, in order to maintain a cool atmosphere inside your home without spending a fortune on air conditioning. If you don't want to buy new curtains, you can insulate your old ones by adding this layer. You'll need a sewing machine, but if you're very methodical and patient, you can sew the lining by hand. In order to get it right from the first attempt, make sure to cut the lining about one inch smaller than the curtain size, so you can make a small hem over it. Thus it won't be visible from inside the room and that's probably how you want it to be. One drawback to thermal curtains is that they are always the blackout type, so if you enjoy the light filtering window treatments, you'll need to make use of a trick to allow you switch whenever you want: leave your curtains alone, but double them with thermal draperies. When you don't need the insulation, fully open the draperies, or even remove them completely. When it's time to save money on the energy bills again, hang the drapes at the windows and enjoy the warmth of your home while spending less for keeping the heat inside.
Can Thermal Curtains Be Used for Bathrooms?
If you have small children or if you're rather the sensitive type, you may want to use thermal curtains in your bathroom, so you can relax and take your time while taking a bath, without feeling cold. However, because of the special humidity conditions, placing thick curtains at the bathroom windows needs a lot of attention, as they are prone to become the nursery and shelter of mold and mildew, because they may never have the chance to dry. One particular tip: if you want insulating bathroom curtains, make them small, don't let them touch the floor. Wash them regularly, ventilate the room after you take a bath or a hot shower and you won't have any problem with molds or strange smells. There are two ways of having more money: earn more or spend less. I'd say there's also a third one, which can be applied by virtually anybody at home: spend wiser. Insulating your doors and windows is one of the smart ways of decreasing your bills while enjoying the same level of comfort you've been used to.
