Learn More About Non-Toxic Blackout Curtains

Are there any organic blackout curtains?

None that I have found so far! Making 100% blackout curtains with natural materials is possible with OEKO TEX certification. However, no brands have yet been able to achieve making blackout curtains with GOTS certified organic fibers and GOTS certified processing techniques— it’s very difficult to get an organic blackout curtain with no light coming through.

What is OEKO TEX Class I?

OEKO TEX has four product classes: I, II, III, and IV. Class I products have met the strictest requirements and limits, and are certified to be safe for babies and toddlers to touch. Babies and toddlers are more vulnerable to harmful exposures because their detoxification systems aren’t fully developed, they engage in hand-to-mouth behavior more often, and their cells are dividing rapidly as they grow, meaning they are more susceptible to mutagenic exposures.

Class II means direct skin contact is safe for adults, and applies to textiles like sheets and pillowcases. Class III and IV are still much safer for you than standard fabric processing— I really want to emphasize that! — and are reserved for items without direct skin contact, decorations, and home textiles you don’t touch very often (like most curtains, for example).

Why is GreenGuard GOLD important for blackout fabric?

While fabrics don’t usually have big issues with off-gassing VOCs, blackout curtains are a little different for 2 main reasons. First, heat increases the rate of off-gassing, and fabric can get very hot when hung in a window, especially if you’re using them to keep out hot, bright sun. Second, most blackout curtains are made with PVC or other coatings that release harmful VOCs — because it’s hard to make natural fabric block light! — so this is an important distinction from the vast majority of the product group.

Is polyester safe?

Polyester is the best-known synthetic textile, and is actually the same thing as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), what plastic bottles are made of. This is why you see clothing, sheets, and other fabrics advertised as being made from recycled plastic water bottles. Polyester itself is relatively stable once it’s made, meaning it doesn’t make its way into your body easily. In that sense, it’s safe.

Polyester’s health issues come from the chemicals that sometimes tag along with it. Antimony is used in the chemical reaction to make polyester, and it remains on the polyester in the final product. Antimony is a metallic element that is associated with lung irritation, and is possibly carcinogenic. BPA, phthalates, and other additives are very commonly mixed with polyester to make the fabric softer, more durable, flexible, and colorfast. Phthalates are absorbed directly through the skin and is linked to developmental and reproductive harm, cancer, metabolic disorders, diabetes and more, with worse health effects in infants and toddlers. Recycled polyester is made from plastic of unknown origin and date, so can contain unknown harmful chemicals. Finally, the process of making polyester poses cancer risks to the factory workers, and virgin polyester requires fossil fuel extraction and petroleum refining, posing long-term health risks to the earth and everyone on it.

All that said (!), polyester tested to have no impurities left on it, or processed according to safer standards, can be essentially harmless to the user. This is especially true if it has GRS, OEKO TEX, or MADE SAFE certification. OEKO TEX class 1 polyester is definitely the highest standard it can meet, and means its basically just inert polymer fibers. Any kind of polyester is still a better choice of fabric than PVC (polyvinyl chloride). I use it for lower-contact uses in my home, like in my shower curtain and blackout blinds.

Are there flame retardants in curtains? 

In many, yes. In many states and cities, it’s a requirement that curtains used in public spaces meet standards for low flammability set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Ironically, natural fibers have flame retardants added to them more often than polyester and other synthetic fibers, because natural fibers burn more readily. The easiest way to know if your curtains have flame retardants is by looking for GOTS certification, which prohibits them, or for OEKO TEX certification, which prohibits most, and confirming with the company they don’t use them.

Why are Flame Retardants in fabric bad?

Flame Retardants are well-known endocrine disrupting chemicals, and are linked with immune system dysfunction and neurodevelopmental issues like ADHD. They do not meaningfully reduce flammability, but are still routinely added to fabrics, especially drapes and curtains. Companies are not required to disclose whether their product contains Flame Retardants.

How can I make blackout curtains look better?

Use a portable suction cup blackout curtain to cover just the windows, and hang a regular set of curtain panels in front. When you’re ready to impress, simply remove the suction cups and your home is aesthetically pleasing again!