The latest in news, trends and happenings for the home …
Tiny batteries can cause big problems
Many Christmas gifts require small batteries, but these power units can be a major health or fire crisis. ACT Ambulance Service Chief Officer Howard Wren said that button batteries, if ingested, can cause significant internal injuries within a matter of hours. “It is important to keep an eye on your little ones with their Christmas toys and decorations to ensure their safety,” he said. “Some signs of an ingested button battery include coughing or breathing heavily, chest pain or grunting, choking or gagging, vomiting, and bleeding. If you suspect your child has ingested a button battery, call 000 immediately.”
Follow the battery safety tips at www.esa.act.gov.au
Recycle your old textiles at Sheridan
Not sure what to do with your own sheets and towels? Sheridan stores across Canberra would love to have them. The Sheridan Recycling Program is the first of its kind within the Australian homewares sector, repurposing old textiles into recycled yarn, a new product, or even donated to an animal shelter, instead of being dumped into landfill where items could take up to 200 years to decompose. Nationally, 66,259kg of textiles have been collected and redirected from landfill to date, thanks to the recycling program.
Drop off your old quilt covers, sheets and towels, regardless of the brand, at one of the Sheridan stores across the ACT.
How to beat the heat this summer
Research reveals up to 87 per cent of heat gained inside your home comes in through your windows. To keep the heat at bay, sustainable solutions that won’t increase your electricity bills include window furnishing, blinds, and shutters. Vera Meharg from Luxaflex says by maintaining your home’s internal temperature you maximise your living space. “Stopping the heat of the sun from entering your home in the first place is much better than letting it in and cooling it down afterwards,” she says. Shutters are an additional way to keep your home cool this summer and bring a relaxed elegance to any interior with a soft, matte luster look.
Check out the Luxaflex range at Riteway Curtains & Blinds in Fyshwick.
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