Cellular Fabrics

We Use Only the Best Cellular Fabrics

Did you know there are two types of cellular fabrics? Most name-brand cellular shades use ‘spun lace’ (a woven polyester fabric), because it’s less expensive to produce. We use superior bonded polyester fabrics, which have the following advantages…

• • Bonded fabrics provide greater insulation. Woven polyester is put together much like cotton candy, which allows air to pass through. Our bonded fabrics trap air inside the cells, which is what gives you such amazing insulation!
  • Bonded fabrics are dust and stain resistant.  The bonding process adds anti-static properties to the material, repelling dust. Liquids roll right off our fabric (seriously, order free samples and try for yourself!) Woven polyester can actually trap dust and stains in the material.
  • Bonded fabrics are easy to clean. You can use a feather duster or even give them a light vacuuming. You can use a damp rag and even a mild detergent to wipe them. But what’s really incredible is our light-filtering fabrics can be completely submersed! For several our our shade types, you can wash the entire shade in a bathtub. You wouldn’t want to try this with woven polyester.
  • Bonded fabrics are durable. Our shades aren’t just pretty, they’re tough. You can stretch, yank, pull all you want… they’ll still retain their shape. Because they don’t absorb dirt or liquids, they don’t degrade like woven polyester can.

Most of our fabrics are produced right here in the U.S.A. and those that aren’t have been rigorously tested to ensure they meet the same high standards. We settle for nothing less!

Our fabrics are child-safe. They are GreenGuard Gold Certified for use in schools, hospitals, and of course, in your home.

Our fabrics are more affordable. Among the small handful of manufacturers who use these premium fabrics, we might be the only one who sells ‘factory direct’ to you. No middleman means no inflated pricing!

Each fabric type has advantages, depending on the intended purpose. The short version is, room-darkening fabrics are usually reserved for those areas where you need (you guessed it) darkness. However, there’s a little more to it than that…

Light-Filtering Fabrics

• • The most commonly purchased fabrics.
  • Allow a glow of light in the room, while still maintaining privacy.
  • While not transparent, a person or object directly between a light source and the shade might show a silhouette from outside (especially in lighter fabric colors).
  • Are always white on the back, to provide greater heat reflection and to work with any exterior paint color.
  • Although they provide fantastic insulation, they are not as insulating as room-darkening shades.
  • Can be complete submersed in water for thorough cleaning.

Room Darkening Fabrics

• • Excellent for rooms that need nearly total darkness.
  • Block 99% of light, although there will be light gaps at the sides of the shade. Order side tracks to eliminate most of this light.
  • Provide total privacy, as they are opaque from outside the home.
  • Are white (or slightly off-white) on the back, to provide greater heat reflection and to work with any exterior paint color.
  • Offer the greatest insulation from heat and cold.
  • Can be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth. However, the blackout material inside the cells should not get wet. Room-darkening fabrics are not recommended for bathrooms.

Sure, double-cell fabrics are more popular, and they provide greater insulation. However, single-cell fabrics have some advantages, too. So let’s see which one is right for you…

Double-Cell Fabrics

• • No doubt about it, our double-cell fabrics are our most popular, outselling our single-cell fabrics by about 4 to 1. 
  • Double-cell fabrics provide greater insulation than single-cell fabrics.
  • Double-cell fabrics have smaller pleats – approximately 3/8″ – than single-cell fabrics.
  • Double-cell fabrics do have a slightly higher cost than single-cell fabrics.

Single-Cell Fabrics

• • Single-cell fabrics are just as elegant, durable, and easy to clean as double-cell fabrics.
  • Single-cell fabrics provide less insulation than double-cell fabrics.
  • Single-cell fabrics have larger pleats – approximately 1/2″ – than double-cell fabrics.
  • Single-cell fabrics have a slightly lower cost than double-cell fabrics.

We’re So Glad You Asked!

We’ve devoted an entire page to EcoSmart Cellular Shades Insulation and R-Value. We’re awfully proud of the way our shades keep your home cool in the Summer, warm in the Winter, and saving you money all year long!

Of course! We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our cellular fabrics are GreenGuard Gold Certified. This means they are approved for use in schools and hospitals. It means they’re safe around kids and pets. In other words, wherever window shades are needed, you can feel confident that our materials aren’t transmitting dangerous gasses. We’ve even used our fabric to make safe, comfortable masks during the pandemic! 

Our Cellular Fabrics are Super Easy to Clean

Although our fabrics are dust and stain resistant, when something lasts as long as our shades do, they might need a little touch-up now and then. Fortunately, our premium bonded fabrics are a snap to clean. Here are some of your options…

• • Give our fabrics a simple dusting with a feather duster. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
  • Use a brush attachment with your vacuum hose and gently vacuum.
  • Use a damp cloth, and even a mild detergent, and gently wipe.
  • For light-filtering fabric, you can completely submerse the material in water and mild detergent. In fact, aside from the headrails of cordless and motorized shades, all of our shade components can be submersed.
  • Please note that the blackout material inside the cells of our room-darkening shades should not get wet. If wiping the fabric, take care not to let liquid soak through to the inside.

Yes, We Do Recommend Ordering Samples

Isn’t it great when you can SEE what you’ll be getting? We think so, too, and it’s not just because we’re so proud of the quality of our fabrics and want to show them off. Here are some great reasons to order free fabric samples…

• • See the Colors: Have you ever ordered something online and the color doesn’t look like what you saw on your screen? Yup, screen colors vary. We want you to love your fabrics as much as you do, and what could be better than seeing the real thing?
  • Evaluate the Transparency: How much light shines through a light-filtering fabric? How much does a room-darkening fabric block? What’s the difference between lighter and darker colors? Hold your samples up to your window and find out!
  • Test the Toughness: Our fabrics really are superior. We want you to stretch, pull, tug, and try to tear them. We want you to pour your stain-inducing liquid of choice on them (over a sink, of course!) and watch it roll off. You’ll be amazed.
  • Did we mention they’re FREE? 🙂