What to Look for When Selecting Medical Curtains

The curtains in medical institutions play more than just an aesthetic role. They’re also important for privacy, health, and fire retardation. Medical curtains need to have many different features embedded within one piece of fabric. Therefore, when selecting these curtains, there are important details you should look out for. Shop for hospital curtains here.

It is important to consider that any medical curtain will likely undergo heavy use by many different people. They are also likely to become landing surfaces for fluids and stains. For a ceiling mounted medical curtain to be effective, they should be able to resist stains and potentially infectious fluids.

Healthcare institutions may find it challenging to identify an ideal product for their premises. To get started in the right direction, look for the following characteristics when selecting a medical curtain.

1. The fabric type

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A curtain is defined by its fabric. For healthcare facilities, the chosen fabric needs to be strong and durable. Most hospitals and clinics use medical curtains that are suspended from ceiling mounted tracks. They serve as the dividing piece for providing privacy to patients as they receive treatment. Therefore, you will find that your curtains undergo heavy use on a daily basis. To keep up, your fabric needs to be strong and durable.

In addition, the fabric you choose should be resistant to allergens and free of heavy metals. A hypoallergenic fabric is critical to the health of your patients. For this reason, the material should not become a breeding ground for common allergens such as mold, dirt or pollen. Thin and sturdy fabrics are a better option than thick, absorbent curtains (these are more likely to harbor germs and allergens).

The fabric should also be aesthetically appealing and a good fit for your interior décor. Consider fabrics that are easy to customize and that breathe life into your healthcare facility.

2. Antimicrobial properties

Another important feature to look for is the anti-bacterial resistance of your curtains. They may become a breeding ground for bacteria if you do not select the right fabric. Therefore, your medical curtain should have antimicrobial properties.

Quality medical curtains contain an antimicrobial finish that works around the clock to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and fungi. By killing bacteria on contact, both patients and medical staff will be less likely to transfer bacteria from one person to another during treatment. The nature of the antimicrobial finish will vary with each type of drapery you consider. Make sure the finishing is strong enough to eliminate as much bacteria as possible.

3. Flame and stain resistance

Each ceiling mounted medical curtain should also be resistant to flames and stains. By selecting a fire-retardant fabric, you reduce the risk of small fires spreading rapidly and causing extensive damage to your property. In addition to a fire-resistant fabric, consider installing a row of mesh at the top of each ceiling mounted curtain track. This setup will give enough space for your sprinklers to operate and extinguish a fire in its early stages.

Another important feature your medical curtain should have is stain resistance. Stains may contain bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can affect patient health. Therefore, the fabric you choose should be thin and smooth on its outer surface. The smooth surface of your fabric prevents stains and makes the curtain perform well as a washable material. 

4. Curtain length and window attachment

You should also consider how long you would like each ceiling mounted medical curtain to be. If installing curtains for hospital cubicles, they should be long enough to provide privacy, yet be suspended a reasonable distance from the ground. Indeed, the fabric should not drag along the floor or it may collect dirt and germs over time. Look for drapery that is tall enough to cover people’s heads (so they can’t peak over to the next cubicle), yet a few inches from the floor to prevent dragging.

Another important aspect to look for is how drapery is mounted. Ceiling mounted tracks are one of the best options for medical facilities. They’re easy to install and can be used for many different room configuraitons. Make sure your medical curtains can attach to ceiling mounted tracks for convenient opening and closing.

5. Ease of cleaning

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Each medical curtain should also be easy and convenient to clean. This falls in line with stain resistant properties, where your cleaning staff should be able to simply wipe down and disinfect all drapery on a regular basis.

The fabric should also be easy to clean in place, and machine washable for a more thorough sanitation process. Machine washable medical curtains are more convenient to handle than dry-clean only fabrics. Some curtains also have odor resistant properties.

By using the above properties to guide your decision, you can select sanitary, durable, and safe products for your medical facility. It all comes down to choosing a fabric that meets all the requirements of a clean and safe hospital cubicle. These include antimicrobial properties, fire resistance, stains resistance, proper length, and ease of cleaning.

How Covoc can help

If you’re looking for medical curtains, Covoc is your ideal solution. We supply quality curtain fabrics to hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, and many other medical institutions. We cut out the middleman because we are the manufacturer. Therefore, we’re in a better position to guarantee superior quality at a great price.

Our curtains come with a 1-year warranty, they ship in 1-2 working days, and they have all the properties mentioned above. If you need quality and reliable ceiling mounted medical curtains, contact us today.