Blackout curtains when TSHTF

[RossA]

While I might use plywood during a hurricane, I don't think I would board up my windows in a survival situation. A couple of reasons:
1. If power is out, no AC, you will need some air circulation from the windows. Of course, during the winter this won't be as much of a problem.
2. Mainly, though, with boarded up windows, bad guys can sneak right up to your house and surround it without you ever knowing they are there. I want to see the bad guys in advance.

[TheUnboundOne]

Loshali,

To answer your question, the Mylar sheets that I use are the Mylar space blankets you can get in the camping section of any department store. American Science and Surplus at one time had a big Mylar sleeping bag and may still have it:

American Science and Surplus

http://www.sciplus.com

I do recommend sewing Mylar into fabric layers because, although Mylar is practical for both blocking light and saving energy, even a slob like me thinks it is ugly as sin on a window by itself. Unfortunately for me, I haven't had much time to sew my Mylar into curtains, so there it sits.

:o

If you wanted something a little more decorative for, say, a kid's room, you could also go to Party City or any other party store, buy Mylar balloons in the colors and designs you wish, then glue them together until you get the desired size and pattern to cover your windows. Get several colors and you could make like a crazy-quilt pattern.

My question about blackout cloth is: Does it come in multiple colors or is it like Henry Ford's Model T: "Any color you want, as long as it's black?"

[Loshali]

Where did you get the Mylar sheeting?

[TheUnboundOne]

Loshali,

That is a great idea! Using blackout curtains would be a definite enhancement to my own method.

What I've been using are regular blinds combined with Mylar space-blanket sheeting over them. This makes all light from the inside reflect back in and it looks like there's no light from the outside. Also, the Mylar helps reflect in heat during the Winter and keep out the hot Sun during the Summer. I like to think of it as my efficiency's tin foil beanie!

:D

Maybe I could use blackout curtains with a panel of Mylar sewn in, to make for both an aesthetic and practical SHTF curtain. Thank you for the inspiration!

:)

Judging from my experience with how plastic bags can impede grocery scanners, I imagine that Mylar would also be a great impediment to people attempting audio surveillance with laser listening devices, but I would have to experiment to confirm this.

[Xolar]

They also make a clear security tint that is supposed to make it harder to break a window out

[Omegaman]

We use heavy insulated, light blocking draps on all of our windows and sliders to keep the cold out and the heat in and the other way around in the summer. They have made a huge difference in our heating & electric bills. Now you have shown me another use for them, thats why I love this site.:D I was not even thinking about zombies seeing my house all lit up in the woods at night when they don't have any power or lights:confused:. Or that at night when there are no lights on at my house you would not know that there is a house in the woods, except for the driveway:( and I am working on that. Thanks again

[forever_frost]

So tint works well on house windows? I may have to give it a try

[Xolar]

I recently purchased a roll of limo tint from wal-mart and started by tinting the garage door windows so I could pratice the technique, 1 roll did all 8 of the windows. I used the limo tint and it does a good job of letting me watch outside without being noticed, for bigger windows you can purchase wider tint at homedepot.

[kenno]

I suppose this beats black paint, personaly I would opt for the black plastic.

[forever_frost]

I thought about this a few months ago and broke down and bought the blackouts. It saves a bundle on heating and cooling costs and...with as far back as my house is, it always looks like no one is home.

[gatorboi117]

This is a great idea. It doesn't surprise me a woman thought of this, lol.
I'll have to go out and buy some.
Thanks for the idea!

[Zombie Axe]

We added velcro strips to our blackout curtains. This makes it easier for us to take down during the day and put back up at night, etc. :)

We also have added plywood to cover the larger windows for added protection.

Ditto!

My friend that lives in Charlotte had an experience that got me to thinking about blackout curtains.

Back a few years back our region had a bad ice storm. My friends power was out in his apartment complex. He had some preps such as a Kerosene stove and lanterns along with plenty of water and food. That evening many others in his complex came like moths to the flame wondering why he had power and they didn't... Luckily he moved by the next ice storm, but he related the experience to me and we both made blackout curtains for the next time!

Gotta think OPSEC at all times!!!:eek:

[teach]

I would probably put the plywood on the outside and on our windows it would probably still leave a few inches at the top for light. I'd rather be in the dark than have unwanted visitors coming in. I have even looked into the security film you can install on windows and shutters that close, but both are expensive.

[teach]

Great idea.

[coxmw]

I took black plastic and cut to fit every window, then put double stick tape on them. I have cut some with holds and then took a bigger pice or plastic and taped it to the bottom of the hole for a hung. So I can open it and let light in or look out with out taking the hold thing down.

-Mike