Basic blind repairs

If your blinds become damaged, don't despair. It may be possible to repair them yourself using inexpensive parts and repair kits available from specialist stores and the internet.

Obviously it's best to avoid needing to repair your blinds in the first place. Even though repairs are often quite straightforward, not all blinds can be repaired. And some eg cheap mini blinds will not make economic sense to repair, so you are likely to end up buying a replacement. Here are a few maintenance tips to keep your blinds out of trouble:

Preventing out of whack vertical blind slats: the critical way to avoid this common problem is to always tilt the slats fully open before drawing the blind (either opening it or closing it). If the slats have overlaped incorrectly when closed, do not force them open. Correct the slats gently by hand.

Frayed cords: if your cords are looking a bit worse for wear, you may be inadvertently rubbing them against the sharp part of the cord lock. Try pulling the cord diagonally to slow down the wear.

To make pleated or cellular blinds last longer, simply remember to be gentle with them. Always keep the string close to the blind fabric and not towards you.

Fixing blinds.

A very important tip for saving money by repairing blinds is to buy key spare parts at the time you purchase the blind. Make sure you buy an extra set of tape, string ladders or cords and keep them somewhere safe. A cord for a Venetian blind may cost you a dollar to buy and fit yourself, or seventy five dollars if you have to send it off the the manufacturer.

Although each model of blind varies in its construction, here are some generic steps to replace a tape or string ladder:

1. Unmount the blind from the window and place it somewhere clean and flat where you can work on it.

2. Remove the mechanism holding the strigs to the bottom bar and take off the end caps from the bottom bar and slide it open.

3. With the lift cord and ladder tapes available remove the knots to free the lift cord.

4. Tug the adjustment loop until the tilt cord is drawn up to the headbox. Knot the lift cord ends to stop them coming out of the headbox.

5. Thread the slats off the ladder and undo the tapes. Fold the ends of the new tape and staple together.

6. Now untie the knots in the lift cord ends and thread the new lift cord through the headbox.

7. Re thread the slats with the tilt cord and then and lift the cord to the bottom bar.

You can adapt this method to replace a broken slat. At step 5 simply take off the slats till you get to the one which needs replacing, then re-thread the slats (with the replacement).