Window blinds are incredibly popular around the world. They’ve fast become a firm favourite, and given the myriad of benefits it’s easy to see why. They can completely transform a home, livening up an otherwise dull space. You can play with textures and colours, and really create a personality that reflects yours. They also help with light and privacy control, as well as improving energy efficiency.
Seeing as how they’re some of the most frequently used items in your home, maintenance is key. It helps ensure your window blinds will last longer, looking and functioning as good as the day you got them. Of course as with everything, an issue could arise for whatever reason that hinders their functionality. So at such times, it helps to know a little bit of DIY so you can maybe try fixing it yourself. Some of the issues don’t always require someone to come in, which saves you money, time and effort.
We’ve rounded up a list of some of the most common problems you could run into with your blinds. They may sound intimidating at first, but once you’re done with this article we’re sure you’ll feel more confident.
1. Broken Slats
General wear and tear over time is something to be expected, and on that note, broken slats can occur. This is especially true if your home has inquisitive kids or pets, which even the best DIY blinds can’t escape!
Some examples of window blinds that have slats include Venetian and vertical blinds. Replacing the slat on its own is a much better alternative than replacing the entire blind. Not only is it more cost-effective, it’s also a quick and easy solution.
2. Tilt or Lift Problems
Some blinds like Venetians and vertical blinds will feature individual slats which are excellent for precise light and privacy control. However on occasion, a slat may not work quite the way it’s meant to. This could mean that the slat isn’t tilting or rotating right. The most common issue for this is the buildup of dust/dirt which is causing a blockage in the mechanism.
So your first order of business would be to clean it out. Use a soft cloth (microfibre works well), for this. Once you’ve done this, check if it’s working properly. If not, you may need the help of some WD-40 which you probably have lying around anyway. Use it to lubricate the mechanism. When you do this, it helps to rotate the slats a few times to ensure the oil spreads well. This should solve the problem, and restore use of your blinds.
If your window blinds are old, chances are the tilt gear is either worn out or broken. If so, a simple replacement of the component will do the trick. It could also be something as simple as the cords being caught in the headrail, which can be easily untangled.
3. Lift String Damage
If you find your blinds are suddenly hanging crookedly or aren’t rolling up and down smoothly, the culprit could be the lift string. The easiest thing to do is to first remove your blinds and lay them on a flat surface. Carefully inspect them, looking for anything twisted or loose. If this is the case, you can easily fix the issue by untangling and tightening anything that needs to be. However, if this still doesn’t offer any clues to the problem, we recommend getting in touch with us. We understand not everyone is a window blinds expert, and you shouldn’t have to be! That’s what we’re there for. Don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask us for solutions.
4. Shortening Blinds
We’d like to start off by saying that if you get the measuring right, hopefully you won’t ever have to do this. However, sometimes for whatever reason you may want to shorten the length of your window blinds. Perhaps you’d like to move them to another spot, replacing new ones for the old ones instead.
The process can be painstaking, as it does take some time. You need to meticulously remove the slats, after removing the plugs found on the underside of the bottom rail. Bear in mind though that you should remove as minimal slats as possible. If not, your blinds won’t work properly anymore and it’ll all be down the drain.
It’s for this reason we stress on the importance of the right measurements from the get-go. We aren’t fans of modifying blinds once they’re done up in all their glory. If you can stick to this rule of thumb, you won’t ever have to fix anything yourself.
5. How Often Should Blinds Be Cleaned and Maintained?
It all depends on where and how often your window blinds are used. In spaces with more traffic and high usage, blinds can accumulate more dirt and dust than normal. Even so, however, you’d be glad to know that you don’t need to clean them every single day. Twice a week should suffice, and a simple wipe down will do. You can also use your vacuum brush-head to ensure a deep clean.
Find out more about how to find the right DIY blinds for your home with us. Don’t hesitate to get in touch, our expert consultants are ready to help.
