How to Repair Broken or Bent Window Blinds
Learning how to repair broken or bent window blinds saves you money while extending their lifespan. Window blinds are sensitive to pressure. As a result, the material between the hook and the hole on top of the slat begins to wear out.
Other common issues include damaged slats, tilt mechanisms, or frayed cords. With the right DIY repair skills, you don’t need to replace the entire window blind.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Tools
- Lighter
- Pliers
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Screwdriver (Or butter knife)
Materials
- Slats
- Pull cords
- Extra carrier stems
- Extra blinds
Fixing Horizontal Blinds
A broken or bent blind interferes with your privacy and the appeal of your home. Before fixing the window blind, assess the extent of the damage. If a slat is bent, try straightening it with your hands, hairdryer, or heat gun.
If this can’t fix the issue or perhaps the slat is broken, replacing it would suffice. Follow these DIY steps to fix horizontal blinds.
1. Remove the Blind Plugs at the Bottom
Remove the plugs at the bottom rail of the blinds to access pull cords threaded through slats. First, use a screwdriver to pop out the plugs. Next, pinch the corner of each plug with your fingers or pliers to pull them out.
2. Loosen the Knot of the Lift Cords
After removing the plugs, you will spot the knotted lift cord ends. Use a pair of tweezers or pliers to pull knotted lift cords out of unplugged holes. Unknot the string or cut the cord above the knot, and melt the frayed end.
3. Replace the Damaged Lift Cord
To replace a damaged lift cord, unmount the blinds and draw the slats together. Ensure most of the lift cord is hanging below the bottom slat. Cut the cord at the fray and pull it out through the bottom rail.
Line up the new pull cord with the cut end of the old cord and splice them together. It allows the old pull cord to serve as a guide, eliminating the need to thread the new cord through each slat.
Rehang the blinds and pull the new lift cord through the cord pathway. Use one hand to guide the cord up through the headbox and the other to pull on the old cord.
4. Remove the Lines from the Broken or Bent Slat
If you’re repairing a damaged slat, remove the pull cord from the slats below the damaged one. Start by removing the center lift cord of the broken slat and unthread it. Do this for all the slats beneath it.
5. Remove the Damaged Slat
Remove the damaged slat so it doesn’t warp your other slats. Start with the strings securing it to the blinds, then pull it off. Be careful when removing the slat to avoid bending the remaining slats.
6. Install a New Slat
Swap the bent slat with a new one. Ensure all the holes in the new slat align with the slats beneath it.
7. Re-feed the Lines into the Slats’ Open Holes
Reattach lines to blinds by sliding them back into slats. Be careful when feeding the lines into loosened slats. Consider working from the new slat as you move downwards.
8. Clip the Lines and Loose Threads onto the Plugs
Secure blinds by connecting lines and threads to plugs. Push them into the bottom holes and plug them with blind plugs. The lines are secure and damage-free once the plugs return to their original position.
Fixing Vertical Blinds
The most common issue with vertical cords is rotation. Make sure to inspect both ends of the window blind for rotation problems. If you have a bent or damaged blind, follow these steps for easy DIY repair.
1. Assess the State of your Blinds
Tangles and twists make the blinds appear damaged. The first step is to inspect the window blind for crooked slats that appear to be facing backward. You can resolve this by untangling the twist.
Physical objects and dirt may cause the window blind to jam. When inspecting, ensure no objects obstruct the blinds.
Also, if the jamming is due to debris accrual, clean the blinds. Lubricant sprays are also helpful in improving the blind’s rotation.
2. Replace the Carrier Stems
A cracked or warped carrier stem impacts a window blind’s rotation. To assess the condition of the carrier stem, use a pair of pliers to grip and stem the carrier body away.
Replace the carrier stem with a unit that matches the old stem’s size and shape. Insert the stem into the carrier body, slide it into the hole, and then place the blind back on the stem.
3. Disconnect the Damaged Blind
If the problem results from a ripped, torn, or broken blind, detach the clip securing the chain. Next, feed the chain outward from the bottom blind loop until all blinds before the damaged blind disconnect.
Remove the damaged blind from the spacer chain by lifting and bending it from the top hooks.
4. Install a New Blind
Lower the new window blind onto the hook at the top. Thread a spacer chain through disconnected blinds, and reattach the clip. Open, close, and rotate the blinds to verify proper functioning and repair success.