Venetian Blinds are one of the most practical and popular blinds on the market, however like all items used every day they can develop problems from wear and tear. When cords break or tapes start to fray you don’t always have to start looking at the expense of a new set of blinds. You can give your blinds a make-over by installing replacement cords and tape which are often sold in kits. The team from Cheapa-Blinds have developed detailed instructions on how to repair your old venetian blinds.
If your blind is clean and in good condition it is possible to replace the lift cord without removing the blind from the window. Here are steps to follow when replacing the lift cord on a venetian blind;
Step 1Open the blinds completely and tilt the slats horizontally. The ends of the cords will be secured to the underside of the bottom rail. If bottom rail is wood, knotted ends of cord are simply stapled under ends of tapes. If bottom rail is metal, remove end caps and clamps from rail to expose knotted cords. Untie knot on side opposite lift cord, and butt end of new cord to this end. Tape two ends firmly together with adhesive tape.
Step 2Pull gently on old lift cord to draw the new cord up through slats on this side, across top, and through control pulleys. Leave a loop of excess cord for new lift cord, and continue to draw cord down through slats on lift cord side.
Step 3When taped end of new cord reaches bottom rail, un-tape the old cord, discard it, and cut off any excess cord at starting end. Knot both ends of the new cord, and secure them the same way old cord was secured. Replace end caps on bottom rail, and slide equalizer clip off old lift cord and onto new one. Adjust the cord with equalizer until blind works smoothly.
Properly working cords are one of the most important aspects of venetian blind maintenance as this allows light filtering and raising or lowering the blind. Often the cord can become lopsided or tilted after being used extensively which will affect the basic functions of the blinds. Following are the instructions on how to replace a tilted cord.
Step 1Untie or cut off the knots at the end of the tilt cord and remove the pulls. The tilt cord is simply threaded over the pulley and out again; it doesn’t connect with the lift cord. Pull the old tilt cord out and remove it completely. Then thread one end of the new cord over the pulley and feed it in until it comes out over the other side of the pulley.
Step 2Slip the cord pulls over the end of the cord, and then knot each end to hold the pulls on.
Take the blind down and lay it flat on a level surface all the way open. Untie both ends of the lift cord and pull the cord out of the blind setting the equalizer clip aside.
Step 2Remove each slat one by one and remember to stack them in order. If they’re dirty, soak them in a solution made of warm water and dishwashing detergent then rinse and dry them thoroughly on both sides.
Step 3Pull out the hooks that hold tapes in place at the top of the blinds. Then position the new tapes in the top box and slide hook into each pair of tapes, front and back, at sides of box. Slide slats into place between the tapes making sure they’re all right side up and facing the right way. Fold the ends of the tapes under and fasten them to the bottom rail under the last slat.
Step 4Thread the lift cord into the blind, starting at the tilt cord side and working up across the top, through the control pulley and down the other side. The tapes will have woven strips or ladders connecting front and back pieces on alternating sides. Insert a new cord right at the centre of the tapes so these ladders are placed on alternative sides of the cord. At the control pulley leave a long loop of cord for the new lift cord and keep threading the cord down through the slats on that side.
Step 5Cut off any excess cord then knot both ends of the cord securing ends to the bottom rail.
Step 6Slide the equalizer clips onto lift cord and install the new tilt cord as described previously.
Before you rehang the blind check the control pulley mechanism to make sure it’s working properly. If there is dirt or lint in the pulleys be sure to vacuum it out and wipe the mechanism clean with a soft cloth. You can also spray a little silicone lubricant into the pulleys to keep them working properly.
By following the tips in this article, you will be able to keep your windows looking like new and working properly.
