Here at A to Z Blinds, we have been performing numerous types of repairs to blinds and shades of all kinds for over 40 years. When it comes to restringing your blinds, it’s not as hard as it sounds, but it is easy to mess up.
So, we’ve written this article to bring together several helpful resources that should equip anyone to replace the strings of their blinds whether they’ve snapped, worn out, or accidently been cut.
DIY or Call a Pro?
While restringing blinds can be a satisfying DIY project, it’s important to assess whether it’s the right choice for you. Here’s our quick and dirty guide to help you decide!
Consider DIY If:
- You’re comfortable with hands-on tasks: while not overly complex, restringing blinds requires using tools like a measuring tape, scissors, a wire restring tool (or similar), a lighter, a screwdriver, and pliers. If you’re comfortable using these tools and have some experience with similar projects, you may be a good candidate for DIY.
- Your blinds are a basic Venetian style: the process is straightforward for standard venetian blinds like wood blinds, faux-wood blinds, or aluminum mini blinds. If the lift strings are directly connected to the pull cords, the repair is much easier.
- You have time to invest: below, we share a video walkthrough of the process, and a summary of the steps, and while the process can be quick if you have experience doing this, it may be quite time-consuming for those who are new to it.
- You are interested in learning complex tasks: If you’re comfortable with DIY and enjoy learning new tasks, this could be an satisfying challenge.
Consider Professional Help If:
- Your blinds are not a simple design: if you have cellular or pleated shades, the process can be more complicated, and requires a more specific guide.
- The strings need to be threaded through the locking mechanism: if the cords need to be threaded through the locking mechanism in the head rail, it can be a bit more challenging. This implies the level of difficulty can increase depending on your blind’s design.
- You’re not comfortable with small parts or fine motor tasks: working with small cords, tassels, and safety washers, and using tools such as pliers to remove end caps, require some dexterity, which some people may find challenging.
- You’re unsure about safety: you may need to use a lighter to melt the string, and we suggest having water nearby. If you’re uncomfortable with this, professional help may be safer for you.
- You don’t have time or don’t want to deal with it: if you don’t have the time or any interest in doing this task, a qualified blinds repair team would be more efficient.
Availability of replacement parts and tools
Before diving into a DIY blind repair, it’s wise to check if your blinds are under warranty, and then gather your tools and replacement parts like blind cord from the original manufacturer, a hardware store, or a specialty retailer.
When restringing your blinds, using the right tools (we share a full list below) will help ensure a smoother process, but take care with safety while doing so.
If the task seems overwhelming, or you can’t find what you need, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from a qualified repair team.
Complex blinds can be difficult to fix
Last, before we get to the main point of our guide, if the type of blinds you need to repair are exceedingly complex, you’d be better off getting help with the repair.
Some examples of blinds that would be difficult for the average person are those with integrated mechanisms (motorized, pulley, or cord systems), as well as those made from delicate materials (like bamboo or pleated fabric).
They tend to be more complex to repair, so we suggest avoiding causing more damage during an attempted DIY repair in such a case.
A quick note on common blind string issues
One thing homeowners often get confused about is which string is broken. For instance, on a venetian blind, one of the more common types, which have a head rail and slats, often feature a tilt wand/cord, and a pull cord, and another type of strings called ladders.
The ladders provide structure only, they don’t technically pull your blind’s slats up or down.
Tilt wands/cords allow you to change the angle of opening for your blind slats so they let in more or less light depending on the angle you choose.
The pull cord (if your blinds have one) is actually a single thicker cord attached to two, three, or more smaller strings that run through your headrail then down through the holes or pulleys in your slats.
Sometimes only one string will break, but other times, especially if you have pets or kids playing with your blinds, more than one string may be broken, which complicates the repair.
To restring your blinds, here are the tools and materials we would use:
- Measuring tape: Essential for measuring the height and width of your blinds.
- Scissors: Handy for cutting the new string and tassels.
- Wire restring tool: This tool features a small oval opening at the end, making it easier to thread the string through the blinds. If you have or would prefer to buy some 18 gauge aluminum craft wire, that would be a cheap alternative.
- Water: Keep a cup of water close by when melting the string, just in case you need to put out a fire.
- Blind repair kit: Get a kit that includes a string length suitable for your measurements.
- Rubber gloves: Wear gloves to protect your hands while melting the string.
- Lighter: A lighter is necessary for melting the old string along with the new one.
- Flathead screwdriver: You might need this to take off the cap that secures the strings on the bottom rail.
- Pliers: Use pliers to remove the cap on the bottom rail and to pull the lift string out. Note: Be gentle with these to avoid breaking pieces on your end caps.
A basic overview of the process
We wanted to share a summary based on the WikiHow article we found:
- Restringing a blind involves replacing the cords that raise and lower the bottom rail of the blind, and it can be done easily if the lift strings are connected directly to the lift cords.
- However, if the cords need to be threaded through the locking mechanism in the head rail, it can be a bit more challenging.
- To restring the blind:
- Measure the blind to determine how much string you need
- Buy a blind cord kit (try to choose strings and tassels that roughly match your current ones if possible)
- Cut the replacement string into two lengths
- Remove the tassels and washers from the lift cords
- Then proceed to replace the old string by pulling it out and running the new string through the blind
- Finally, secure the cords in place by reattaching the safety washers and cutting the lift cords at the desired length, and reattach the tassels for easy gripping.
If you have a venetian style of blind, like wood blinds, faux-wood blinds, or even aluminum mini blinds, that list of steps may be enough to help you fix your blinds.
Getting more specific
However, if you need more specific details on restringing cellular or pleated shades or blinds, we have a better resource to share. This one is courtesy of Graber Blinds, a brand we love here at A to Z Blinds, but it may be helpful for other manufacturers’ models as well.
On their customer support page, they offer a guide to restring or replace cord lock for cellular, pleated or roman shades. We are confident it will sufficiently guide you through the process for your Graber or Springs Window Fashions blinds/shades.
They have many other useful guides available for other types of blinds as well, so make sure to browse through the different tabs like pleated shades, roman shades, and natural shades.
Video walk through
If you’d like to see the entire process from beginning to end, we’re confident this video will be helpful. Check it out below:
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the type of blinds, but generally, restringing blinds can be tricky. It requires threading the new cord through various parts of the blind, which may need some patience.
Yes, you can replace the cord on most types of blinds. You’ll need to remove the blinds from the window, untangle the old cord, and thread a new one through the system.
To thread string through blinds, remove the blinds from the window, untie the old string, and carefully thread the new cord through the same path (usually pulleys or holes in the slats).
Check for broken or tangled cords, jammed mechanisms, or blocked pulleys. Clear any obstructions and replace the cord if needed. Sometimes, the cord might need to be re-threaded.
Many modern blinds, especially motorized or cordless models, do not have pull cords. However, some blinds still use cords, particularly older or budget models.
To replace a blind chain, carefully detach the old chain from the mechanism, then attach the new one in the same way, making sure it fits securely into the control mechanism.
Wrapping up
If you are a DIYer or love to learn complex tasks like repairing and restringing your own blinds, this process may be an enjoyable experience. However, for those of our visitors who would like to learn more about our blinds repair process, feel free to click through and read on.
Photo by Raisha Nastiti on Unsplash