The Quick Way To Fix Those Broken Window Blinds And Get Privacy Back Fast

If there's one thing to hate about horizontal window blinds, it's that the slats on some styles can easily break. However, there's a quick and easy way to fix broken blinds for free — simply remove a slat from one of the lower rows near the bottom rail and use it to replace the damaged one. This method can be used for aluminum blinds, vinyl blinds, or even some wooden or faux wooden blinds if there are only one or two broken slats. If more slats are broken, the blinds may need to be replaced.

When lowering your blinds, you'll notice the bottom rail stops below the bottom of the window. This design is intentional to provide more privacy and prevent light from leaking in. The excess slats typically sit on the windowsill, stacked one on top of the other. These bottom slats don't serve much of a purpose, making them a great option to replace broken ones. Here's what to do: Use scissors to cut the broken blind where the holes meet the ladder strings, then slide it out horizontally. With the blinds extended to full length, cut one side of the holes of a bottom slat below the window. Carefully remove the slat, then feed it into the gap from the slat you removed. Thread the strings into the holes, and that's it! Your slat is replaced. 

Replacing one blind slat should take about a minute, but there is one key detail to keep in mind. You can cut the broken slat however you want since it will be discarded, but pay close attention to how you cut the replacement one. Cut only the area to one side of each hole; the other side needs to remain intact to rest on the ladder string.

Another factor to keep in mind is the possibility of color variation. You may notice that the shade of the replacement slat doesn't perfectly match the rest of the blinds. The replacement slat will likely be cleaner and a couple of shades lighter since it hasn't been exposed to dirt and dust like the other slats. This is another simple fix, as there are several easy ways to clean your blinds. You can either run a blind cleaner across all the slats or take a soft cloth dipped in warm, soapy water and wipe each side of the slats. If you want your replacement slat to last forever in its new spot, consider using clear tape to patch the areas that you cut. This will help keep the slat in place during cleaning and when raising and lowering the blinds.