Tuesday Time to Tackle: Replacing A Broken Vinyl Blinds Slat

I do have some talents, but to keep this blog positive, let's just say that keeping my blinds looking great is a talent I'm still in the process of developing.

Remember guide dog puppy Reno? Well, when I was raising him, he occasionally would look out the front window, and one time (probably about a year ago!), he broke one of the slats of the blinds.

Replacing a broken slat is not that hard of a project, nor is it time consuming, yet I procrastinated the repair. I finally decided today was the day to tackle this "deferred maintenance" project! If you also have a broken slat, and if you happen to have an extra slat (usually found at the bottom of the blinds), follow these simple instructions:

1. At the bottom of the blinds, on the underside, pop off the little plastic buttons.


I turned the bottom slat upside-down in order to take this photo.

2. Untie the knot from the cord.

3. Set the plastic buttons aside, then pull the cord up through the slats until you reach the broken slat.

4. Slide the broken slat out. Also slide out the replacement slat from the bottom. Add replacement slat where broken slat was, carefully placing it between the horizontal cords.

5. Thread the cords (the ones that had been knotted in the buttons) back through the slats. If necessary, use tweezers to pull the cords through the slat that holds the buttons.