A window treatment is a movable window covering that also serves a decorative function. Window treatments include blinds as well as shades, curtains, and drapes . Here's how to fix window blinds.

How Does It Work?

Components of a typical window blind operating system.

A window blind is a slatted window treatment that can be adjusted to admit varying amounts of light. Window blinds include venetian, mini, micro, and vertical blinds. They all work in about the same way. A tape or string ladder holds all the slats together. A cord or wand connects to a pulley in the headbox. The pulley uses a worm gear to rotate the tube and simultaneously change the angle of all slats. A lift cord threads through each slat and over a pulley at the end of the blind. Pulling on the lift cord raises the blind. The lift cord is adjustable so that the blind raises and lowers evenly. A vertical blind works in the same manner except that the blinds are vertical rather than horizontal.

Fix-It Tip

One of the main advantages of vertical blinds is that their mechanism doesn't have to pull the weight of the blinds up and down. That means there is less stress on the mechanism. And that means they last longer with fewer repairs.

What Can Go Wrong?

The tape or string ladders that hold a blind together can break. A blind can stick going up or down or may not go up evenly.