Never neglect your window treatments
It may look intimidating to remove blinds, whether they’re Venetian, vertical, or Roman, but there are a few secrets that make it quite easy for a homeowner to remove them. In most cases, it's about knowing where to look and how to finagle the right mechanisms. Read on to learn how to remove window blinds yourself.
There are many instances, in addition to replacing your blinds, when removing them for the day can be helpful. For example, you may want to remove window blinds when:
Repairing or restringing your blinds
Deep cleaning your blinds or windows
Painting the room or window frame
Repairing or winterizing your windows
Switching out the style of window treatments for the season
Most manufacturers make removing and reinstalling your blinds easy.
The first step in knowing how to remove blinds from a window is identifying what you're working with. Knowing your type of blind helps you understand its mechanisms and narrow down the make and model for specific instructions. Determine which type of blinds you have from the examples below.
Venetian blinds, also called horizontal blinds, are the most common type of blind. The style features horizontal slats of about two inches or larger made of plastic, wood, or metal. They often open with a pull string.
Mini blinds look similar to Venetian blinds but feature smaller slats around one inch thick.
Vertical blinds hang individual slats from above. Each slat hangs from the headrail on its own. The drawstring commonly lives on either end.
Blinds powered by a motor and remote control or control panel look like any of the blinds on this list. But they feature a powered mechanism on the head rail, typically adding a few steps to removal.
These blinds marry the look of a shade and blinds. A pull string lifts a full piece of fabric, folding it around itself in several places.
Cellular window treatments toe the line between shades and blinds. The blinds come in one single sheet of diamond-shaped squares that flatten when lifted with the drawstring.
Whatever your reasons, let's jump in and get those blinds off your window without damaging the window frame or the blinds themselves. In most cases, you'll need a flathead or Phillips head screwdriver, so get that handy.
While it's not necessary, locating the physical or online user manual for your brand of blinds can save you a lot of trouble. Within these categories, each brand constructs the headrail and includes instructions on disconnecting it from the brackets on the window frame.
We also recommend removing valances or large curtains in the way of the blinds that may be hiding the hardware.
Take a look at your Venetian blinds up close, standing carefully on a step ladder if necessary. You will see the headrail that houses the pull string and the rolling mechanisms that pull up the blinds. You may also be able to spot the brackets linking the headrail to the wall. The brackets sometimes hide within the headrail for a sleeker appearance. Here's how to remove horizontal blinds:
Pull the string as far down as it goes, opening the blinds all the way.
In some models, you may immediately be able to grip the whole headrail and pull it toward you with a soft tug to remove it from the brackets.
In other cases, you may need to push the front panel of the headrail to activate its spring-loaded door. This door will reveal the removable headrail inside.
If neither method works for your model, do not force the headrail off the window. You may need to use a screwdriver to loosen a front bracket to open the casing of the headrail before sliding it out. Most models will have a clear seam on the front bottom of the headrail for this purpose.
Once the blinds disconnect, set them aside. Use a screw gun or screwdriver to remove the screws from the brackets on either side of the window frame.
You have two options when determining how to remove vertical blinds: removing the slats first or leaving them on and taking the whole mechanism down at once. Taking off the individual slats will make it easier to remove the headrail, but if they are not too large or too high overhead, you can skip ahead to the headrail removal and take it all down in one go.
If your drawstring attaches to the side of the wall with a safety casing, pop open the case with a flathead screwdriver and then unscrew the bracket from the wall.
Use the wand to open the blinds if you plan to remove them first.
Remove individual slats by lifting them up and slightly twisting them out of the clip, like a shower curtain.
Next, view the back of the shade headrail. You should spot two small metal spring clips on either side of the rail.
Place a flathead screwdriver behind each one and twist until that side of the headrail unlocks.
Delicately pull the headrail off the top of the window frame.
Remove the connecting hardware with a screwdriver or screw gun.
The trick to removing mini blinds is identical to how to remove Venetian blinds. Pull the blinds fully open so they fold to the top of the headrail.
Similarly, each headrail will differ. You may need to open the spring-loaded panel, slide it out with a flathead screwdriver, or tug the headrail toward you to remove them from the brackets.
Removing motorized shades widely differs depending on the model. Thankfully, many brands make them easy to remove and reinstall since you may need to bring the motor or battery into the shop for occasional repairs. In most cases, removing motorized blinds requires simple steps:
Fully open the blind if the motor is still functional.
Disconnect the blind from its power source. Most power shades will include a plug, wire, and removable battery off to one side of the shade.
Locate the metal spring clips along the backside of the shade and pull them toward you. Again, this may differ slightly based on your brand and model.
If you are simply bringing the shades in for repair, leave the headrail connected to the window.
If not, unscrew the connecting brackets in the wall.
To remove the wiring, contact a local electrician or your motorized blind technician for assistance.
Roman blinds may look more like shades, but they connect to the window very similarly to other blinds. In most cases, the top of the fabric shade connects to the front of the headrail with snaps, velcro, or clips that can be easily removed to reveal the mechanism behind it.
Once you reveal the headrail, move through the same steps as above for removing horizontal or vertical blinds, depending on the structure of your shades. You will often find the spring clips on the front or back of the headrail. Open these with a flathead screwdriver and pull the headrail away from the brackets.
Many of the most popular cellular blind brands—such as Bali or Graber—feature the same spring clip that we've mentioned above.
Open the cellular blind all the way by either pulling on the drawstring or pushing them up with your hand from the bottom.
Locate the spring clips and the front or back of the headrail.
Loosen the spring clips with a flathead screwdriver by leveraging them toward you.
Keep a hand on the headrail to catch it when it disconnects from the brackets.
Removing your window blinds may be a regular part of your spring-cleaning regimen or when you're replacing them altogether. There are a few things you can do in between repairs and replacement to keep your blinds looking and functioning like new.
Clean horizontal blinds once a month with a duster. Some dusters will include branches to fit between the blinds without damaging them.
Clean your vertical blinds when you first notice dust buildup. You only need a duster, a vacuum, and a damp cloth.
Address a tangled or off-track blind drawstring immediately. Ensuring the string stays on its track keeps it from knotting and tangling.
Never tug too hard on your blind strings. If you need a lot of elbow grease to get them open, it may be time for a repair.
Always keep blind stings secured away from children and pets.
If you have motorized blinds, replace the battery and check the motor regularly according to your manual.
Learning how to remove window blinds is a very simple and straightforward DIY, but not right for everyone. You may be required to stand on a tall ladder to access the headrail. Older blinds may take great strength to remove, risking that the headrail could fall in the process.
If you are concerned about removing blinds yourself, contact a local handyperson service. Most handyperson services cost between $60 and $125 an hour, depending on the complexity of the job. You can also reach out to a local window treatment company for assistance, though this is often reserved for installing new blinds.
Ginny Bartolone contributed to this piece.
You remove blinds from a window frame by finding the spring clips on the front or back of the headrail. You may need to loosen the flips with a flathead screwdriver. Gently tug the blinds toward you, away from the headrai. Remove the brackets from the window frame by unscrewing the screws with a screwdriver. The exact method depends on your blind’s brand and model. Consult your manufacturer’s manual for specific instructions.
You can remove blinds with hidden brackets by looking for the spring-loaded clips in the back or front of your headrail and loosening the back of each clip with a flathead screwdriver. Gently pull your blinds away from the headrail until it releases. You can remove the brackets from the window frame by unscrewing the screws with a screwdriver.
You release blinds after installing by opening the blind all the way and tugging on the blind to release it from the headrail. You may need to loosen the clips with a flathead screwdriver. The clips could be on the front or back of the blinds. Look at your manufacturer’s manual for exact information based on the brand and model.
The easiest way to clean your blinds is to wipe the slats down with a microfiber cloth attached to a retractable wand. Some other simple cleaning methods are: wiping your blinds with dryer sheets; removing individual vertical blind slats for cleaning; using traditional hand dusters; and using your vacuum with an attachment.
