How to Fix a Traverse Curtain Rod – Quick Guide

Traverse curtain rods are handy and elegant ways to hang and operate your curtains. They allow you to open and close your curtains with a simple pull of a cord, without having to touch the fabric or climb on a ladder.

However, traverse curtain rods can also malfunction or break over time, due to wear and tear, improper installation, or accidental damage. If your traverse curtain rod is not working properly, you may be tempted to buy a new one and start over, but that can be costly and time-consuming. Fortunately, there are some ways to fix a traverse curtain rod yourself, with some basic tools and materials. Here are some of them.

How do you fix a traverse curtain rod?

You can fix a traverse curtain rod by dusting and cleaning the rod and the housing, inspecting and untangling the cord, replacing the cord if it is broken or frayed, adjusting the tension of the cord, lubricating the pulleys and the sliders, replacing the pulleys or the sliders if they are damaged or missing, or replacing the rod if it is bent or twisted.

Dust and clean the rod and the housing

The first step is to dust and clean the top of the curtain rod and the back housing of the rod. This will eliminate any excess debris that may cause the sliders or the pulleys to function improperly. You can use a soft cloth, a feather duster, or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove any dust or dirt from the rod and the housing. You can also spray some canned air into the track for large logged debris.

Inspect and untangle the cord

The next step is to inspect the cord for any tangles, knots, twists, or snags that may prevent it from moving smoothly through the pulleys and the sliders. You can use your fingers or a pair of scissors to gently untangle or cut any knots or snags in the cord. You can also use a safety pin or a paper clip to help you pull out any twists or loops in the cord.

Replace the cord if it is broken or frayed

If your cord is broken or frayed, you will need to replace it with a new one. You can buy a replacement cord online or at any home improvement store. Make sure that you buy a cord that matches the length and thickness of your original cord. To replace the cord, you will need to:

• Remove the curtains from the rod and set them aside.
• Remove the rod from the brackets and lay it flat on the ground.
• Cut off any excess fabric that is hanging over the edge of the rod.
• Fold one side of fabric over to cover up any exposed metal pieces or screws, then fold in half again and pin in place with safety pins or bobby pins.
• Pull out old cord from both ends of rod and discard it.
• Feed one end of new cord under top pulley on one end of rod.
• Maneuver it into track and through all sliders and carriers until it comes out of other end of rod.
• Tie knot at each end of cord to secure it in place.
• Unpin and unfold one side of fabric over one end of rod.
• Repeat steps 4 to 8 for other side of fabric over other end of rod.

Adjust tension of cord

If your cord is too loose or too tight, you will need to adjust its tension. To do this, you will need to:

• Pull out one end of cord from behind master carrier (the center part of rod that slides back and forth).
• Re-knot it at appropriate length (shorter for tighter tension; longer for looser tension).
• Repeat steps 1 and 2 for other end of cord on other side of master carrier.

Lubricate pulleys and sliders

If your pulleys or sliders are squeaky or sticky, you will need to lubricate them with some oil or grease. To do this, you will need to:

• Remove curtains from rod and set them aside.
• Remove rod from brackets and lay it flat on ground.
• Apply some oil or grease (such as WD-40) to each pulley and slider using spray bottle or cotton swab.
• Move each pulley and slider back and forth several times to distribute lubricant evenly.
• Wipe off any excess lubricant with soft cloth.

Replace pulleys or sliders if they are damaged or missing

If your pulleys or sliders are damaged or missing, you will need to replace them with new ones. You can buy replacement pulleys or sliders online or at any home improvement store. Make sure that you buy pulleys or sliders that match size and shape of your original ones. To replace pulleys or sliders, you will need to:

• Remove curtains from rod and set them aside.
• Remove rod from brackets and lay it flat on ground.
• Remove old pulleys or sliders from rod by unscrewing them or prying them off with screwdriver or pliers.
• Attach new pulleys or sliders to rod by screwing them on or snapping them in place.

Replace rod if it is bent or twisted

If your rod is bent or twisted, you will need to replace it with a new one. You can buy a replacement rod online or at any home improvement store. Make sure that you buy a rod that matches the length and style of your original rod. To replace the rod, you will need to:

• Remove curtains from rod and set them aside.
• Remove rod from brackets and lay it flat on ground.
• Remove cord from old rod by cutting it off or pulling it out.
• Attach cord to new rod by feeding it through track and tying knots at both ends.
• Attach new rod to brackets by screwing it on or snapping it in place.

Conclusion

Fixing a traverse curtain rod is not as hard as it may seem. You can do it yourself with some basic tools and materials, and save yourself some money and time. You can also use this opportunity to change up your curtains and give your windows a fresh look.

Dale

Dale is the colorful mind behind HuetifulHomes.com, where he shows you how to create a home that is as fun and fabulous as you are. He has a passion for color and a knack for DIY, with years of interior design experience he shares his tips and tricks on how to create a home that reflects your personality and style. He believes that color is the key to happiness, and he wants to help you make your home more Huetiful.