How To Free-Up Overhead Concertina Blinds?

[HKF]

Hi all
We have two large roof windows with concertina blinds. They're always difficult to open/close. They're really stiff and seem to jam. Hubby has given me the following three options that we have to hand. Will any of them work if I put a bit on a cloth and rub it onto the wiry thing at each side, please?

1. Parkside PTFE Spray
2. Ballistol Bike Dry Lube - Teflon Spray
3. Muc-Off Wet Lube

Bear in mind that it gets very, very hot up there! So much so that in the summer I have to put gloves on to open/close them, as the aluminium (or whatever it is) gets unbearably hot to the touch!! So, I need something that will still work when it's roasting hot.

So, will any of the above work, or is there a better solution, please?

Thank you

 

[Puddleduck]

I use beeswax polish on our automatic garage door and that frees it up very well.

Whatever you use it should be with a very light touch.

 

[rosalan]

I do not know! Awaiting solution.

 

[HKF]

I use beeswax polish on our automatic garage door and that frees it up very well.

Whatever you use it should be with a very light touch.

Thank you, Puddleduck. I will be very gentle, as the last think I need is for something else to go wrong!!

 

[Sasbo]

I use Car Pro Perl on all the sliding surfaces and seals on my motorhome.

CarPro PERL Coat Plastic & Rubber Protectant 1 Liter by CarPro Innovative https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004UM9XQG/?tag=mhf04-21

It also has the added benefit of a good trim matt finish polish when diluted 10:1 and tyre wall finish when diluted 5:1.

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[prenteye]

We have reflective blackout blinds on our little Exsis. One got stuck and wouldn’t retract.

Read up that you can pull the blind up and rotate 45° so you can remove the closing mechanism. Then pull out the blind carefully as far as it will go.

After that you can see the ends of the roller that the blind retracts on. Silicon spray both ends of the roller trying to get to the washer area.

Release and pull up and down on the blind and maybe spray a bit more to get to other side of roller.

Let the roller take back some of the blind taking care to insert the sides into the frame. Then reinsert the closing mechanism. A few more up and down pulls to check it’s all working.

On ours it freed up nicely saving taking it all apart.

Similar method could work on your roof blinds.

As always take care not to damage the blind or mechanism. Gently gently.

Also an opportunity to clean the lower bit of the blind.

 

[Masman]

I use furniture polish evrry year. Seems to work well. Another thing my book tells me is to never close it completely when hot.Leave a small gap. There's more chance of warping the plastic which makes it stiffer to open.

 

[scotjimland]

I would suggest that the blind rails need cleaned, rather than lubricated..

Dust, cooking grease etc clings to the rail grooves.. lubrication may help but only a short term fix and may well make them worse long term

I would use a small cloth or Q tips and a cleaning agent to wipe the rails .. or possibly a bathroom spray cleaner .. without seeing it's hard to be precise .. but I wouldn't spray with any lubricant.

 

[Itsmcb]

Hi all
We have two large roof windows with concertina blinds. They're always difficult to open/close. They're really stiff and seem to jam. Hubby has given me the following three options that we have to hand. Will any of them work if I put a bit on a cloth and rub it onto the wiry thing at each side, please?

1. Parkside PTFE Spray
2. Ballistol Bike Dry Lube - Teflon Spray
3. Muc-Off Wet Lube

Bear in mind that it gets very, very hot up there! So much so that in the summer I have to put gloves on to open/close them, as the aluminium (or whatever it is) gets unbearably hot to the touch!! So, I need something that will still work when it's roasting hot.

So, will any of the above work, or is there a better solution, please?

Thank you

View attachment 797941

That PTFE spray is excellent. Maybe clean the rails as suggested (if they need it) and then use the PTFE spray. It's excellent, non-stick stuff. I've been trying to buy more but not seen it in Lidl for ages.

Edit, PTFE is the basis for non-stick frying pans and saucepans so heat won't affect it

 

[jockaneezer]

I just use a bit of Pledge or Mr Sheen furniture polish on ours, I think they're both silicon based ?

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