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How long do blackout blinds last? A broad average would be 12-15 years for good quality made-to-measure blackout blinds, and up to around 5 years for lower-end off-the-peg readymade blackout blinds.
That is quite the range of variation, because there are a few different factors to take into account when answering “how long do blackout blinds last” with any degree of accuracy. This blog post will help you to make an informed assessment about the potential longevity of any specific blackout blinds you might be considering buying.
How long do blackout blinds last? First up, check the quality
The quality of anything is naturally one of the main if not the most important factor in how long it will last. This means the quality of the materials, workmanship, and moving parts or mechanics of the thing combined.
We as blinds professionals can spot a £5 bargain bin special at 100 yards, but we also fully understand that you as someone with far better things to do than taking a PhD in window dressings might not know what to look for in this respect; and that even if you do, when you’re looking at website pages rather than two blinds physically hung side by side, it can be even harder.
The key takeaway here is that while price is not always an indicator of quality, “cheap” is usually a potential indicator of “lack of quality” or at least, “cause for suspicion.”
A lower priced readymade blackout blind from a well-known high street/online retailer is going to last for less time in good order that a made-to-measure blackout blind from a specialist blinds retailer, and this is no accident.
High street/online homewares stores like Dunelm, B&M, Argos and so on specialise in mass-produced lower-end goods at the keener end of the pricing spectrum, and this should not be a shocker to you nor an offence to them because this is their literal business model.
Readymade blinds are fast fashion, compared to made-to-measure blackout blinds being, well, if not quite couture, then at least, slow fashion or “designed to last” fashion.
Readymade blackout blinds are firstly often designed to be cut to size at home, which means that by design, their structural integrity, strength, and even the quality of the finish isn’t going to be the same as that of made-to-measure blinds. They’re also made with cheap, mass-produced parts, assembled abroad on production lines, and designed to be light enough to ship economically above all things.
This is why then that made-to-measure blackout blinds from a reputable retailer will remain functional and in good cosmetic order for 12-15 years, while a readymade blind used under the same conditions may last up to (but often, less than) 5 years.
Location and usage conditions
Not all blackout blinds are suitable for all applications and environments. Blinds for kitchens and bathrooms need to be made out of waterproof fabrics (like PVC or vinyl) in order to last; polyester blinds and other non-waterproof materials will suffer if they come into contact with water, or even just humidity in the air. They’re also apt to grow mould and mildew over time, which will make them smell and is usually almost impossible to clean off without ruining the fabric too.
How heavy-handed you are in operating your blind is a factor too; as mentioned, made-to-measure blackout blinds last for 12-15 years on average and as you might expect then, aren’t delicate. But how often you adjust or open/close your blinds and how rough you are about it will be a factor; as will how much interest in and/or respect for your blinds any children or pets that live with you have too!
How long do blackout blinds last in full sun? Can UV light destroy them?
Exposure to sunlight/UV light will not eventually destroy the blackout coating on your blinds and allow them to start letting the sun in through the fabric; that’s not a thing.
But over time, direct exposure to bright sun can result in fabric fading occurring to blackout blinds, but this is something that happens (if it happens at all) over the course of years rather than months.
The latest blackout fabrics used in the made-to-measure blinds industry are treated with a special finish to help to limit the extent and speed of this fading, although it will happen to all fabrics sooner or later; the onus being on “later” for well-made blinds.
If you are seeking blackout blinds for a room that’s particularly sunny and that you intend to keep for the long term, it is worth bearing in mind that fading occurs more slowly and less obviously in light coloured blackout blind fabrics than it does dark ones.
Cleaning your blackout blinds can actually extend their lifespan
The best and simplest way to actually increase the lifespan of blackout blinds is to keep them clean! If you just tack “doing the blinds” onto your regular cleaning routine when you vacuum, dust, or whatever you do in the room in question, this will only take a few moments each time and for most type of blackout blinds, simply necessitates a quick going over with a duster.
This helps to keep the blind looking good, and to avoid the operating mechanism and moving parts from getting furred up with dust or a combination of dust and humidity.
If you do end up with any marks or stains on a blackout blind, cleaning it off right away following the relevant instructions for the type of fabric you’re dealing with is important too.
Any questions about how long blackout blinds last, or thoughts to add? Tell me in the comments.
