Care & Maintenance
How to Remove Perfect Fit Blinds: Step-by-Step Guide
This guide covers everything, which type of Perfect Fit blind you have, how to get them down without forcing anything, what to do when they won't budge, how to leave the window frame looking tidy, and what to consider if you're renting.
What Type of Perfect Fit Blinds Do You Have?
Perfect Fit blinds come in several styles, and the removal process is broadly the same for all of them, but there are a few differences worth knowing before you start.
Roller (Perfect Fit Roller Blinds)
The most common type. A fabric roller sits inside a slimline Perfect Fit frame, which clips onto brackets that slide into the uPVC rubber gasket bead. No screws hold the blind itself in place. The whole assembly lifts out once the brackets release.
Venetian (Perfect Fit Venetian Blinds)
Aluminium slats inside a Perfect Fit frame. Slightly heavier than rollers. Same clip-bracket system, but the extra weight means a firmer pull is sometimes needed. Worth having a second person nearby for wider windows.
Pleated and Cellular (Perfect Fit Pleated / Honeycomb Blinds)
The most delicate of the three. The fabric is fragile and creases easily if the blind is twisted during removal. Handle these with care and lay them flat immediately after taking them down.
Door blinds
Perfect Fit blinds fitted to tilt-and-turn windows or French doors follow the same clip-bracket system, but the brackets are often positioned differently to allow the window or door to open freely. Check all four corners for brackets before pulling. Door installations sometimes have an additional bracket at the bottom that fixed-window installs don't.
What Tools Do You Need to Remove Roman Blinds?
For most Perfect Fit blinds, you need very little. That's the point of the system.
Tools
Step stool or ladder if your windows are high
A second pair of hands for large blinds or door panels
Flathead screwdriver (optional, a small one, around 3mm tip width)
If you choose to use a screwdriver, wrap the tip with a small piece of masking tape before you start. The release tabs on Perfect Fit brackets sit very close to the uPVC bead, and an unwrapped metal tip can scratch the frame. It takes ten seconds and saves a lot of annoyance.
How Do You Remove Perfect Fit Blinds Step by Step?
Step 1: Raise or lower the blind fully
Move the blind to whichever position gives you the most access to the top of the frame. For rollers, roll it up. For venetians, open and raise the slats. For pleated blinds, close and stack them at the top. You want the bottom of the blind clear of the window sill so the frame can tilt freely.
Step 2: Locate the bracket release tabs
Look at the top corners of the Perfect Fit frame where it meets the uPVC bead. You'll see small plastic clips or tabs where the frame locks onto the brackets. On most systems there are two brackets (one each side), though wider blinds and door panels may have three.
Step 3: Press the release tab on one side
Using your flathead screwdriver (tip taped, as mentioned), press gently inward on the first release tab. You'll feel or hear a small click as the frame releases from the bracket on that side. Don't pull the whole blind out yet. Keep one hand supporting the frame.
Step 4: Release the second side
Without letting go of the blind, move to the opposite side and press the second release tab. If there's a third bracket in the middle, work from the edges in. The frame should now be loose.
Step 5: Tilt the top of the frame toward you and lift
Tilt the top of the blind slightly toward you, then lift the whole frame upward and out. The brackets stay behind in the uPVC bead. The blind comes away cleanly. Set it down flat on a bed, sofa, or table. Don't prop them against the wall, which can warp pleated and roller fabrics.
Step 6: Remove the brackets (only if needed)
If you're replacing the blind with the same system, leave the brackets exactly where they are. A new Perfect Fit blind will clip straight back on. If you're switching to a different blind type or want the brackets gone entirely, slide each bracket straight out of the rubber gasket bead. No tools required. They simply slide out of the channel they were pressed into.
For blinds wider than 100cm or blinds on French doors, have someone hold the other side of the frame while you release each bracket. Perfect Fit frames are rigid but can flex under their own weight, and a sudden drop can crack the corner joints.
What Do You Do When Perfect Fit Blinds Won't Come Apart?
The release tab won't press down
This usually means the frame is sitting at a slight angle and is under tension.
Don't force it. First, try gently lifting the bottom of the blind upward by about a centimetre while pressing the tab.
This relieves the pressure and the tab will move freely.
If the blind has been in place for years, dust and grime can also work into the bracket mechanism.
A quick spray of of silicone lubricant on the clip, left for a minute before trying again, often does the job.
The bracket won't slide out of the bead
Rubber gasket beading hardens slightly over time, particularly on south-facing windows that get a lot of direct sun.
If the bracket feels stuck, don't yank it. Work it back and forth with a gentle rocking motion from top to bottom.
Running a warm (not hot) damp cloth along the bead first can soften it just enough to help.
On very old uPVC frames, the bead may have become almost rigid.
In that case, use a plastic trim removal tool rather than a screwdriver to avoid cracking the bead.
The frame clips feel broken or won't engage on reinstallation
The plastic tabs on Perfect Fit brackets can become brittle after several years, especially in rooms with extreme temperature changes (conservatories, kitchens).
If a tab snaps, the bracket won't hold.
You don't need a new blind.
Get a replacement bracket that slides into the existing bead position.
The blind has been fitted into a non-standard bead profile
Some older uPVC windows, particularly those from the late 1990s or early 2000s, have a slightly narrower or shallower gasket bead than the current standard.
If the brackets were originally forced in rather than sliding cleanly, they may resist coming out the same way.
Use a plastic pry tool and work around all four sides of the bracket, not just the clip tab.
How Do You Fix the Window Frame After Removing Perfect Fit Blinds?
The honest answer is that usually, you don't need to.
Because Perfect Fit brackets slide into the rubber gasket bead rather than screwing into the uPVC or the wall, there's no hole to fill and no adhesive residue to clean up.
Once the brackets are out, the bead returns to its original position. Wipe the frame down with soapy water to remove any dust marks from the bracket edges, and that's it.
If any previous occupant or fitter used adhesive pads to secure the brackets (rare but not unheard of), remove any residue with a uPVC-safe adhesive remover.
Do not use white spirit or acetone on uPVC frames. Both will cloud and damage the surface.
Can You Remove Perfect Fit Blinds in a Rented Property?
Yes, in most cases, but check your tenancy agreement first.
Perfect Fit blinds are specifically designed for rental properties because they require no drilling and leave no marks on walls or frames. That said, if the blinds were provided by the landlord as part of the property, removing them without permission could still be considered a breach of your tenancy agreement, even if no damage results.
If you want to replace the landlord's blinds with your own, ask in writing and keep the reply. Store the original blinds flat and undamaged somewhere safe. Rolled up and standing in a corner for months will damage roller fabric and crease pleated fabric beyond recovery. A flat space under a bed works well.
When you move out, refit the original blinds and leave them in the condition you found them. Perfect Fit brackets make reinstallation as simple as the removal.
What Can You Replace Perfect Fit Blinds With?
If you're removing the blinds entirely rather than swapping like for like, here are four options that work well on uPVC windows.
Another Perfect Fit blind in a different style or fabric
If the window is standard uPVC with the right bead profile, any Perfect Fit blind drops straight onto your existing brackets. This is by far the simplest swap: no new installation, no new holes, no measuring for different fitting depths.
Day & Night blinds (also available in Perfect Fit)
If you want a bit more light control or a softer dual-fabric look, day and night blinds are available in the Perfect Fit system. The removal and installation process is identical.
Roller blinds on a face-fixed or top-fix bracket
If you're removing a Perfect Fit system completely and want a standard roller blind, a face-fixed bracket onto the wall above the window is the most common approach. It does involve drilling, so check your tenancy agreement if you're renting.
Shutters
The biggest upgrade you can make to a uPVC window. Full-height plantation shutters sit in their own frame and give you precise control over light and privacy year-round. They're a permanent installation, so better suited to homeowners than renters, but they add real value to a property.
At Homefair, we can help you find the right replacement for your windows, whether you're sticking with the Perfect Fit system or moving to something completely different. Browse our range or get in touch for a free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you remove Perfect Fit blinds without any tools?
Often, yes. Many Perfect Fit systems release with finger pressure on the bracket tabs alone, no screwdriver needed. A flathead screwdriver gives you more pushing force if the tabs are stiff, and it's worth having one nearby before you start.
Will removing Perfect Fit blinds damage my uPVC window?
Not if you follow the process correctly. The brackets slide into the rubber gasket bead and leave no marks when removed. The only risk is scratching the bead with a metal tool used carelessly, which is why taping the screwdriver tip is worth doing.
Do I need to remove the brackets when I take the blind down?
Only if you're switching to a different type of blind. If you're replacing like for like, the brackets stay put and the new blind clips straight on.
Can Perfect Fit blinds be refitted after removal?
Yes. Clip the frame back onto the brackets, press until you hear it lock, and it's done. This is one of the main reasons Perfect Fit blinds suit renters, you can take them down for cleaning or decorating and put them back up with no fuss.
What if my Perfect Fit blind is on a tilt-and-turn window?
The process is the same, but check for a bottom bracket as well as the two at the top. Tilt-and-turn installations sometimes have a third bracket to keep the blind stable when the window is in its tilt position. Release them in the same way: press the tab, tilt the frame, and lift.