Swish Curtain Track Instructions

Every Swish curtain track arrives with a fitting leaflet, but those leaflets are easily lost — especially when a track has been above your window since the mid-1990s. This page pulls together the instructions you are most likely to need, covering assembly, cord re-threading, curtain hanging and ongoing care.

Reading Your Track Before You Fit

Before any fitting, check that the parts supplied match the packaging list. A complete Swish kit typically contains:

• Track length (one or more pieces)
• A set of Leverlock brackets, usually one per 50 cm of track plus one for each end
• Gliders — roughly one per 10 cm of track
• End stops — two for a hand-drawn track, two plus cord-end housings for a corded track
• Overlap arm, if ordered
• Screws and, for some kits, wall plugs
• Printed fitting leaflet

If any of these are missing, stop and order the replacement part. Do not substitute a screw or a glider from a different kit, as the diameters and lengths are not always identical.

Assembling a Corded Track

On a corded Swish track, the cord runs from a cord-pull at one end, through the master glider, around an internal pulley at the far end, and back to join itself in a loop. The master glider and its partner move in opposite directions as the cord is pulled, which is what closes the pair of curtains together.

1. Slide the master glider into the track at the cord-pull end, making sure the open eye of the glider faces downwards.
2. Slide in the remaining gliders, followed by the companion master glider.
3. Fit the cord-end housing at the far end and press home.
4. Feed the cord through the cord-pull end, across the track through the internal hole of the first master glider, down to the far end, around the pulley, and back through the companion master glider.
5. Knot the two ends of the cord together so the loop runs freely. Feed the loose ends through the cord tidy or tensioner and fix the tidy to the wall about 1 metre below the track.

Draw the curtains open and closed a few times to check the tension is even. If the cord slips, tighten the knot; if it binds, loosen it by a millimetre.

Re-threading a Frayed Cord

A cord frays after many years of use and should be replaced at the first sign of damage. Most replacement cords are sold in generous lengths, with a knot diagram on the packaging.

1. Lift the track down off its Leverlock brackets and lay it on a clean floor.
2. Cut the old knot, pull the cord out through the master gliders and discard it.
3. Follow the knot diagram to attach one end of the new cord to the first master glider.
4. Feed the cord through the same path as the original (it helps to have a second person holding the track).
5. Knot the loose end to the companion master glider and trim any excess.
6. Refit the track onto its brackets and test.

Hanging and Adjusting Curtains

For pencil-pleat curtains, pull the gathering cords on the heading tape until the curtain is the correct width, then tie the cords off neatly in a small bundle at one side. Distribute the pleats evenly before inserting the hooks.

For pinch-pleat curtains with a hand-pleated heading, fit the combination hooks first and use them to form the pleats. Insert the hooks into the eye of each glider, starting from the master glider and working outwards. Fine-tune the height of the curtain by moving the hooks up or down to a different row of pockets on the tape.

Looking After Your Swish Track

Once a year, give the track a simple service:

• Draw the curtains back and wipe the inside of the channel with a dry microfibre cloth.
• Check each bracket screw and tighten any that have worked loose.
• Inspect the cord for fraying; replace at the first sign.
• Remove any gliders that have cracked and replace with identical new ones.
• If the draw feels heavy, apply a light spray of silicone lubricant along the inside of the channel.

A ten-minute service each spring keeps a Swish track feeling like new.

Downloadable PDF Guides

Printed leaflets are useful, but the PDF versions are even better because you can zoom in on the diagrams. The most frequently requested downloads cover:

• Standard PVC hand-drawn track fitting
• PVC corded track assembly and cord re-threading
• Aluminium corded track fitting and overlap-arm installation
• Bay window assembly with factory-formed corner joints
• Ceiling-fix kit instructions and joist-finding tips

Keep a copy of the relevant PDF on your phone during fitting; it is much easier than trying to handle a paper leaflet from the top of a stepladder.

When to Call In Help

Most Swish installations are firmly within DIY territory. Consider calling a professional fitter when:

• The track is very long or the curtains extremely heavy
• The window is a large irregular bay with unusual angles
• The wall is a difficult substrate (solid concrete, old lath-and-plaster)
• The track is being combined with a concealed pelmet or a blackout system that needs precise alignment

Most local curtain fitters will happily install a customer-supplied Swish kit, which is often the cheapest route to a perfect result on a tricky window.