How to Repair Some Commonly Broken Things

You should have the right to repair your stuff, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Sometimes, looking at some random broken something-or-other, trying to figure out where to even start with how to repair it, it’s tempting to think that whatever broken object that lies before you is probably actually even on sale at Target…

But no! Don’t go there! (Like, ever. Target makes my feet hurt, and whenever I go there I lose my mind and want to buy ALL THE THINGS.)

Keep your money, keep that gas in your car, and keep that broken something-or-other out of the waste stream, because someone, somewhere along the interwebs has probably already figured out how to repair it, and they’re happy to tell you how.

How to repair…

To get you started, here are some tutes to show you how to repair some commonly broken things.

1. bean bag. Because you can’t have all the corn kernels spilling out of your corn hole bean bag, can you?

2. coffee mug. You can repair that broken handle, and it’ll even be dishwasher safe!

3. deck chair. Sometimes (okay, often) the repair looks better than the original job!

4. dressmaker’s dummy. Someone bust your mannequin? Fix her right up with this tute.

5. hole in your clothing. There are right ways and wrong ways to patch your clothes. Here are the right ways.

6. missing button. A needle, matching thread, and extra button are all you need. Even if you can’t sew, you can sew on a button.

7. missing puzzle piece. One missing puzzle piece can ruin an entire puzzle… unless you get creative and replace it.

8. rip in your clothes. These are the best methods for mending torn clothing.

9. roller shade. There is little that looks trashier than a ripped roller shade. Fortunately, this roller shade repair will make it look gorgeous.

photo by William Wright

10. scratched furniture. This Old House tells you how to fix it!

11. separated pocket. Pockets are often surprisingly easy to just pop back on.

12. table cloth. Mend the tear in your table cloth.

13. umbrella. It’s quick and easy to repair your umbrella’s webbing. The repair doesn’t last forever, but it will last you for a few more rainy outings.