Nothing is safe from wear and tear. Time gets to all of us. Fortunately, there is a subreddit called 'Fix It' where people post pictures of the things that they need help with, and the members of the community provide them with clear instructions on how to take care of the issue, saving them time, money, and a whole lot of headaches.
So in order to remind you that becoming self-sufficient doesn't mean isolating yourself, we put together some of the most popular cases we found on 'Fix It.' From broken appliances to damaged furniture, where there's a will, there's a way!
#1 Was Quoted $500 To Put This Back In Place, How Many Would I Reattach Myself?
u/_DapperDanMan-:
That's flashing, not siding. Tuck it back in, under the shingles and nail it into the wall with roofing nails 1-1/4" long. Put a blob of 100% silicon on the nail heads. Don't fall off the roof.
That's flashing, not siding. Tuck it back in, under the shingles and nail it into the wall with roofing nails 1-1/4" long. Put a blob of 100% silicon on the nail heads. Don't fall off the roof.
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180points
#2 How Can I Fix This? Daughter Was Showering And Randomly Leaned Into The Wall, Causing This
u/therealdarkcirc:
That looks like you’ve got some bigger troubles in that wall.
That looks like you’ve got some bigger troubles in that wall.
I’d start pulling tile and see where the backer went.
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170points
#3 Can This Concrete Pad Be Repaired?
u/HGwoodie:
If by "repaired" you mean dug up and replaced the answer is yes.
If by "repaired" you mean dug up and replaced the answer is yes.
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170points
Such wholesome communities aren't exclusive to the internet. Since a woman named Martine Postma established what is considered to be the first repair café in Amsterdam in 2009, the concept of free events at which volunteers with valuable skills assist participants with broken possessions has spread far and wide.
Over 50 cafés operate throughout the Netherlands, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, people have reportedly begun convening regularly at coffee shops and event spaces in New York, Chicago, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Seattle, and other cities to fix busted items.
#4 Did Someone Try To Burglarize Me?
u/coza97:
Certainly looks that way, no reason this would happen by itself.
Certainly looks that way, no reason this would happen by itself.
u/No_Regrats_42
I install these and fix them for a living.
There are two reasons why this would happen.
1. Someone was trying to break back into their home as they had locked the keys inside.
2. Someone else tried to break in.
2. Someone else tried to break in.
This is the width of most crowbars. The idiot probably thought you could just lift it out from the outside(you can't.... For.. obvious reasons)
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146points
#5 How Can I Fix These Wrinkles In My New Oven?
u/fruitmask:
This is one of those things that you fix by getting your money back. I don't even know wtf I'm looking at, but I'd bet my extended warranty that it's not fixable.
This is one of those things that you fix by getting your money back. I don't even know wtf I'm looking at, but I'd bet my extended warranty that it's not fixable.
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134points
#6 Does Anybody Know What Would Cause This Water Jug To Do This ? We Have Had This For A Year. This Is My 10th Jug And This Is The First Time This Has Happened
u/aviwrekz:
There is a clog in the airline... You typically would get a glugluglug after dispensing water, which I'm sure you are not. Needs to be cleaned.
There is a clog in the airline... You typically would get a glugluglug after dispensing water, which I'm sure you are not. Needs to be cleaned.
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132points
But tinkering has been becoming an increasingly harder challenge. Unlike the things made by older generations, it’s hard to get inside an iPod, and even when you do, you face a battery and computer chip rather than moveable components that can be adjusted and replaced.
Even the businesses that supply the repair industry have become increasingly scarce. For example, in an attempt to boost plunging profits, RadioShack switched from selling cables, connectors, and widgets for garage and basement hobbyists to selling smartphones and other wireless devices all the way back in 2009.
#7 Trying To Preserve My Mother’s Handwriting In Lipstick On A Mirror?
u/Joe-pineapplez:
Take a photo of it and print it. A transfer of the words could be used on the back of the mirror and the ‘silver’ could be engraved/sand blasted off.
Take a photo of it and print it. A transfer of the words could be used on the back of the mirror and the ‘silver’ could be engraved/sand blasted off.
I used to work in a glass shop.
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130points
#8 Help Get These Off
u/CYPH3R_22:
I buy the all purpose kitchen cleaner from the dollar store and a tooth brush. Works great. It’ll take you about 30 seconds and $5. Don’t brush too hard or it’ll be super clean then you’ll have to clean the rest of the seat to match
I buy the all purpose kitchen cleaner from the dollar store and a tooth brush. Works great. It’ll take you about 30 seconds and $5. Don’t brush too hard or it’ll be super clean then you’ll have to clean the rest of the seat to match
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125points
#9 Is There Any Validity To This? Does It Make Your Door Harder To Kick In? Seen On Facebook
u/Correct-Junket-1346:
A door is only as strong as the nearest window.
A door is only as strong as the nearest window.
u/Strongit:
Yep, I can personally attest that this works. A few years ago around Christmas, there was a string of garage break-ins in my neighborhood. Everyone except us were broken into and had things stolen. I went out back the day after and the thief had tried to get in and got a closer look; the wood around the trim was splintered and there was a big dent in the door where they tried to kick it in.
Yep, I can personally attest that this works. A few years ago around Christmas, there was a string of garage break-ins in my neighborhood. Everyone except us were broken into and had things stolen. I went out back the day after and the thief had tried to get in and got a closer look; the wood around the trim was splintered and there was a big dent in the door where they tried to kick it in.
u/willreadfile13:
Most people give up after one or two attempts. No one wants to risk making noise and getting caught.
Most people give up after one or two attempts. No one wants to risk making noise and getting caught.
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119points
The societal shift toward products that are untouchable, robotic, and useless when single parts break down has given rise to a number of negative consequences, such as growing landfills.
Overall, the U.S. produces 268 million tons of trash annually. The average American throws away 4.5 pounds of trash per day, compared to 2.68 pounds in 1960, and most of it is comprised of recyclable items.
While we can't just slash the number in half in one go, the subreddit 'Fix It' is doing its part.
#10 Why?!
u/4551016:
My guess is the door seal is worn out and needs to be replaced. Or you put dish soap in the washer...
My guess is the door seal is worn out and needs to be replaced. Or you put dish soap in the washer...
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117points
#11 A Friend Decided To Clean This With Alcohol In The House He Just Moved In (Rental). Is There Anything He Can Do (Apart From Fleeing The Country)?
u/comscatangel:
If this represents your friend's intelligence and skill level then no, your friend is not qualified to refinish furniture.
If this represents your friend's intelligence and skill level then no, your friend is not qualified to refinish furniture.
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115points
#12 The Tap Hose No Longer Retracts, How Do I Fix This?
u/1northfield:
There is normally a weight at the back of the sink that is attached to the other end of the hose, it’s likely that this has become hitched onto something, you should be able to dislodge it and pull the sprayer back up.
There is normally a weight at the back of the sink that is attached to the other end of the hose, it’s likely that this has become hitched onto something, you should be able to dislodge it and pull the sprayer back up.
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114points
#13 Oven Glass Panel Exploded Without Warning. What To Do?
u/slapcornea:
I am an appliance repair tech in Canada but I am pretty sure this is the same in the US (if that's where you are). Call the warranty number for this range and tell them what happened and that it is currently a danger to your family. No matter how old this is, the manufacture will repair it for free. This is true for all brands in Canada and likely the USA due to several class action lawsuits.
I am an appliance repair tech in Canada but I am pretty sure this is the same in the US (if that's where you are). Call the warranty number for this range and tell them what happened and that it is currently a danger to your family. No matter how old this is, the manufacture will repair it for free. This is true for all brands in Canada and likely the USA due to several class action lawsuits.
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112points
#14 How To Easily Remove These Metal Shavings From This Magnet??
u/Bergwookie:
A stronger magnet, put in a plastic bag, you stroke over the shavings, get them on the new magnet, lift off the plastic bag and the shavings fall down.
A stronger magnet, put in a plastic bag, you stroke over the shavings, get them on the new magnet, lift off the plastic bag and the shavings fall down.
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111points
#15 Multiple Outlets In New Apartment Caked With Paint Like This One. Any Tips On How To Get This Off Safely And Clear Out The Grounding Prong Holes Too?
u/Unlikely_Election649
The best thing to do is replace these.
The best thing to do is replace these.
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111points
#16 My Roommate Knocked A Giant Bottle Of Laundry Detergent On The Carpet. This Is After We Wiped Up As Much As We Could With Paper Towels. How Do We Fix? Help?!?!?
u/keepinitoldskool:
Water and a shop vac. Or rent one of those rug doctors, just don't add soap to it. Laundry detergent isn't such a pain in the ass to clean up because it doesn't foam up much.
Water and a shop vac. Or rent one of those rug doctors, just don't add soap to it. Laundry detergent isn't such a pain in the ass to clean up because it doesn't foam up much.
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109points
#17 Landlord's Table. What Can I Do? How Screwed Am I? Coin For Scale
u/DogRiverRoad:
That is never coming out. people commenting "you can sand that out" don't have a damn clue what they are talking about. You try and sand that out and you are going straight through the veneer, no the table looks even more s**t. You can try stripping it and using oxalic acid over the whole top, but that it not going to make this disappear. The righ thing to do is tell you landlord and offer to buy the table off them (not in its current condition, but the use condition it was before the burn mark)
That is never coming out. people commenting "you can sand that out" don't have a damn clue what they are talking about. You try and sand that out and you are going straight through the veneer, no the table looks even more s**t. You can try stripping it and using oxalic acid over the whole top, but that it not going to make this disappear. The righ thing to do is tell you landlord and offer to buy the table off them (not in its current condition, but the use condition it was before the burn mark)
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104points
#18 Cat Broke Toilet, Can It Be Fixed?
u/Mtolivepickle:
Replace the toilet. No ifs, and, buts, or maybes. That will cut you faster than you can imagine. It’s not worth it.
Replace the toilet. No ifs, and, buts, or maybes. That will cut you faster than you can imagine. It’s not worth it.
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103points
#19 This Stupid Thing Beeps Even After Changing Battery. Why?!?! Am I Supposed To Do Something More?
u/wdcpdq:
CO monitors expire. There should be a date on the back. 5 years maybe? If it’s expired, you’ll need a new one.
CO monitors expire. There should be a date on the back. 5 years maybe? If it’s expired, you’ll need a new one.
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99points
#20 How Do I Go About Repairing This Door?
u/overboost_t88:
You replace it. its a hollow core door. You can get a slab door and remove hardware and use the old door as a template. OR you can get a whole pre-hung door and frame. remove trim and remove old frame. Install, shim and level door frame and replace door trim.
You replace it. its a hollow core door. You can get a slab door and remove hardware and use the old door as a template. OR you can get a whole pre-hung door and frame. remove trim and remove old frame. Install, shim and level door frame and replace door trim.
Report
95points