Readers Respond: What Have You Repaired Recently?

Responses: 50

By Erin Huffstetler, About.com Guide

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I am 73 years old and just installed 11 kitchen cabinets by myself ... I am slow, but this old lady did it ... So get to your to-do list.
—Guest virginia morris

Water in the kitchen sink was poorly draining. I put baking soda in the hole, poured vinegar (a cup), let it set, then turned on the hot water spigot, and let it run for three minutes. Used the plunger, and presto the clog was gone.
—Guest Alice Bortner

My son-in-law installed a closet system for me, which consisted of, in addition to other features, shelves for shoe storage. The shelves are supported by small pegs that fit into holes on the support walls. The pegs are small and the shelves come up a little short of fitting wall-to-wall. Anyway, sometimes they come loose and pancake on each other. To solve this problem, I aligned the shelves inside to the outside supporting wall, and screwed them in so that they are somewhat permanent. No more pancaking shoe shelves!
—gmccarroll

I used Goop from the local hardware, and glued the soles back together. Hasn't released! It works great on other things also.
—Guest Bernie St George.

I use Goop from the local hardware to glue the soles back together. Hasn't released! It works great on other things also.
—Guest Bernie St George.

I really don't like buying shoes every month (I walk everywhere I have to go). I was watching this show called "She's Crafty," and decided why not take foam brushes apart and glue in shoes like soles? Guess what? It's worked now for two months.
—Guest claudine

Ten years ago I bought a new hand mixer. Within one year the little plastic slot that holds the metal beaters became so loose that the beaters would fall out. I called a local repair person and he told me it would cost more to repair than it was worth. It was a Kitchenaid and I bought it for $60, so was very upset that it fell apart so quickly. I decided to take matters into my own hands and repaired it myself. I turned it upside down and put a little hot glue in the space where the beaters fit. I pushed the beaters in place and voila my mixer was working perfectly. I am still using the same mixer now, with no problems. The only drawback is I have to take the whole mixer to sink and rinse the beaters off, because they are permanantly attached to the mixer. This has never been a problem and it didn't cost a penny to fix it. I use my hot glue gun for everything and it has made me a super fixer upper.
—Guest Gail Stiffler

I repaired my 16 year old big screen TV myself through tvrepairkits.com. I was amazed at the results. I saved myself more than 400 bucks, and saved my big screen. Very rewarding. Before you buy a new TV. Check it out
—Guest gus gus

I live in a 90-year-old house. The plumbing is at least 50yo. When the mixing faucet in the master bath started to leak and wouldn't stop, I replaced it with a single-handle model. After I installed the new faucet, I had to find a way to extend the hot water hose, since, at some point in the distant past, someone had moved the sink over about 5", and the hose supplied in the faucet package wasn't long enough. After much searching I was able to find a length of hose in the hardware store that had an adapter on one end that I removed so it would screw onto the existing hose. Success! No leaks and the water bill dropped about $10.
—Guest Regretela

I accidently scraped the side of an older vehicle. The scrapes went down to bare metal and in to the molding. The car looked bad, beyond the already fading paint. I bought primer and matched the auto paint (spray can), masking taped and newspapered the car. The job came out awesome and looks like the rest of the car. Total cost was $14.00 for everything. Beat that MAACO.
—Guest Try Anything Once

The bottom draw to my dishwasher was not discharging water. When I opened the door it was filled with water. Trying to close the door and hit Cancel (which should empty it) only resulted in a hum. I emptied the water by hand with a cup (hardest part of the job). Once it was empty of water and the top draw empty of dishes I pulled the unit out from under the cabinet. Once free, I gentle tilted the unit on its side to get access to the bottom. There is a plastic cover that protects the bottom hoses and wires. It is easily removed with for screws. I then disconnected the hoses from the pump and removed the two screws holding the pump. Inside the pump inlet is a tiny spinning grinder. A small piece of glass had gotten stuck in this device. Once freed the grinder was free to spin. Assembly is reverse process - everything went back together easily. The washer now fills up with water and discharges - lesson - even a tiny piece of glass can bring this washer to its knees!
—jaceti

My front load washing machine quit after filling with water. Multiple attempts to change cycles, reset machine, unplug...no go. I looked up the problem online, found others with the same problem and a very easy fix was explained. I got picture directions for step-by-step and did it myself. Cleaning the filter was very simple, saved me $ and time. Seek and ye shall find! The answer is usually out 'there' somewhere.
—Guest Kris B

I've recently restitched my belt's fraying stitches. Made a temporary patch to a leaking waste pipe with self-amalgamating tape until I can get a proper fitting. Replaced a fuse. Replaced a modem. Why is my place falling apart all of a sudden?
—Guest Teek

I'm living proof that gals can do anything. I fix everything from clothes to houses. Had to fix my frozen broken water line a couple of weeks ago in my 130 year old school house that I've been rehabbing for about 5 years. My heat lamp for the pump came unplugged. I've done all the planning, construction, plumbing, wiring all myself using mostly salvaged materials from cleaning up construction sites. Built a beam with the ceiling joists I took out so I could put in a second floor. I heat the place with wood, a simple radiant heat stove, cutting all my firewood myself. I'll be 53 in March so this helps keep me in shape! I also will do simple (AND SOMETIMES NOT SO SIMPLE) repairs on my vehicles and equipment. I hope to be done with my school house in the summer of 2011. I've also tuned and refinished my piano. Annie
—Guest Annieatthekeys

My 25 year old bench grinder (kind used to sharpen tools etc) quit. When you turned it on, it would just sit there and hum. If you spun the grinding wheel it would take off and work ok till the next time you turned it on. I took it apart (after unplugging it) and found that the centrifugal switch mechanism had slid back on the shaft. I just repositioned it and tightened it's lockdown screw. I reassembled the grinder and it works perfectly Saved myself $60.00 (the cost of a new grinder at Canadian Tire).
—Guest Kimberley

Erin Huffstetler
Frugal Living Guide