Repair Hacks

Recycling is great, but to have the biggest effect on reducing waste, we need to cut down on the amount of stuff we buy, and maintain and repair the things that still have plenty of life left in them.

We’ve selected some of our favourite repair hacks for you...

Electricals

Blocked headphone port on your smartphone?

Watch our video or follow these instructions... Gently push a cotton bud into the port. Twist to wipe away grime and dirt.

TV sound funny?

Try different sources: DVD, set-top box, games console. If the problem only affects one source, then it’s likely to be down to how that source is connected - check the cables and connections. If that fails, factory reset to restore all the settings.

PC running slow?

Try running a ‘Disk Cleanup’ (Windows) to remove leftover redundant files. Sort your files and folders in order of size using ‘WinDirStat’ (Windows) so you can see what’s taking up the space.

Fuzzy TV picture?

It may be caused by interference. Try putting a sheet of aluminium foil between any electronics that are stacked on top of each other (like your satellite receiver box or games console).

Textiles

Get out tough make-up stains

Remove ink or make-up stains on cotton fabric with normal white toothpaste! Rub a pea size piece on the stain, rinse and repeat as many times as you need until it’s gone. Thanks to Super Looper for this suggestion!

Is your suede worse for wear?

Use a nail file to remove dirt from suede. File the suede shoes or bag in the areas of dirt or clouding to bring it back to life and remove the stains!

Bring your knitwear back to life

Use a comb to de-pill your cashmere and wool clothes. Do not pull the pills off with your fingers and do not use a razor or scissors as it damages the fiber. Instead, use a cashmere comb and your clothes will look as good as new.

Toes poking out of your socks?

Don’t throw them away, get darning! It’s easier than you think, and if you don’t have a darning egg, a tennis ball will work just as well. Check out Socko who are on a mission to get us mending our socks!

Let your swimwear relax

After washing, lay your swimwear out flat to dry and then make sure you keep them in a shady, dark place, as exposure to light can cause colours to fade over time.

Prolong the life of your activewear

Handwashing will make it last longer. Always wash in cold water (below 35C) as heat damages threads and weakens elastic. A 30-minute pre-soak in cold water and baking soda will help shift grime and dirt.

Homeware

Can’t remove an old screw?

If the screw-head looks damaged, try laying an elastic band over the top and press the screwdriver down onto the elastic band. It works!

Struggling to get paint off your hands?

Next time, rub Vaseline onto them before you pick up the brush or roller. The paint will slide off with ease.

Re-sealing a bath?

Replacing the silicone around a bath is a simple job. But make sure you half fill the bath with water first. The weight of the water will ensure the sealant won’t crack when the bath is used later.

You’ve nailed it!

Always have nails and screws easily to hand when DIYing. Put a small magnet in your shirt pocket and hey presto - screws and nails will stick to you like magic!

Fixing a dripping tap?

First thing you need to do is to put the plug into the sink - that’ll stop screws and other small parts falling down the plug hole.

Bicycles

Think you’ve got a puncture?

Locate punctures by inflating the item (bicycle tyre, paddling pool, jumbo inflatable unicorn etc.) and submerging it under water. Look out for air bubbles to show the exact spot of the puncture.

Use toothbrushes on your chain

Tape two old toothbrushes together (with the heads facing each other) and voila! A perfect tool for cleaning your bicycle chain.

Cleaning can save you money!

Bicycle chains and sprockets aren’t cheap to replace, so save yourself some money by regularly cleaning and lubricating the chain, cogs and pedals. The more often you do it, the less time it takes.

Invest in a torque wrench

Bicycles are held together entirely by nuts and bolts. Regularly make sure they’re all nice and tight, but not too tight or you’ll damage the threads. To be sure, you could invest in a handy torque wrench.

Handlebars seen better days?

Re-wrapping them with handlebar tape is a really simple job and they’ll look as good as new. Then move on to rewrap your tennis racket, badminton racket, squash racket...

Feeling inspired

We hope those tips, tricks and hacks have whetted your appetite for repair. Keep an eye on our @londonrecyclesuk social media channels during Repair Week for more handy do-it-yourself, three-step hacks.

Let us know your favourite, or share your own nuggets of wisdom!