We live in a world that creates a lot of easy-to-replace items that may have suffered from a little wear and tear. Clothes with loose stitching and suitcases with a broken zip are usually discarded and replaced by a newer version.
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The trouble with throwing away as much as we do is that all too often our discarded belongings end up in a landfill when they could have been repaired. In addition to this, we end up spending a lot more money than we really need to. More often than not a quick repair can make those clothes look as good as new again allowing us to feel good about wearing them once more.
Let's now take a look at some of the everyday items you can repair instead of throwing away:
Clothes
Jackets with loose or missing buttons can easily be repaired with a bit of needle and thread. If you're unsure about how to sew a button back on watch a few videos online and pick up a skill that was frequently used by those who lived by the 'Make do and mend' rule.
Once you're handy with a needle and thread you can repair the hems on trousers, cuffs on shirts and tears in your favourite t-shirt. Taking just a few minutes, a quick repair can add a new lease of life to your clothes meaning there's less waste in the bin and more money in your pocket.
If you're unable to repair your items of clothing you may want to think about asking a local sewing company to do the job instead. Repair costs are usually quite low and they'll save you forking out for a new item of clothing.
Sunglasses
Many of us reach for our sunglasses when the sun starts to shine, and while we rely on them to keep the sun out of our eyes sunglasses are quite easy to break. If one of the temples (The part you place on your ears) is a little loose why not tighten it up using a screwdriver? This could potentially save you a lot of money as we all know that sunglasses can be quite expensive.
If you don't want to repair your sunglasses you may want to ask someone else to do the job for you. Companies such as thesunglassfix are more than happy to repair your shades and return them to you in tip-top condition giving your $200 shades a new lease of life.
Trainers/Joggers
Many of us love to wear nothing more than a nice pair of trainers/joggers. However, wearing your favourite pair as often as you can means that after a while the heels may become damaged and the soles could wear down. Rather than throwing your favourite pair away you may instead wish to buy glue that's ideal for repairing footwear.
Typically costing less than $10, the glue can give your footwear a new lease of life. If you simply don't have the time or inclination to repair your trainers/joggers yourself a local cobbler may be happy to do the repairs for you.
Suitcases/Laptop Bags
When we buy a new suitcase or laptop bag we often expect it to last many years but if you're a frequent traveller you may find that after a while your suitcase no longer looks as good as it once did. A zip may have broken, some of the lining may have come away and with a loose handle dragging your heavy suitcase around a busy airport is not going to be a lot of fun.
Most dry cleaners are happy to fix the lining and a zip on a broken suitcase, but before you pay them for repairs you may want to check the manufacturer's warranty. If your suitcase is still under warranty you could get it repaired or replaced for free.
If you tend to carry a laptop around with you all the time after a while a bit of strain will start to show on the bag. Zips can break, the lining may tear and straps can start to fray. Many cobblers are happy to repair broken bags including laptop bags giving them a new lease of life. However, you could have your bag repaired or replaced for free if the warranty is still in date
Wooden Tables and Chairs
Wooden furniture can look quite worn and old after a while. Sitting at a wooden table every day can produce a few scuffs and dents, however, rather than disposing of the table a quick paint or varnish can give it a new lease of life.
If a table or chair has become quite wobbly you may want to think about tightening some or all of the screws. A loose screw can cause furniture to become quite unsteady so a quick tightening may do the job. Alternatively, if one of the legs is shorter than the others gluing a piece of wood or fabric to the bottom of the leg could also do the job quite nicely.
It's all too easy to throw away clothes, bags, sunglasses and trainers/joggers that are no longer as new as they once were. However, a quick and relatively simple repair can bring them back to life, saving you money while ensuring less waste goes to landfill.
If you still have any question feel free to ask me via comments.
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