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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!

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

Was Quoted $500 To Put This Back In Place, How Many Would I Reattach Myself?

Close-up of house exterior showing roofing and siding with an orange arrow highlighting a panel needing repair or fix.

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.

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    #2

    How Can I Fix This? Daughter Was Showering And Randomly Leaned Into The Wall, Causing This

    Close-up of damaged ceiling tiles with visible cracks and misalignment, illustrating a need for a fix it solution.

    u/therealdarkcirc:
    That looks like you’ve got some bigger troubles in that wall.

    I’d start pulling tile and see where the backer went.

    User Report

    #3

    Can This Concrete Pad Be Repaired?

    Cracked and damaged driveway in front of closed garage door showing a common home fix it problem.

    u/HGwoodie:
    If by "repaired" you mean dug up and replaced the answer is yes.

    68_298_200_40 Report

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    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?

    Close-up views of damaged window frame edges showing dents and bends needing fix it solutions from the internet.

    u/coza97:
    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.

    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)

    jchasinga Report

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    #5

    How Can I Fix These Wrinkles In My New Oven?

    Close-up of oven door interior showing bent rack holder with a DIY fix using a metal wire to restore support.

    u/fruitmask:
    This is one of those things that you fix by getting your money back. I don't even know [why?] I'm looking at, but I'd bet my extended warranty that it's not fixable.

    National_Problem_335 Report

    #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

    Water cooler with a cracked bottle fixed using tape, demonstrating creative fix it solutions shared by the internet.

     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.

    Indy500Fan16 Report

    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.

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    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

    Help Get These Off

    Ink drawings on a beige leather couch before and after a creative fix to cover the pen marks on the surface.

    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

    ChainNo7042 Report

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    #8

    Is There Any Validity To This? Does It Make Your Door Harder To Kick In? Seen On Facebook

    Hand holding two screws of different sizes next to a door frame with a metal plate and a drill nearby showing a fix it fail.

    u/Correct-Junket-1346:
    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.

    u/willreadfile13:
    Most people give up after one or two attempts. No one wants to risk making noise and getting caught.

    microscopyTho Report

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    #9

    Why?!

    Stainless steel dishwasher leaking foam onto hardwood floor, illustrating a common fix it problem shared online.

    u/4551016:
    My guess is the door seal is worn out and needs to be replaced. Or you put dish soap in the washer...

    Bonsee Report

    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

    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)?

    Worn wooden dresser with damaged finish next to a cardboard box filled with cleaning and repair supplies ready to fix it.

    u/comscatangel:
    If this represents your friend's intelligence and skill level then no, your friend is not qualified to refinish furniture.

    Klayer89 Report

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    #11

    The Tap Hose No Longer Retracts, How Do I Fix This?

    Kitchen faucet with an extended flexible hose to fix water flow issues in a stainless steel sink area.

    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.

    belbaba Report

    #12

    Oven Glass Panel Exploded Without Warning. What To Do?

    Broken oven door with shattered glass on kitchen floor, showing a common household fix it challenge.

    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.

    cookiegoodforme Report

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    #13

    How To Easily Remove These Metal Shavings From This Magnet??

    Magnetic metal cleaner showing metal shavings stuck in circular patterns, highlighting creative fix-it solutions.

    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.

    acoustic_watermelon Report

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    #14

    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?

    Worn and damaged electrical outlet with cracked faceplate on a green wall needing a fix from the internet community.

    u/Unlikely_Election649
    The best thing to do is replace these.

    dedruid Report

    #15

    Landlord's Table. What Can I Do? How Screwed Am I? Coin For Scale

    Burn mark on wooden surface next to a coin illustrating a common problem people needed help to fix.

    u/DogRiverRoad:
    That is never coming out. people commenting "you can sand that out" don't have a [darn] 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)

    Electrical_Peace_292 Report

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    #16

    Cat Broke Toilet, Can It Be Fixed?

    Cracked toilet base with a hidden fix showing a clever internet hack to repair bathroom damage efficiently.

    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.

    IntelligentTerm7914 Report

    #17

    This Stupid Thing Beeps Even After Changing Battery. Why?!?! Am I Supposed To Do Something More?

    Hand holding a First Alert carbon monoxide alarm, demonstrating a common household safety fix with internet help.

    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.

    playadefaro Report

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    #18

    How Do I Go About Repairing This Door?

    White interior door with multiple large cracks and holes, showing damage that needs a fix from internet repair tips.

    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.

    Agitated-Telephone62 Report

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    #19

    Need Help Fixing Sink. I'm A Renter With Not A Ton Of Money. Is This Fixable? Or Do I Have To Purchase A Whole New Sink?

    Bathroom sink with a large hole and a bottle used as a makeshift fix, showing unusual repair attempts.

    u/1968camaro:
    Time for a new sink.

    Hot-Sundae388 Report

    #20

    It’s Been Folded Since 1969. How Do I Get Rid Of The Creases Without Ruining It?

    Framed fold-out map of the Earth's moon showing detailed lunar phases and surface features, needing fix it flattening.

     u/Jonas52:
    Take it to a framing shop. They should have a large press for mounting photos.

    omlesna Report

    #21

    How To Stop The Huge Reflection Of My Dashboard So That I Can Drive Safely?

    View from inside a car in a drive-thru line with a cracked windshield showing drive-thru fix it scenario.

    u/TheLastTsumami:
    Put a black non shiny non reflective mat on it.

    SitDown_HaveSomeTea Report

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    #22

    Help. Wrote On The Toilet Lid In Whiteboard Marker And It’s Not Coming Off… I Have An Inspection

    Handwritten note on a wall with the word flush circled and an arrow pointing upward as a fix it idea.

    u/totally_bored_dude:
    So this works on whiteboards... If you leave something on too long, it will leave what you are seeing. What I do is take the marker and just go over it again and quickly wipe it off. It tends to "lift" the stained part and since the new mark isn't fully dry, it comes off. You could try it on a small section to see if it works.

    FYI, this also works if someone uses a permanent marker on a whiteboard. Use the "Dry Erase" marker to lift the permanent marker and get it off the board.

    Content-Fan3984 Report

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    #23

    Slipped And Broke The Shower Wall. I Plan On Remodeling In About A Year, Any Temporary Fixes For This Until Then So Moisture Doesn't Get Behind It?

    Broken bathroom wall tiles above a bathtub showing damage and in need of a fix it solution.

    u/pbaran11:
    Speaking from experience here this happened because the condition of the plaster/render behind the tiling is in poor condition; it’s likely already sopping wet. You should be able to fall against the tiles without this happening. You’ll need to take down the all loose tiles and assess what’s there before you repair this. You’ll probably not want to wait a year, though it’s up to you but more of the tiles are going to start falling off now.

    chinnick967 Report

    #24

    GF Was Cooking Her Dog Food And Left The Hot Skillet On My Counter/Cutting Board. We Are Renting... Anyway To Fix This?

    Wooden table with a dark circular stain, illustrating a common problem people need help to fix online.

    u/TwitterJackBNimble:
    Need to sand it and apply finish.

    pawnbroker00 Report

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    #25

    Hmmm… Random. How Do I Fix This?

    Hand replacing a broken door handle as a simple fix it solution for a common home repair problem.

     u/HoboHaxor:
    You really don't. Need to replace the handle.

    Sesmanilla Report

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    #26

    Probably Hopeless, But This Couch Cover Shrunk In The Wash

    Cat tail sticking out of mattress cover next to floral cushion on wooden floor showing creative fix it solution.

    u/Real_Clock7181:
    I would try steaming it and while still damp and warm try hand stretching it. Then force pillow in as far as possible to help stretch it even more. Repeat this process until you get it to fit.

    No_Recognition_2434 Report

    #27

    Help Me Fix Apartment Floor Damage From Bed Fame

    Scratched wooden floor around a black furniture leg showing a common fix it challenge shared on the internet.

     u/Vinny_DelVecchio:
    A little rub of minwax Golden Oak stain may help hide the marks. Then put those little slider cups under the legs to prevent more of the same.

    Surveyor7 Report

    #28

    Just Moved In And Made A Lovely Design Change To My Heated Wood Floors!

    Long thread stretched across wooden floor that looks like a crack, showing a funny fix fail the internet helped fix.

    u/SKatieRo:
    Similar thing happened to me. Get some Restor-Finish. Rub it into the scratch with a rag and wipe off the excess. It will be waaaay less noticable.

    User Report

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    #29

    Does Anyone Know How To Re-Tie The End Of The Drawstring So It Matches The One On The Left?

    Close-up of a hand holding two hoodie strings, one with a fixed knot and the other frayed, highlighting creative fix it solutions.

    u/Present-Solution-993:
    However you try to replicate it, if you're not happy with the match, then simply cut the other end and finish it how you did the first one, then it'll match.

    Munro_McLaren Report

    #30

    Commercial Kitchen. Over The Last 8 Hours All These Tiles Raised Up And Actually Cracked. No Gas Line Or Water Leaks Underneath. The Tiles Were Installed 2009. Is This Just Tiles That Need To Be Reinstalled?

    Broken and lifted floor tiles in a kitchen setting showing damage that needs a fix and repair solution.

    u/Aselleus:
    Looks like the crack is leading right to where that sink is, so I'm guessing burst pipe?

    someguyyouknew23 Report

    #31

    These [darn] Things!

    Hand holding a broken ceiling fan blade against a window showing a DIY fix attempt for a common household problem.

    u/wildplant_:
    There are hard plastic clear stickers you can buy from Amazon where you put one on either side of where it broke off and it remakes the little connection so you can hang them again.

    euphorbiaceae_512 Report

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    #32

    Accidentally Set Hot Cast Iron On (Granite?) Countertop. Any Ideas On How To Fix?

    Water ring stain on speckled countertop surface needing fix it solution from internet advice.

    u/onlythecrooked:
    That is a composite top. You should be able to find a composite worktop fitter to come and fix it or find what they call a 'magic man' to come and touch it up with dyes, sanding and a sealer.

    TheForNoReason Report

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    #33

    I Accidentally Chipped A Homemade Plate My Girlfriend Made A Decade Ago. I Feel So Bad And Will Do Anything To Try And Repair It. What Can I Do To Save It?

    Ceramic breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, and waffle design, chipped on one corner needing a fix.

    u/lockness2799:
    The only food safe method would be to dremmel it down to a smooth texture, use ceramic glaze paint (you can try to match the color somewhat) and get it re-fired in a kiln. This is assuming it is ceramic pottery. Do you have a place like Color Me Mine near you?

    If this was made at Color Me Mine originally, that blue is most certainly #35 Caribbean Sea.

    Source: I worked a side gig at CMM for many years.

    User Report

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    #34

    How Do I Keep My Shop Vac Hose From Pinching Like This?

    Orange shop vacuum with a black hose bent at the connection, demonstrating a common fix it solution for tools.

    u/uncletutchee:
    Cut the bad part off and put it back together.

    399allday Report

    #35

    Me And My Roommate Share A Wall And You Can See Straight Through The Vent Which Lets In A Lot Of Noise. What’s A Temporary Fix For This For When We Have Company Over And Need Some Privacy?

    Wall air vent and floor lamp in a room showcasing a simple fix it home improvement challenge.

    u/TJNel:
    This is a cold air return and those are needed for proper HVAC usage. Now using a magnet cover for a small amount of time will be fine. Do not permanently close it off though.

    User Report

    #36

    Tried To Take Away A Small Citrus Stain, Cleaned Just With Water, Made It Worse. Please Help

    Toddler accidentally spills water on couch, showing a common problem that many seek advice to fix online.

    u/Good200000:
    That’s a water stain. Spray the whole cushion with water and it will be fine.

    richzl89 Report

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    #37

    Someone Spray-Painted This On The Outside Of My House. How Do I Get Paint Off Of Porous Rock?

    Graffiti fixing attempt on stone wall, showing a creative internet-inspired fix for a stencil message error.

    u/sandhoper:
    Pressure washer.

    janel_az Report

    #38

    I Stupidly Fell Over My Somewhat New Dishwasher And Dented It. Now It Won't Close. Is This Salvageable?

    Damaged dishwasher door panel with dents, showing a common household repair challenge for fixing appliances.

    u/quzaire:
    Might have an easier time trying to replace the stainless steel inside the door if you can’t straighten it. But my hunch says that will cost 2/3 of a brand new one.

    mabbzie3 Report