• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Home Jobs by MOM

Home Jobs by MOM

Insights. Ideas. Improvements.

  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Business Ideas
    • Online Tools for Bloggers
  • Improving Family Life
  • Contact

Items to Repair and Reuse Before You Replace Them

You are here: Home / Lifestyle / Home & Garden / Items to Repair and Reuse Before You Replace Them

THIS WEBSITE USES AFFILIATE LINKS WHICH MEANS WE RECEIVE COMPENSATION IF YOU PURCHASE A PRODUCT THROUGH THEM. VISIT OUR DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

July 4, 2016 by Home Jobs By Mom
Pin1
Tweet
Share3
4 Shares

If you are a green-minded person, you already make an effort to cut down on waste by recycling and composting. However, a big part of our waste comes from the items we buy, use a few times then throw away or sell in a yard sale. Many items we frequently replace can easily be repaired or updated to give them a like-new feel, but without having to spend more money on new products and wasting things that could still be of use. If you want to live eco-mindedly and save money, consider these easy ways to refurbish and reuse items before you throw them out.

Worn-Out Shoes

Whether you are the type of person who loves wearing different shoes for every occasion or having one pair that goes with everything, it can be annoying and costly when your favorite shoes give out. A broken strap, zipper, or sole may seem like a death sentence, but there are simple ways you can repair your shoes yourself.

Money Crashers suggests spreading waterproof glue for detached soles or hand-sewing broken straps and leather pieces. If you don’t want anyone to see the stitch job, add a button, ribbon, or pin to hide it and give your old shoes a new look.

Other signs of wear, such as scuffs, can be masked simply by using a matching permanent marker or polishing to give them a fresh look.

Broken Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a worthwhile investment, and if you take good care of them, they can last a long time. However, sometimes circumstances can leave you with a scratched lens or broken hinge, and the last thing you want to do is spend another $200 on nice sunglasses.

Luckily, some simple fixes can save your glasses for a fraction of the cost of buying another pair. Replacing a scratched or cracked lens is much cheaper than replacing an entire pair of sunglasses.

Sites like Revant Optics have lots of options for whatever brand and style you have. For loose or broken hinges, you can use a cheap hobbyist soldering tool, super glue, and carbon fiber tape to fix them in just a few minutes.

Outdated or Ripped Furniture

We all have that comfy chair with the ugly printed upholstery or the cat-scratched arm that we don't want to throw out but don’t want to use either. Instead of getting rid of it and spending money on new furniture, you can update that chair or sofa to look practically new in just a couple of hours.

Recovering your furniture in new fabric and upholstery is a great way to give it an updated look with minimal time and cost.

Start by studying the construction of the item, such as if it is stitched or stapled and where the fabric part connects to the wood or metal part. Take the upholstered part off the chair or couch and remove the old or damaged fabric.

If the batting or stuffing needs to be replaced, you may need to remove the casing, too. Otherwise, simply recover the original cushion in your new fabric and then reattach. The cost of the fabric will pale in comparison to buying a new furniture set and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece.

Repair Falling-Apart Books

It is usually our most beloved books that get the most beating. Rereading and lending books through the years can really take a toll. Luckily, you don’t have to throw out your old copies if you take the time to repair the covers and bindings.

Unfortunately, repairing a book is not as simple as wrapping duct tape around the binding.

To conserve your precious book and keep it looking new and sturdy, there are specific tools you can use. This book repair tutorial suggests using craft and paper glues that are acid-free.

Also, bone folders are a useful tool for making sure the crease is correct and there are no glue bubbles or pockets. Wax paper also prevents glue from sticking to other pages.

What items do you like to refurbish rather than throw out?

Related Posts:

  • Green Cleaning: Is It Worth It? Where Do I Start?
    Green Cleaning: Is It Worth It? Where Do I Start?
  • 6 Ways to Save Money on Easter Gifts
    6 Ways to Save Money on Easter Gifts
  • Going Green Doesn't Have to be a Hassle
    Going Green Doesn't Have to be a Hassle
  • 4 Eco-Friendly Swaps for a More Green Home #NatureZway #NatureZwayEco
    4 Eco-Friendly Swaps for a More Green Home #NatureZway…
  • How to Increase Your Family Money IQ
    How to Increase Your Family Money IQ
  • Update Your Home and Give It Some Life
    Update Your Home and Give It Some Life
  • Simple Budgeting Tips to Stop You Living Paycheck to Paycheck
    Simple Budgeting Tips to Stop You Living Paycheck to…
  • Online Shopping Addiction? Break it with These Tips
    Online Shopping Addiction? Break it with These Tips
Pin1
Tweet
Share3
4 Shares
Category: Home & Garden, Home Improvement, Sustainable LivingTag: save money

About Home Jobs By Mom

Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.

Previous Post:Italian Herb Dipping Oil imageItalian Herb Dipping Oil Recipe #momsmeet
Next Post:What Are The Best Places To Learn About Healthy Food?What Are The Best Places To Learn About Healthy Food

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Edna Williams

    May 21, 2020 at 9:25 am

    If you don’t want to spend money unnecessarily and wish to be green, these are some great tips! We have become a throw-away society, and that is not good for anyone! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Home Jobs By Mom

      June 2, 2020 at 3:13 pm

      Yes, more people should think about being eco-friendly

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Welcome!

Get a look into a mom’s inkling into this crazy thing called life.

Read More

Recent Posts

  • @SuperiorSource Vitamins Women’s Health Month Giveaway (Ends 6/19) @SilvieArmas
  • @PeachSkinSheets Dads & Grads Gift Guide Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @DeliciouslySavv
  • Tranformers: EarthSpark Season 1 DVD Giveaway (Ends 6/22) @PinkNinjaBlogg @DeliciouslySavv
  • @Plantraw Snacks Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @Versatileer
  • Bump Up Your Chances of Conception with These Baby-Making Must-Haves
  • 6 Tips for Ensuring Safe Equipment Use on Construction Sites
  • Adding a Deck: Benefits, Costs, and Design Ideas
  • 4 Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease to Watch Out For
  • How to Leverage Social Media for Sales Recruitment
  • Measuring Success: Key Metrics in Fintech Market Research

@SuperiorSource Vitamins Women’s Health Month Giveaway (Ends 6/19) @SilvieArmas

@PeachSkinSheets Dads & Grads Gift Guide Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @DeliciouslySavv

Tranformers: EarthSpark Season 1 DVD Giveaway (Ends 6/22) @PinkNinjaBlogg @DeliciouslySavv

@Plantraw Snacks Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @Versatileer

@Trailblaze_Love Date Box Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @DeliciouslySavv

@SuperiorSource Women’s Health Month Giveaway (Ends 6/18) @DeliciouslySavv

Instant Pot Indian Cookbook Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @SilvieArmas

@WinningMovesUSA Games Pick Your Combo Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @Versatileer

Enter More Giveaways!

Free Download

“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”

Productivity-Planner-Preview
Download the FREE Colorable Productivity Planner to get your life more organized. Sign up as a newsletter insider today!
Be a Better You!

  • @SuperiorSource Vitamins Women’s Health Month Giveaway (Ends 6/19) @SilvieArmas
  • @PeachSkinSheets Dads & Grads Gift Guide Giveaway (Ends 6/30) @DeliciouslySavv
  • Tranformers: EarthSpark Season 1 DVD Giveaway (Ends 6/22) @PinkNinjaBlogg @DeliciouslySavv
  • @Plantraw Snacks Giveaway (Ends 6/10) @Versatileer
  • Bump Up Your Chances of Conception with These Baby-Making Must-Haves
  • About Home Jobs By Mom
  • Terms & Privacy
  • Contact
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Home Jobs by MOM · All Rights Reserved

This website uses affiliate links which means we receive compensation if you purchase a product through them. Visit our disclosure page for more information.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
SettingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT