Items to Repair and Reuse Before You Replace Them

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Outdated or Ripped Furniture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?