Save some money and reduce waste by fixing what you already own instead of buying new. Mending torn clothing, adding a coat of paint to an old table, or replacing a damaged bike tire are just a few examples of “making do” instead of buying new.
Websites listed below are not exhaustive and do not reflect City endorsement or support of products and services. Follow all safety precautions when doing your own repairs. For broken or expired safety devices, such as bike helmets, child car seats, and smoke detectors, it is recommended that these devices be replaced instead of repaired.
This page provides a variety of repair resources and tutorials for different areas of home and lifestyle.
Online Repair Resources
Looking for simple and affordable ways to fix or repair items around the house yourself? The following websites have a wealth of information for those interested in Do-It-Yourself (DIY), and have a large library of tutorials for all sorts of common at-home items.
- I Fix It
- This Old House
- Bob Vila
- Do It Yourself
- DIY Network
- Better Homes & Gardens
- Family Handyman
- House Logic
- The Spruce
- Octane Seating: Woodworking Guide
Some of us are not DIY-ers, and that is fine. There are plenty of professional repair options available in our community.
For local repair services in the area, view the Iowa City Area Repair Directory.
Repair Categories
Below are featured tutorials, with tons more available at the online repair resources. For more DIY tutorials and repair recommendations, explore the websites above.
This list is updated on a regular basis as details change or more resources become available. Know of a website like this that is not on this list? Reach out to the Recycling Coordinator at jane-wilch@iowa-city.org for consideration.
Appliances and Electronics
- Fix an air conditioner. (Family Handyman)
- Fix a dryer. (Family Handyman)
- Fix a leaking refrigerator. (Bob Vila)
- Get rid of odor in the dishwasher. (Bob Vila)
- Get rid of odor in the washing machine. (Bob Vila)
- Clean grime and residue for microwave interior. (This Old House)
- Remove a clog from a garbage disposal. (Bob Vila)
Automotive
- Replace a burnt-out headlight bulb. (AutoZone)
- Is your old bulb an LED? Recycle it!
- Repair a flat tire. (AutoZone)
- Remove dents from car exterior. (Car and Driver)
Bathroom
- Repair an unstable or wobbly toilet. (This Old House)
- Clear a clogged drain pipe. (This Old House)
- Keep rust stains from developing in your plumbing. (This Old House)
- Quiet a loud faucet. (This Old House)
- Repair a running or broken toilet. (This Old House)
- Repair a toilet leak. (This Old House)
- Repair a faucet leak. (DIY Network)
- Get rid of hard water deposits on faucets. (Family Handyman)
- Clean hard water stains from shower door. (I Fix It)
- Clean soap scum from sinks and showers. (Bob Vila)
Bicycle
- Refill air in bike tires. (Bicycling)
- Clean or degrease a bike chain. (Bike Radar)
- Realign or fix a crooked wheel. (Flat Bike)
- Adjust bike gears. (Bike Radar)
- Fix a broken tire tube or flat tire. (I Fix It)
Clothing, Accessories, and Household Items
- Mend a hole in a down jacket. (Outside)
- Mend a hole in your favorite shirt or sweater. (Professor Pincushion)
- Mend a hole in your favorite blue jeans. (Professor Pincushion)
- Repair a clothing hem or tear by learning these two easy stitches. (Craftsy)
- Hand-stitch a button back on clothing. (Craftsy)
- Remove scratches from eyeglass lenses. (I Fix It)
- Repair a hole in your shoe’s sole. (I Fix It)
- Repair a loose or detached shoe’s sole. (I Fix It)
- Repair luggage (wheels, handles, and more). (Expert World Traveler)
- Repair jewelry (clasps, necklaces, bracelets, and more). (The Spruce Crafts)
Furniture
- Repair and care for wood furniture. (This Old House)
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Woodworking Guide (Octane Seating)
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- Repair and care for outdoor/patio furniture. (This Old House)
- Fix and care for a leather chair. (This Old House)
- Repair blistering in veneer top of tables, desks, and more. (This Old House)
- Stabilize a wobbly chair. (DIY Network)
- Stabilize a wobbly table. (Family Handyman)
- Remove scratches on furniture. (DIY Network)
- Fix a sticky drawer. (Family Handyman)
- Remove odors from and clean upholstered furniture. (Family Handyman)
Home Improvement
Doors
- Fix a sticky door lock. (Family Handyman)
- Remove the “squeak” from the hinge of a door. (I Fix It)
- Reduce draftiness at doors and windows. (This Old House)
- Fix a door latch. (This Old House)
Floors
- Replace cracked grout. (I Fix It)
- Replace a cracked or broken floor tile. (This Old House)
- Repair a hole in the floor carpet. (I Fix It)
Walls
- Prevent and repair paint issues. (This Old House)
- Repair holes in interior walls. (This Old House)
- Fix wall plaster. (This Old House)
- Repair wallpaper. (This Old House)
- Repair a drywall ceiling hole. (Do It Yourself)
Other
- Fix a broken cabinet. (I Fix It)
- Repair rotting wood. (I Fix It)
- Remove marks and scratches from glass windows and tabletops. (Bob Vila)
- Remove hard super glue from surfaces. (Family Handyman)
Kitchen
- Clean a scorched pan. (City of Iowa City)
- Remove pan stains. (City of Iowa City)
- Maintain a cast iron skillet. (City of Iowa City)
- Repair a detached or loose kitchen pan handle. (I Fix It)
- Remove baking sheet stains. (I Fix It)
- Remove scratches on plates. (I Fix It)
- Re-attach a broken-off coffee cup handle. (I Fix It)
- Clean and polish tarnished silverware. (This Old House)
- Repair and care for a butcher block counter. (This Old House)
- Restore and care for kitchen countertops. (Bob Vila)
Outdoor and Patio
- Repair a segment of a tent support pole. (I Fix It)
- Repair a warped/bent frisbee disc. (I Fix It)
- Re-stain an outdoor deck. (This Old House)
- Fix exterior stucco siding. (This Old House)
- Clean mildew off of exterior siding. (This Old House)
Contact Us
- Recycling Coordinator: 319-887-6110, jane-wilch@iowa-city.org
- Email Service Notices: Sign up at www.icgov.org/subscribe
- Facebook: Iowa City Landfill & Recycling