“Make Do and Mend” was the original name of a pamphlet distributed by the British government during World War II. To free up factory space for combat materials manufacturing, they shut down civilian clothing production. The pamphlet contained information on sewing, knitting, and ways for individuals to produce and preserve clothing.
Today, the global “make do and mend movement” has expanding to include other aspects of everyday living, such as home appliances. Between online tutorials and specialty repair services, people are realizing that they can get more out of their appliances for longer.
Besides saving money, there are many benefits to keeping appliances going longer. Keep reading to find out what they are, as well as some tips on how to do so.
Why You Should “Make Do and Mend”
First of all, new appliances are expensive. Repairing them can keep them going for a long time and stave off the need to pay for a new one.
Also, most quality appliances are made to last a long time. If one breaks down, it could very well be the result of a minor part failure. A little “make do and mend” could get that appliance back up to speed.
Something to consider when replacing larger appliances is the added costs for renovations or upgrades to your home. A new refrigerator may not fit in the same spot as an old one. More advanced appliances may need extra electrical wiring or circuits.
Keeping appliances going longer is a basic step in ensuring you have an eco-friendly home. While electronic waste represents only 2 percent of all trash going to landfills, it accounts for 70 percent of all toxic waste. If you don’t recycle them, you might also find creative ways of using, or upcycling, old appliances.
Appliance Repair
Before you begin investigating appliance repair, be sure something else isn’t affecting the operation. Check for tripped circuit breakers or see if the appliance needs resetting. Especially if it’s a major repair, check to see if the appliance is still under warranty.
A good place to start assessing your appliance’s operations and parts is the user manual. If you no longer have it, most prominent brands will have a PDF online. You can look it up using the appliance’s model number.
There are a lot of online DIY tutorials that you can turn to. From online videos to step-by-step, model-specific instructions, it is easy to gain knowledge on basic repairs. It’s also easy to find replacement parts online.
If you are not able to solve the problem on your own, look for companies like The Appliance Doc that specialize in these repairs. Calling an electrician, plumber, or general repair person will incur a service call fee, and they may not be able to solve the problem.
Specialists will know how to identify common issues and assess the severity of the damage. If it is possible to fix your appliance, they will do it.
Find Appliance Repair Today
Now that you have a plan for home appliance repair, you can stretch their lifespan as long as possible. It will help save you money, and you can feel good about helping the environment by keeping them out of landfills.
We hope this information on “made do and mend” for home appliances was helpful to you. If so, be sure to take a look at some of our other home maintenance posts, as well as those on interior design, renovation, gardening, and much more.
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