A great way to save money and practice zero waste principles at the same time is to extend the life of what you already own. And really, in this single-use, fast fashion world, repairing what you already have instead of immediately running out and buying something new is almost an act of rebellion. A few of these tips do create some garbage but the amount is considerably smaller than if you were to discard what you already own and buy a new one. Use your best judgement!
Clothing- washing and drying your clothes too often in the washer and dryer breaks them down faster. Consider hand washing and/or air-drying when applicable to extend the life of your clothes. Mending small tears and sewing buttons back on are easy jobs most anyone can do (I draw my domesticity line at sewing- I can do small repairs but bigger ones are better suited for more gifted hands).
If you do have a bigger sewing job, I can't recommend Suay LA more. Their goal of keeping textiles out of landfills by reusing and repurposing clothing is highly commendable, they pay their garment workers a living wage and they have a rack of free clothes outside their retail shop! If you live in Los Angeles, you can stop by their store for repairs and drop off old textiles while buying one of their upcycled pieces. If you live out of town, you can mail in your garments for repair. Learn more about their amazing work here.
Shoes- yes, it is synthetic rubber but Shoe Goo can greatly extend the life of your shoes. You can patch up holes and apply to the outsoles when they crack or wear too thin. This stuff is amazing! I've used it for lots of jobs including fixing the outsole on my boot when it cracked open so now I can keep wearing them in the rain and the snow. For bigger and more complex jobs on high quality shoes, bring them into a cobbler- it's worth the money.
Purses- a quality purse is a great investment that can last decades but purses do need to be maintained. A good leather cleaner and conditioner will help keep the purse looking new and the leather in top shape. I find that the straps have a tendency to start wearing down first after years of use- especially for those of us who cart around their reusable water bottles, reusable bags and bamboo cutlery! Jennifer Ho of The Green Luggage shares an excellent tip on how to repair your purse straps in her post here. For larger external repairs, consider taking the purse into a leather repair shop. For repairs in the lining, try mending on your own.
Objects- for just about everything else, there is super glue, Gorilla Glue, and wood glue. For larger items like appliances, electronics, and furniture, check to see if your community has a Repair Cafe. In Los Angeles, check out Westside Repair Cafe and Repair Cafe Pasadena.
Comments