How to extend the life of a small appliance

By Alisa Reckinger

Guest Columnist

We always talk about waste managements three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. For small appliances, such as blenders, coffee makers, toasters, and curling irons, lets add a fourth R: repair.

Repair Tips

Small appliances that are not working often need minor repairs or parts replaced. Consider troubleshooting and repair options before getting rid of broken appliances.

Some communities offer fix-it clinics. Repairable small appliances include lamps, fans, flashlights, blenders, sewing machines, hair dryers and more. At the clinics, residents receive free, guided help from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot and fix their items.

Fix-it clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills. They also build community connections and reduce the number of repairable objects that are thrown in the trash. Check with your city or county recycling coordinator to find out where the nearest fix-it clinic may be.

Many businesses in the Twin Cities repair lamps and other small appliances. An online search will point you in the right direction.

Reduce, Reuse Before you buy a new small appliance, try shopping at consignment and second-hand shops. You also can try online resale outlets like Craigslist.

If you have a small appliance in good working condition that you no longer need, contact a local charity to ask about donating it. For a list, refer to the yellow pages under charities.

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How to extend the life of a small appliance