Save hundreds by repairing household items

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In this uncertain economy, every penny counts. We cut back on eating out, put that dream vacation on hold, or decide that the 60-inch flat screen TV can wait another year. It's easy to avoid the big expenditures but we may not realize that we can save hundreds and thousands a year just by repairing, not replacing household items and other belongings that break or wear out.

We throw things out every day that could be given longer life with a few dollars worth of nails, glue, paint or other simple fixes: Cooking pots with loose handles, lamps, picture frames, chairs with loose rungs and legs, lifting linoleum, leaking faucets and toilets, loose ceramic tile, outdoor furniture, ceramic pots, sports and camping equipment -- the list goes on. A few dollars here, a few dollars there and it all adds up.

Stretch your dollar. Repair, don't replace. Take a walk through your garage and around your home and make a list of worn-out, broken, or in-need-of-repair items. Before you throw them out and head to the home improvement or department store for replacements, consider how much money making a simple repair will save you and take action.

The key to repairing a variety of materials is to have an all-purpose adhesive like Amazing GOOP that is water- and UV-resistant, easy-to-apply and holds up over time. Amazing EcoGlue provides the same superior strength and durability and is water-based to provide for easy clean-up and low environmental impact. Both are easy-to-use and require no mixing. These glues will bond or repair almost any material -- wood, ceramics, plastic, stone, metal and glass.

The cost of replacing garden tools, for example, can really add up. A strong, UV- and water-resistant adhesive can significantly extend the life of hoes, rakes, shovels, and other tools.

"I love to garden," says Carissa Gordon of Eugene, Ore. "Last spring I found that several of my favorite tools had loose handles and my garden hose had cracked. I was able to fix both with a tube of GOOP and I know the repair will last. Repairing, rather than replacing saved me over $100."

For any repair, clean the surface and make sure it's free of dirt or debris. For a broken item, apply a thin layer of the adhesive to both pieces and attach. If you're sealing a crack, just apply a thin layer over the affected area. Follow the directions for drying and curing.

Because Amazing GOOP dries to a flexible, rubbery consistency, it is also the perfect choice for mending tears in canvas, vinyl or nylon. So don't throw away patio umbrellas, tents, canopies and other items needing patching or repair. Just make sure the area around the tear is clean. Apply a thin layer of adhesive to the outside and allow to fully cure. That's it.

So don't replace; repair. Armed with glue and a few other tools, you will give your belongings new life and your savings a welcome boost.

Eclectic Products makes a range of adhesives, including Amazing GOOP and Amazing EcoGlue, for all manner of repair projects. Visit them online at www.eclecticproducts.com. For more money-saving tips and project ideas, click on the link to our blog. Look for Amazing GOOP and Amazing EcoGlue at home improvement and major department stores nationwide.