Looking for help in learning how to fix a broken household item? King County’s Ecoconsumer program is offering free events to help people fix small household items. We’ll have volunteers ready to help you fix almost anything – bringing a vintage stereo back to life, replacing a watch battery or mending your favorite pair of jeans that has seen better days. Volunteers will even teach you how to fix it yourself!
During our first event at Kent Senior Center on Feb. 25 we fixed a vacuum cleaner, radio and stereo amplifier within the first 30 minutes of opening. Mender and quilt master Kathy Eytcheson even taught one of us to sew on a button.
Fixer Roberto Amaral can fix almost any common household item. If he doesn’t know how – no problem, he can find free repair guides on www.ifixit.com.
“These repair events help keep things out of the landfill, conserve resources and save people money,” said EcoConsumer Tom Watson, of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Solid Waste Division.
“Folks have brought in lamps, chairs, small appliances, jeans, shirts and lots more, and our experienced ‘fixers’ have been able to fix more than two-thirds of the items that come in,” Watson said.
The next free repair event in south King County is the Renton Repair Café on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Renton Community Center, 1715 SE Maple Valley Highway in Renton. The annual Community Garage Sale and a new Plant and Seed Swap are being held there at the same time.
Additional upcoming repair events are:
• The Kent Repair Time Fix-It Event on Thursday, April 7, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. in Kent.
• The South King Repair Café on Tuesday, May 24, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Federal Way City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S. in Federal Way.
For more information on these repair events, visit KCecoconsumer.com, or contact Watson at tom.watson@kingcounty.gov, or 206-477-4481.