Three simple hacks that could extend the life of your vacuum, smartphone, and coffee machine

What do blocked vacuums, phones that won’t charge, and clogged-up coffee machines have in common? All are problems that can lead to perfectly good items being returned to manufacturers or warranty partners for repairs. However, the good news is they can often be fixed quickly and easily at home.

More and more people are expressing an interest in repairs to extend the life of products. Six in ten (62%) of European people surveyed by OnePoll for Amazon say they have successfully followed a DIY repair video at home, and 32% visited a repairs café last year to repair a broken item. To help customers with quick fixes, Amazon has released a new series of videos showing just how quick, cost-effective and easy DIY repairs like this can be.

How to clean all of your vacuum filters

The majority of newer models, including upright vacuums, have two or sometimes three filters. This can cause confusion among customers who believe they have cleaned the filter when, in fact, there is a second or third one full of dust. If left unchecked, this can cause problems, such as much weaker suction.

Bal Sokhal, a repairs engineer who specialises in the maintenance and repair of household electronics, says: “By opening up your vacuum and checking the area near the motor you can empty out the second or third harder-to-find filter. Remember not to force this open, if it’s meant to open you can do so easily, using your fingers to release the catch. Once all filters are clear, try using your vacuum again and you’ll instantly notice the difference.”

How a simple toothpick can clear your phone’s charging port

Microscopic particles are one of the main culprits which can make it harder to charge a perfectly good smartphone. While the phone’s charging port can look clear to the naked eye, a common problem is that pocket lint, pet hairs, and other tiny particles can build up inside.

This is when a clean toothpick could save the day in seconds. “If you experience slow or no charging, don’t give up on your phone,” Sokhal advises. “Turn your phone off. Then very gently use an unused toothpick to probe out dust and debris, inserting only the tip into your charging socket. Don’t worry, this won’t push dust further into the phone because the phone itself is sealed. Once you’ve completed this step, you could find your charger connects easily once more, allowing your phone to power up again in no time.”

How to clean your coffee machine filter to get things flowing

In the kitchen, residue from coffee grounds can cause problems with coffee machines, as a result of clogged-up internal pipes. “By simply clearing grounds from the sump – which is the gadget that holds the coffee – with an unused toothbrush, rinsing the filter and running either the steam function or hot water through the machine for a full minute, the problem could be eliminated,” said Sokhal. 

According to repairs experts, here are a few other common fixes that can be done at home:

1. Wireless headphones: Always try conducting a factory reset if experiencing any technical issues with your headphones, which you can usually find on YouTube by searching for the make and model of your headset with the words ‘factory reset’. This solves the issue most times.
2. Tablets: Saving everything onto the cloud then conducting a factory reset will resolve most tablet issues.
3. Push bikes: Some bikes require 10%-20% self-assembly. Any problems arising with bikes like these are usually the result of the initial assembly instructions being followed incorrectly. It’s best to start the process again.
4. Mouse: If the sensor below your mouse stops glowing and the mouse is unresponsive, sometimes the problem is simply debris and dust. To clean the area, dust the area gently with a clean, new toothbrush or a lint-free cloth. The mouse should work again.
5. Smart TV: If your Smart TV feels like it’s slowing down and you’re finding it hard to change a channel or generally operate your TV, try a factory reset. You can usually find this on YouTube by searching for your TV make and model. The reset will wipe cookies and data that could be preventing the TV from working properly.
6. Remote control: If you’ve added new batteries and your remote control seems to be lagging in power or simply not working at all, then try removing the batteries. Using a clean new toothbrush, gently dust around the metal contacts inside the battery compartment and then reinsert them – this should help the issue.
7. Touch top bins: Remove the lid and give both parts of the locking mechanism a good rinse with warm soapy water. After drying it carefully, your bin should work again.

Investing in repairs

“Amazon is committed to repairing returned products so that we can get them back on sale, and to our customers, at discounted prices,” said Sam Littlejohn, Amazon’s Head of Returns and Repairs in Europe. “At the same time, we’re also seeing a growing interest in home repairs among European consumers as more people look to make their items last longer.”

In spite of this enthusiasm, only one in four (26%) people surveyed in Europe say they would mend an appliance themselves if it breaks. One in three (35%) say they simply wouldn’t know where to start conducting a home repair.

For those who feel brave enough to try fixing something themselves, they’re most likely to start with clothing and textiles or furniture, vases and ornaments, with electronics at the bottom of the list. Over a quarter (29%) of those surveyed would not trust themselves to attempt a home repair on any of these items at all.

By creating these videos, Amazon hopes to help people get more confident at simple repairs and maintenance which they could be carrying out themselves on popular home and lifestyle appliances.

Customers in Europe can also make savings on recommended retail prices shopping for quality returned, open-box, used and refurbished items through Amazon Resale and Amazon Renewed. All products are professionally inspected and graded. Purchases are Prime-eligible, backed by Amazon’s 30-day return policy and award-winning customer service, and covered by statutory legal warranty.

Extending the life of your products

For many purchases, we offer free product support to customers, helping with product setup, product use, or troubleshooting issues. Depending on the product, customers can call or chat with Amazon customer support, access manufacturer contact details, view step-by-step troubleshooting instructions, or find out more about their warranty repair benefits.

Find out how to make more sustainable choices when shopping on Amazon and watch some of our Repair Hacks videos to give some of your most-used items a longer life.