Appliance broken at the worst possible moment? Here’s what to do

Back-to-school routines have a way of piling everything on you at once. Early mornings, packed lunches, last-minute uniform checks... and suddenly there’s no room for error.

It’s also, somehow, exactly when things decide to stop working. The washing machine won’t start. The fridge starts leaking. The dishwasher starts making that noise.

But before you assume you need a replacement, it’s worth asking one simple question: can this be fixed?

eSpares can help you find the right spare parts and the know-how to get things working again, often more easily than you’d expect.

The case for checking first

There’s never a good time for an appliance to break, but back-to-school season can make it feel particularly brutal. When routines are tight, even a small issue such as a slow wash cycle or faulty door seal can throw the whole week off.

That’s why more people are checking whether they can fix their appliance before reaching for a replacement. It’s not because they have loads of spare time, but because a simple repair is often faster and far less stressful than sourcing, buying and installing something new.

The usual suspects 

At this time of year, the same few culprits tend to crop up. Sound familiar?

• Washing machines not spinning or draining properly 

• Tumble dryers taking forever to dry 

• Ovens heating unevenly (or not at all) 

• Dishwashers leaving everything... still dirty 

These problems are frustrating, but they’re also among the most commonly fixed, often without replacing the whole appliance.

Small fixes, big difference 

A blocked filter. A worn seal. A fridge that’s not cooling properly. A part that’s simply reached the end of its life.

These aren’t always big or complicated problems, but they can feel that way in the middle of a busy week. Checking first and using a step-by-step guide can help you work out what’s wrong, and catch small issues before they become bigger ones. 

Sometimes, it’s as simple as giving your appliance a bit of care, like using a cleaner or descaler to keep things running properly. And often, it’s fixable.

Those are just the seasonal ones. Every week, households use eSpares to fix everything from tumble dryers and vacuum cleaners to dishwashers.

With more than 420,000 Trustpilot reviews and an average rating of 4.7 stars, it’s clear plenty of people are getting it sorted without it turning into a massive saga. Mumsnet users agreed: all 40 who tested eSpares said they’d recommend it to family and friends, earning the service a Mumsnet Rated badge.

One reason repairs can feel easier with eSpares is that people can learn as they go. Alongside finding the right spare part, there are over 900 written repair guides in the Advice Centre and more than 1,000 easy-to-follow how-to videos on YouTube, making it easier than ever to figure out what’s gone wrong and what to do next.

As one Mumsnet user put it: “The first thing I do... is go on Google/YouTube and check whether I could fix it.”

Back-to-school season doesn’t leave much room for things going wrong, but it does leave room for making a different choice. Sometimes, all it takes is checking first.

If this has got you thinking differently about repair, you’re not alone. More and more people are rethinking the “throw-it-away” mindset and sharing the small wins that come with fixing something themselves.

We’ve been exploring this with Mumsnet users too: looking at why more people are choosing repair and hearing real stories about fixes that made a difference. Join the conversation and tell us: what’s the best money-saving repair you’ve ever done?

About eSpares

As the UK’s leading retailer for appliance spare parts, eSpares helps everyday appliance owners save money and reduce waste by fixing their appliances at home - from washing machines and tumble dryers to dishwashers, fridge freezers, ovens, lawnmowers and more, helping make home repairs feel achievable for everyone.

Alongside their range of over one million appliance parts, they provide the guidance needed to carry out repairs with confidence. That includes 1000+ repair tutorials on their YouTube channel, which has generated over 135 million views and supports a community of 170K+ subscribers, as well as 900+ written repair guides on their Advice Centre page - making it easier to repair rather than replace.

To highlight the growing movement towards repair, eSpares has also created the eSpares Fixometer - a counter designed to track how many people are choosing to repair rather than replace their appliances, highlighting the collective impact of small decisions that help households save money, reduce waste, and feel more confident carrying out repairs themselves.

*Estimate based on UK spare parts customer orders from January 2025 to June 2026, subject to change depending on product returns in accordance with our Returns Policy. Before attempting a repair, check eSpares’ safety information, whether your appliance is still under warranty and any possible effect on your consumer rights.