What DIY repair made you feel ridiculously proud of yourself? Win £200

[EllieSmumsnet]

From coaxing a dying washing machine back to life, to replacing a tiny part instead of buying a whole new appliance, some repairs feel like a genuine triumph and you should absolutely feel very smug if you’ve managed it! <back pats.

Have you ever fixed something you were fully expecting to retire to the tip? Maybe you saved a small fortune, avoided a call-out fee, or simply refused to let the toaster/washing machine/fridge win.

We’d love to hear your best repair story. Come on and share how handy you are and don't be shy about celebrating that feeling of bringing something back to life! We want to know: What broke? How did you fix it? Did it save you money? And did you spend the rest of the day casually mentioning your achievement to anyone who would listen?

Share your story below by 17/08/2026 to be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 VEX voucher for a store of your choice and to inspire other MNers to try fixing before replacing. (T&Cs)

10 year old Washing machine wasn't draining.
Pulled it out and removed the filter. Still wasn't working so I youtubed it and found out how to check the pipes. I found all sorts of stuff it there. Also the same washing machine needed a replacement window thing at the front. I youtubed that and order the parts and fitted it.

Our shower head started leaking and had terrible water pressure, so rather than replacing the whole shower, I bought a new shower head from Screwfix for around £25. It took minutes to fit, works perfectly and saved me the cost of a plumber and a much more expensive replacement. Definitely one of those little DIY wins that makes you feel rather smug!

I'm going to puff myself like a chicken here. I have a DD who mends everything.
Really handy to have in the house.
She can build flat packs and rebuild your computer. Not her profession, she's a trainee psychologist. Her granddad was like this and my husband too.
Me? I can't put a plug on but I can paint and lime plaster.
I'd love to attend an adult education course for DIY. None our neck of the woods.

Oven door broke on Christmas Eve Eve. I'm cooking Christmas dinner.

Down to Wickes round the corner. Roofing bolts bolted the layers together. Lasted years longer.

Cut down the loft hatch that rested on top of the hole to one that flapped down to allow a loft ladder to fold down.

Mended wooden lounge double glazed patio door/window that had rotted through at the bottom by cutting out the rot, treating the surrounding wood, cutting a piece of hardwood to fit, sanding filling, sanding filling etc, primer, undercoat, top coat. Saved on buying a new window/ patio door.