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Hennepin County, Minnesota

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Fix-It Clinics

Get help with your broken stuff and learn valuable repair skills at free Fix-It Clinics.

Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Fix-It Clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections and reduce the number of repairable items that are thrown in the trash.

Now available: Virtual repair assistance

We look forward to holding in-person Fix-It Clinics again when we can, but in the meantime we are offering one-on-one virtual repair sessions with our Fix-It Clinic volunteers.

How it works

  1. Please fill out the intake form
  2. We will review your form and respond within two business days to provide general advice and discuss next steps
  3. We will connect you with a volunteer through email
  4. You and your volunteer will set up a time to meet virtually using Microsoft Teams (instructions for logging in will be provided)

What you need

You will need a laptop, tablet or phone, and Internet connection that allows for video conferencing. It's helpful to have a second person in your household helping you aim the camera and help with disassembly and repairs.

Some common tools you may need include:

  • Phillips and standard screwdrivers
  • Needle nose and regular pliers
  • Flashlight
  • Soldering iron and solder
  • Basic voltmeter and wires to measure AC and DC voltage and resistance (if your item is electrical and not working)
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Bring your broken household goods and clothing in need of repair. Please also bring any tools and supplies you think might help with the job. Events are first come, first served, on a monthly basis.

There are no in-person Fix-It Clinics scheduled at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Stay tuned for updates, and sign up for virtual repair assistance or search for repair assistance online through resources like ifixit.com.

You must be able to carry items in — no oversized items. Feel free to bring any tools and supplies you think might help with the job; however, our volunteers have plenty of tools, so it’s not mandatory. Be prepared to wield a screwdriver, open stuff up and, hopefully, fix it!

The following are examples of things that have been repaired at other fix-it events:

  • Antique radio
  • Blender
  • Camping lantern
  • Clothing and other soft goods to mend or alter
  • Dremel tool
  • DVD player
  • Electric hot water kettle
  • Fan
  • Flashlight
  • Hair dryer
  • Lamp
  • Paper shredder
  • Remote control
  • Sewing machine
  • Steam mop
  • Stereo
  • Telephone headset
  • Toaster oven
  • Toaster
  • Toys

If you can troubleshoot repairs for broken items, consider volunteering at a Fix-It Clinic. Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, sewing, wood working and general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful.

Please email nancy.lo@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9195 for more details.

Thank you for wanting to host a Hennepin County Fix-It Clinic! In order to have a successful event, here are the things that are needed from your site:

  1. A large room that is big enough to fit at least 20 banquet-sized tables. A well-lit room is very helpful, too.
  2. Twenty tables. Ideally, six-feet-long with four chairs per table. Smaller, round tables are fine as long as we have more of them (about 30). The number of tables and surface space to work on is more important than the shape of the tables.
  3. At least eight electrical outlets
  4. Wi-fi
  5. A parking lot with at least 30 spaces

Please email at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9195 for more details.

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