We all seem to know someone who likes to consider themselves a handyman. Spoiler alert: it’s usually our dad. And to be fair, sometimes they’re really good at making repairs! Maybe they’ve worked in construction or plumbing or they just have a lot of life experience fixing things. Even if those people have some ideas that seem overly creative, we still give them the benefit of the doubt.
Then there are the people who want to be handy, but just…aren’t. Perhaps they watched too much “MacGyver” while growing up. Or maybe they like to avoid spending money for professional repair services.
With those people, you may not always end up with things that work but you sure get a lot of hilarious repairs. While they’re funny, some are also dangerous. People like this will go to almost any length to not use professional services whether due to money or personal pride.
So yes, if you know a repairman (or woman) like that, you might want to double-check all their work to make sure it won’t kill anybody. One thing’s for sure, you’ll have a lot of hilarious stories to tell — and pictures to share on the internet.
1. It’s not stupid if it works
When this cable wouldn’t stay in place, one person had an ingenious idea for making sure it stuck. Literally, they used some glue and a little Velcro.
2. Does this work?
When it comes to having visibility while driving, you might not want to go the DIY route. I don’t think a broom will cut it if you’re trying to see out your back window during a rainstorm.
3. It’s a perfect tribute
When your roommate punches a hole in a wall, you have a couple of options. You could get it repaired, but who has time for that? The second option is to put a print of the scene from The Shining, which is what these guys went with.
4. When your showerhead abandons you, Mountain Dew is there
Is it the most effective method? Actually, it’s not bad. If you don’t have a showerhead, a plastic soda bottle with holes punched in the bottom might work, at least for a little while.
5. How does this happen?
Okay, I’ll give them points for the creativity of this solution, but my real question is. how on earth did they manage to lose one-third of their wall clock? The possibilities are endless and bizarre.
6. It’s safe…probably
This poster said this was their dad’s idea and you’ve got to admit, it’s a classic “dad solution.” It’s technically a knob, which does the job. But it looks really, really weird.
7. How to make your car stand out
When your car mirror breaks, you have a couple of solutions. But let’s face it — any DIY repair is going to look hilarious. You might just want to take your car into the shop if you can afford it.
8. Duct tape can fix anything
Duct tape enthusiasts swear there’s nothing it can’t do, and they might not be wrong. Apparently, it can even replace shower pipes when you’re really in a pinch!
9. What could go wrong?
You have to wonder who saw a broken swing and decided this was the best option. What happened to good old tire swings? And how many kids are going to get hurt on this thing?
10. You should probably call a professional for that
Fire hydrants are under an incredible amount of internal pressure. If you’ve ever seen one deployed, you know that for a fact! If duct tape can hold that, is there anything it can’t do?
11. When you love crappy cars and comics
Getting a dent in your car is annoying, but it’s not usually a serious problem. People either have to just roll with it or come up with a creative solution. This person went with the second option.
12. Yeah, but what’s up with the dryer?
After the dishwasher broke, the only way to complete a wash cycle was to depress the button the entire time, but no one has time for that. This was their awesome solution. But the real question is, what’s going on with the dryer back there?
13. There’s no way this could go wrong
This person didn’t have an electric mixer and decided that mixing by hand wasn’t worth it. They might end up losing a couple of fingers — or at least getting batter all over the ceiling.
14. Does this even qualify as a bike now?
When your bike seat falls off, there are a few things you can replace it with if you really have to. But a big log wrapped with duct tape seems like a bit of a stretch. Is it still a bike at this point?
15. How to fool everyone
People come up with all sorts of crazy solutions when their headlights break. Among those are some pretty creative ones…but this one is less effective. Just printing out a headlight might fool people during the day, though!
16. She’ll never notice
Remember when you were a kid and you accidentally broke something but tried to hide it from your mom? This kid had a genius idea. There’s no way Mom will ever notice!
17. You have to appreciate the attention to detail
This person had an amazing solution for fixing their broken headlight. One Tupperware container, one orange pill bottle, and a couple of zip ties are everything they need!
18. I can’t bear to watch
This guy was so determined to cut the tops of his hedges that he did this. Can you imagine watching it from one yard over, expecting to see him die at any moment?
19. They’re going to die
They say women live longer than men, and pictures like this are a good example of why. What on earth was this person thinking? Just wait to get real equipment or you’re going to die!
20. Everything’s totally normal here
This actually isn’t a bad solution to a broken car mirror, but they might want to remove that handle off. As soon as they do, it’ll be almost unnoticeable to others.
21. This is totally the same thing
When they lost the water filter on their sink, this was one guy’s solution. Unfortunately, no one told him that straws don’t filter water and this doesn’t really do anything.
22. How to ruin Santa for everyone
Here’s a good rule of thumb: if your Santa decoration breaks, don’t try to replace the face. It won’t turn out well and you’ll just scare all the kids.
23. Okay, that’s pretty creative
You may have heard the expression “It’s not stupid if it works.” This might be a downright ridiculous solution, but it’s also kind of genius. Seriously, the person who thought of this should win a prize.
24. This could go very wrong
When you want a smoothie, you find a way to make one – or at least you do if you’re these people. Hopefully, this ended with a delicious, fruity drink and not a terrible mess.
25. You barely even notice it
This “fix” is so hilariously bad that it belongs in a Bad Fix Hall of Fame. However, it’s impressive they found a chair that fit so perfectly in the space. Also, what happened to that couch?
26. Hey, but they saved some money
This might not look very high-tech, but it’s not the worst way to make some at-home speakers. If your fancy ones aren’t cutting it, use some milk jugs and a paper towel tube. That could do the trick!
27. Wow
Speaking as a poor millennial, I get it — car repairs are really expensive. Even getting a tire replaced can really set you back. But I don’t think the solution to your problem is this!
28. Who knew you could make a Frankencar?
If you’ve ever wanted a car that’s half-minivan, half-pickup truck, we’ve got great news for you! From the back annals of the DIY movements comes this piece of work, which is apparently two cars smashed together.
29. I hope you packed your parachute
Okay, as terrifying as this looks, there’s no reason for concern. The airline responded to this tweet to reassure the passengers that the tape was keeping some damaged paint in place. Phew, now we can rest easy!
30. Well, this is cozy
When their elevator light broke, this apartment complex came up with the creepiest possible solution to the problem — a lamp in the corner. Now the elevator is the perfect place to snuggle up with your significant other…or get murdered.
31. No shoes, no shirt…uh, wait
I guess this isn’t the worst solution when it comes to DIY footwear, but it’s not a great one either. Does it really count as wearing shoes if you can peel them off and throw them in the trash?
32. He’s helping
This adorable little Lego man looks like he’s happy to help pull these two cords together just a little further. It was just serendipity that his little hands fit the wire perfectly.
33. Duct tape really can fix anything
Duct tape has been used to repair cars, keep houses together, and hold parts on planes. It only makes sense that it’s strong enough to hold a computer together, at least temporarily!
34. That’s quite elaborate
Once laptops start getting a little older, they often have issues with overheating. This elaborate system replaced the laptop’s broken fan to keep the interior cool and functional. It’s actually not a bad idea.
35. That’s going to hurt
Here’s a word to the wise: if your car fender gets knocked off, don’t try to replace it with a plank of wood. It won’t protect your car and it could become seriously dangerous if you get in an accident.
36. Um, has this plane been inspected?
What airline is this? I want to know so that I never fly with them. But fun fact: lots of airlines use tape to temporarily fix issues until they can get more extensive repairs done.
37. How?
If your car doesn’t have air conditioning, you know how rough it is during the summer. But putting a home window unit in the car is pretty crazy. How long is their extension cord?
38. This is genius
This poster was amused to see their mom rigged this elaborate system to avoid holding her mixer. Some recipes require mixing for a really long time, so frankly, I don’t blame her!
39. This is now the manliest razor of all time
When this razor broke, its owner didn’t see any reason to replace it. Instead, he just took the old blade and stuck it on a new and improved holder. This seems like something Ron Swanson would do.
40. Stay back, I’m a professional
One homeowner was fixing some ductwork when they found evidence of the previous owner’s handiwork. It’s not exactly high-tech, but it seems to have done the job.
41. There’s a big market for this product
An 8-year-old came up with this system for never dropping a book in the tub again. All you need is a dog leash, a suction cup, and a clip. Now it’s time to relax.
42. Well, he did what she asked
One woman wasn’t amused when she asked her husband to fix their toilet handle and he came up with this. Sure, it’s not what she meant, but it works, doesn’t it?
43. It’s perfect
In the category of “laziest fix of all time.” there’s this minivan “door” made out of old cardboard. Do I want to know how they managed to lose their entire door?
44. Well, I’m reassured
As terrifying as this looks, it’s apparently pretty common. Industrial packing tape is super strong, so it’s a fine temporary fix. But it does look pretty alarming.
45. Could you DIY a laptop?
This person might be a minor tech genius. When the laptop broke, they found a way to rig their Android phone and keyboard so it functioned as a miniature computer. Not bad, kid.
46. This will never cause a problem, right?
When your car door doesn’t lock, this isn’t exactly the most obvious solution. Hopefully, they’ll never have to get into their vehicle in a hurry!
47. Hot water for comfort or safety?
If you don’t have hot water, this is certainly one way to take care of it. Of course, based on the look of that sink, they might want to boil the water for their protection. So. we’ll call this a win-win.
48. Well, it’s sort of a dryer
When your dryer breaks and you need to wear a piece of clothing, you do what you have to do. Of course, it looks a little funny, but hey, it works!
49. Is this really the most effective solution?
I don’t know what these people were trying to solve, but judging by the air fresheners, I’m assuming it was some kind of odor issue. Unfortunately, all the air fresheners in the world can’t help some smells.
50. It’s a power button, sort of
When the power button on the TV breaks, never fear — handy Dad is here! He’ll use whatever replacement button he can find, including an old light switch.
51. Cords are cords, right?
What do you do when the handle of your bucket breaks? Well, you look around for a cord, of course. And if the only one you have is an ethernet cable, that’s what you’re going to use.
52. How to make sure no one drives too closely
No one likes to drive up close to trucks. They always look like they’re about to fall over on top of your car. Of course, in the case of this truck, that might actually happen.
53. This is fine
Some repair jobs skillfully cover damage and at least temporarily fix the problem. And then there are ones like this, which make the whole thing look so much worse.
54. It’s a long-term solution
Sometimes, buttons get a little finicky after a lot of use. The button on this fan wouldn’t stay down, so they came up with this creative solution to keep it at the right setting.
55. It totally fits
If there’s anything worse than driving behind a truck, it’s driving behind a truck that tapes its extra cargo to the back door. That better be some really strong tape!
56. Um…is that safe?
You’d be surprised by how many tricks, cheats, and DIY solutions even professionals use. But somehow, I don’t think this one makes the cut. What’s to stop that Pringles can from catching fire?
57. I think I should call the police…
How desperate do you have to be to replace a tire with this thing? I know that tires are expensive and car repairs are a pain, but there’s no way this is safe for anyone on the road!
58. Well, this looks foolproof
I’m no car mechanic, but even I can tell you this doesn’t look right.. Are they venting something to the outside? Somehow, I don’t think this is very safe.
59. When you need a spatula
When the barbecue can’t wait and you can’t find your spatula, all you need is a little creativity! Well, you also need an empty beer can, a stick, and some glue.
60. Something tells me they’re not getting their car inspected regularly
Standards for car inspections vary from state to state, but something tells me this window wouldn’t fly even under the most relaxed regulations. You have to give them points for finding a window that almost fits perfectly, though.
61. Well, that’s just cheating
At what point does it not count as a repair? This car lost its window and its owner technically replaced it, if by “replace” you mean “balanced a pane of glass against the door”.
62. Did you, though?
I don’t mean to get all technical, but there are very specific safety standards for the temperature at which you can store food. A DIY fridge fix like this is a great way to get food poisoning.
63. Why buy new?
You can find door knobs for just a few dollars at most hardware stores, so I’m not going to give this person a pass. Was this really easier than just getting a new knob?
64. There goes the barn door
This might just be one of the strangest car fixes I’ve ever seen. Somehow, this person lost the entire side of their car and replaced it with some cheap metal sheeting.
65. Okay, that’s not the worst idea
Here’s one of those DIY fixes that make you say, “Wait a second, you might be on to something.” When you need to stabilize a wobbly table leg, you can’t get much better than an old Nokia phone.
66. The thumbs-up says it all
This person is clearly proud of themselves for this bizarre “fix” of a sink without a faucet. The new “faucet” is made of regular Scotch tape and a single binder clip. Is that going to last?
67. It’s safe and looks great
This is pretty funny, but in all seriousness, it’s also crazy dangerous. You shouldn’t prop your seat up with anything that could become a projectile in an accident — or even just fall while you’re driving on the road.
68. Well, that’s classy
Do you want to fix your shower while also proclaiming your love for beer? Then you’ll love this simple shower fix that lets you wash your body through a rusty old beer can.
69. This is sure to work
This person managed to stabilize their desk chair after one of its wheels fell off. Unfortunately, just because something is round doesn’t mean it’ll roll like a wheel. But nice try.
70. You’ll never get another stain
If you have pets, small children, or clumsy friends, you can probably relate to the desire to have a stain-proof couch. But somehow, I don’t think this is the best solution.
71. A lot is going on here
When this computer charger broke, its owner dedicated time and effort to “fix” it. If you look closely, you’ll notice everything from electrical tape to broken chopsticks in there.
72. No one comes in, no one goes out
What should you do when your door breaks? Well, one person’s solution was just to tape the whole thing shut. I hope they have a back door.
73. Turn your broken windshield into free advertising
They say all press is good press, and clearly, Boss Todd believes it. He decided to turn a destroyed windshield into advertising, which is admittedly effective.
74. All better
I don’t know if the person who did this was trying to be sarcastic or honestly thought this would help. And frankly, I can’t decide which of those options is funnier.
75. Who even needs furniture?
I get it — furniture is expensive. When you don’t have the cash, you take what you can get. But if you’re using discarded seats from cars, wouldn’t it just be better to sit on the floor?
75 hilarious ‘jimmy-rigged’ solutions people came up with instead of hiring a professional
Cedric Jackson
10.10.19
We all seem to know someone who likes to consider themselves a handyman. Spoiler alert: it’s usually our dad. And to be fair, sometimes they’re really good at making repairs! Maybe they’ve worked in construction or plumbing or they just have a lot of life experience fixing things. Even if those people have some ideas that seem overly creative, we still give them the benefit of the doubt.
Then there are the people who want to be handy, but just…aren’t. Perhaps they watched too much “MacGyver” while growing up. Or maybe they like to avoid spending money for professional repair services.
With those people, you may not always end up with things that work but you sure get a lot of hilarious repairs. While they’re funny, some are also dangerous. People like this will go to almost any length to not use professional services whether due to money or personal pride.
So yes, if you know a repairman (or woman) like that, you might want to double-check all their work to make sure it won’t kill anybody. One thing’s for sure, you’ll have a lot of hilarious stories to tell — and pictures to share on the internet.