Repair
Kane County residents who own homes and/or vehicles are accustomed to having those things repaired. It doesn't make financial sense for most people to sell or write off a house or vehicle due a minor issue. For many people, houses and vehicles are where tolerance for repair ends. If clothes tear or electronics stop working, we often replace those items with newer models instead of having the original repaired. Although there are local recycling options for both clothing and electronics, the examples used above, it takes a lot of fuel and energy to transport and recycle these items. It also takes a lot of energy to make new consumer goods. This is why “reduce" and “reuse" typically come before “recycle" in the hierarchy of environmentally friendly actions.
If you have repairable items that need fixing, there are two basic options: make a DIY repair or hire a pro. While it can be fun to learn new skills and rewarding to fix your own things, a lot of people simply don't have the time to do it well. That's when it's probably best to call on a professional.
Do-It-Yourself
Have a small appliance, electronic item, or piece of clothing in need of repairs, but don't know where to start? Aurora now has a Repair Cafe group, which is part of a global network of similar volunteer-led organizations under the Repair Cafe umbrella. The idea is that members of the community are paired with trained repair volunteers to assess broken items and explore repairs together. The group has appointments available the 3rd Saturday of every month at Santori Library. Aurora residency not required. Learn more and make an appointment here.
Repair Professionals
The map-style directories below were developed to help Kane County residents find local businesses that repair common household goods. The categories for which we currently have directories are 1) Clothing, shoes and jewelry, 2) Electronics (computers, cell phones, TVs, etc.) and 3) Furniture, indoor use appliances and outdoor use appliances (lawn care equipment, small generators, etc.)
Do you own a repair business that isn't listed? Simply email a request to be added to recycle@kanecountyil.gov. These are courtesy listings; Kane County does not endorse or recommend any particular business seen here.
Clothing, Shoe and Jewelry Repair Businesses (click "four corners" icon in top right corner below for full-screen view in new window)
Electronics Repair Businesses (click "four corners" icon in top right corner below for full-screen view in new window)
Furniture, Indoor Appliance and Outdoor Appliance Repair Businesses (click "four corners" icon in top right corner below for full-screen view in new window)
