FixIts Review: Can These Reusable Repair Sticks Replace Glue?

Overview

Broken cables, cracked handles, damaged headphones, and loose household parts often end up in the bin because conventional glue cannot create the right shape or support. Tape may provide a temporary hold, while superglue can become brittle or leave a sticky mess behind.

FixIts takes a different approach. Instead of acting like a liquid adhesive, these reusable thermoplastic sticks soften in hot water and can be moulded directly around a damaged area. Once the material cools, it hardens into a firm plastic repair that can be reheated and reshaped when needed.

Featured on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, FixIts is positioned as a non-toxic, reusable alternative to single-use glues and repair compounds.

This review takes a closer look at how it works, where it performs best, and whether it deserves a place in the average household toolbox.

What Are FixIts?

FixIts are reusable thermoplastic repair sticks designed to soften when exposed to hot water or another suitable heat source. Once softened, the material can be shaped by hand, wrapped around broken items, pressed into gaps, or formed into small replacement components.

The material becomes firm as it cools, creating a solid mechanical repair rather than a conventional chemical bond. It can be used on materials such as plastic, metal, ceramic, wood, rubber, and fabric, although the strength and suitability of each repair will depend on the surface, shape, temperature, and amount of material used.

FixIts require no batteries, specialised tools, mixing, or curing chemicals. The sticks also have no stated expiry date, allowing unused material and completed repairs to be reheated and remoulded for future projects.

How Much does FixIts Rate?

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About the Manufacturer

FixIts is a UK-based repair and materials brand founded by materials specialist Chris Lefteri and product designer Forrest Radford. The idea began after Lefteri discovered the potential of a reusable mouldable material while researching his first materials book in 2000.

After using the material for household repairs, Lefteri worked with Radford to develop the concept into an accessible consumer product. The company was built around the idea that everyday objects should be repaired rather than automatically replaced when one small component breaks.

FixIts manufactures its repair sticks in the UK using locally sourced materials where possible. The brand has also worked to remove unnecessary single-use plastics from its packaging and shipping operations. Its appearance on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den introduced the company to a wider audience, where it received an investment offer from Steven Bartlett. Every order from the reviewed sales page is supported by a 30-day money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty.

Key Features of FixIts

Here is what sets these repair sticks apart from conventional household adhesives and single-use repair products.

Heat-Activated Mouldability

FixIts becomes soft and workable after approximately one minute in kettle-boiled water. The material can then be stretched, folded, pressed, or moulded around a damaged component before hardening as it cools.

Research into low-melting thermoplastics helps explain this basic materials principle. A review published through the National Library of Medicine found that polycaprolactone-based materials can have melting temperatures around 60°C while retaining useful flexibility and processing characteristics. It supports the broader mechanism that allows low-melting thermoplastics to soften with heat and return to a solid form after cooling.

Remouldable Thermoplastic Structure

Unlike glue, FixIts do not permanently cure after their first use. The material can be heated again when a repair needs adjusting, when too much material has been applied, or when the user wants to reuse it for another project.

A 2022 study available through PubMed Central explains that thermoplastic materials can be reheated and remoulded because their structure becomes workable again at elevated temperatures. This supports the general principle behind the reusable design, although the number of successful reheating cycles for a particular repair may still depend on contamination, thickness, and how the material has been used.

Firm Mechanical Support

FixIts works primarily by wrapping around, filling, or gripping a damaged area rather than creating the thin chemical bond associated with superglue. This allows the material to form a supporting sleeve, handle, bracket, grip, or replacement section around irregularly shaped objects.

Research published through the National Center for Biotechnology Information describes low-melting biodegradable thermoplastics as materials with useful flexibility, impact resistance, and mechanical properties. These qualities help explain why a moulded thermoplastic can provide practical support around a broken item.

Reusable and Waste-Conscious Design

FixIts have no stated expiry date and do not dry out inside a tube or container. Users can soften only the amount needed and keep the remaining material for later. Existing repairs can also be reheated so the material can be removed or used again.

The brand states that the material meets EN 14995 requirements for industrial compostability.

How Do FixIts Work?

FixIts changes from a firm stick into a soft, mouldable material when heated above approximately 60°C. Placing the required amount in kettle-boiled water for around one minute usually makes it soft enough to shape by hand.

Once removed from the water, the material can be wrapped around a crack, pressed into a gap, moulded into a missing component, or used to reinforce a weak connection. Users generally have two to three minutes to work before the outside begins cooling and firming.

As the material cools, it returns to a hard plastic state and mechanically grips the object. It does not function exactly like glue and may not chemically bond to every surface. Its strength generally comes from its shape, surface contact, and ability to wrap around or lock onto the repaired area.

When a mistake is made, the repair can be reheated using hot water or carefully applied warm air. The material softens again, allowing it to be repositioned, removed, or reshaped.

Benefits of FixIts

It’s a reusable household repair material that provides more control than tape and greater shaping flexibility than liquid glue:

• Makes Irregular Repairs Easier
  Liquid adhesives work best when two clean surfaces fit together precisely. FixIts can be moulded around uneven shapes, missing corners, broken handles, worn cable ends, and other areas where a flat adhesive bond may not provide enough support.
• Allows Mistakes to Be Corrected
  A poorly positioned glue repair can become permanent within seconds. FixIts can be softened again, giving users the opportunity to correct the shape, uncover a blocked port, remove excess material, or start the repair again.
• Reduces Dependence on Single-Use Adhesives
  Glue tubes frequently dry out after opening, even when only a small amount has been used. FixIts have no stated expiry date, so leftover material can remain available for future repairs without curing inside its packaging.
• May Help Extend the Life of Household Items
  Replacing headphones, cables, handles, tools, and household accessories can become expensive when only one small part is damaged. FixIts may help reinforce these areas and extend the useful life of items that might otherwise be discarded.

How to Use FixIts

Using FixIts is not complicated once you understand the instructions:

• Heat water in a kettle and pour it into a ceramic or glass container.
• Place the required amount of FixIts material into the hot water.
• Leave it for approximately one minute or until it becomes soft.
• Carefully remove the material and allow excess water to drain away.
• Mould, stretch, or press it around the damaged area.
• Hold the material in the desired position while it begins to cool.
• Allow the repair to cool completely before placing it under pressure.
• Reheat and reshape the material when an adjustment is required.

Do not heat FixIts in a plastic container because the softened material may grip or bond to some plastics. The brand also advises against heating it above 200°C.

How Effective Are FixIts?

It has a 4.9-star customer rating based on more than 900 reviews. Customers commonly describe using FixIts for headphones, charging cables, furniture controls, plastic casings, handles, and other small household repairs.

Its effectiveness depends heavily on choosing an appropriate repair. FixIts are most useful when the material can wrap around, grip, fill, or reinforce the damaged area. They are less suitable when a repair requires an invisible bond between two completely smooth surfaces.

The ability to reheat the material provides a practical advantage over permanent adhesives, especially for first-time users. However, FixIts should not be considered a replacement for professional structural repairs, high-temperature components, pressurised systems, or damaged mains electrical equipment.

Safety of FixIts

FixIts are described by the brand as being made from a non-toxic, inert, and odourless bioplastic. The material does not require chemical solvents and does not produce the strong fumes normally associated with some glues and epoxies.

The primary safety concern is the heat required to soften the sticks. Adults should supervise children closely whenever hot water, kettles, hairdryers, or other heat sources are involved. Small unused pieces should also be kept away from young children because they may present a choking hazard.

FixIts should not be used on live electrical equipment. The brand advises limiting cable repairs to low-voltage consumer electronics below 24 volts and avoiding any situation where heat could soften the repair and expose internal wiring. Repairs should always be completed while the device is disconnected from its power source.

Side Effects of FixIts

FixIts do not produce side effects in the same sense as a supplement or personal care product. However, several practical issues may occur when the material is handled incorrectly.

Hot water and recently heated material may cause burns, particularly when children use the product without supervision. The material may also stick to certain plastic containers while soft, which is why ceramic or glass containers are recommended.

Users should also remember that FixIts harden into a firm plastic rather than remaining soft like rubber. Working time is limited to a few minutes, so detailed or highly polished repairs may require reheating and additional shaping.

How Much Do FixIts Cost?

FixIts are available through the reviewed sales page with the following pricing in USD:

• 1x FixIts Pack: $19.99
• Buy 2, Get 1 Free: $49.98
• Buy 3, Get 2 Free: $74.97

Every purchase is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty. Bundle availability, shipping charges, and promotional prices may change according to location and current offers.

What FixIts Customers Are Saying

The customer feedback highlights a variety of household repair situations, with reusability and ease of reshaping appearing frequently in the reviews.

Gill C. says,

I only needed a small amount of FixIts to bond the two pieces together and I was thrilled that it set totally solid. I discovered that I’d covered the charging port, so I used the hairdryer to soften the FixIt and was able to remould my repair.

Pamela Hutton says,

I have had a nightmare with trying to fix my remote cable for my lounger couch. This was the perfect solution, so far so good!

Peter Scott says,

Exactly as described on the pack. Works as it should, softens in hot water and moulds to whatever shape you require.

FAQs

Q: What are FixIts?

A: FixIts are reusable thermoplastic repair sticks that soften in hot water. The softened material can be moulded around damaged household items before hardening into a firm plastic repair as it cools.

Q: How do FixIts work?

A: FixIts soften when heated above approximately 60°C. Users shape the material around a damaged area, allow it to cool and harden, and reheat it later when the repair needs to be adjusted or reused.

Q: Are FixIts a type of glue?

A: No, FixIts create a mechanical grip by wrapping around, filling, or locking onto an object. They may grip some plastics and fabrics effectively, but they do not chemically adhere to every smooth surface like a conventional glue.

Q: Are FixIts safe to use around children?

A: The material is described as non-toxic and safe to handle. However, adult supervision is required because hot water is needed, and small leftover pieces may present a choking hazard to young children.

Q: What is the return and warranty policy?

A: Orders placed through the reviewed sales page include a 30-day money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty. Customers should review the complete return conditions before sending back an opened or used order.

Conclusion

FixIts offers a genuinely practical alternative to traditional glue for household repairs that require more than a thin adhesive bond. Their ability to soften, mould around irregular shapes, harden within minutes, and be reheated when mistakes occur makes them particularly useful for cables, headphones, handles, plastic parts, and small replacement components.

The product is not suitable for every surface or repair. Smooth glass, high-temperature components, mains electrical wiring, and structural applications may require more specialised solutions. However, for ordinary household fixes, its reusable design provides flexibility that conventional glue tubes cannot easily match.

With a 30-day money-back guarantee, 1-year warranty, strong customer ratings, and a reusable material that does not dry out between projects, FixIts make a convincing addition to a home repair drawer or toolbox.