How To: Fix a Broken Toilet Handle Using Zip Ties and a Key Ring

The handle broke off my toilet a few weeks ago, right at that time when it's too late to go to the hardware store but too early to wait until the next day to fix it (my boyfriend and I are both night owls so are often up into the early morning.) Sticking our hands into the tank every time we needed to flush seemed . . . unappealing, so we rigged up a temporary solution that we happen to think is pretty great.

Using zip ties and a key ring we fashioned a pull chain toilet handle that not only works amazingly well, but has become a hilarious conversation piece when we have guests over.

The zip ties attach to the plastic piece that pulls the flapper (rubber stopper that closes the hole between the tank and the bowl) up, and then one of them goes through the hole that's meant for the handle. A key ring is attached on the outside to keep the zip tie from falling through and to give you something to grab. If you wanted to get really creative you could probably attach anything you could think of on this end, perhaps making it match your bathroom decor?

In the end it was simple, fast, and cheaply done with things we happened to have on hand. We'd like to think MacGyver would be proud.

(Oh, and a month later, we have yet to replace our "temporary" fix.)

Comments (15)

did you know that you could simply fill a bucket or waste can with a gallon or two of water and pour it into the commode? remember that if you ever hear the water is going to be cut off for a few hours...

posted by Lady J on June 23rd 2008 at 1:35pm
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I like your solution, and I like even more that you didn't rush right out to the hardware store the next day!

posted by Charlotte on June 23rd 2008 at 1:46pm
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Zip ties are the solution to every problem!

posted by charlenemcbride on June 23rd 2008 at 3:16pm
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I'd be more impressed if it were done with duct tape. I smell a very expensive call to the plumber complete with water damage.

posted by hdtex on June 23rd 2008 at 4:47pm
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More importantly where is that magazine rack/toilet paper holder from???

posted by Trumystique on June 23rd 2008 at 6:07pm
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Tiny Living in nyc sells it.
It is a store that sells it on the internet
You can live anywhere and they will send it to you.

posted by cityofparis on June 23rd 2008 at 7:29pm
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Where in the good heavens did that side rack come from? Very nice, tidy looking & a space saver.

posted by Mayaquice on June 23rd 2008 at 7:30pm
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The side rack is an "over tank magazine & tissue holder" - we picked ours up at the local hardware store, but similar ones are available at several places online - see our post about it here.

posted by Elizabeth on June 23rd 2008 at 8:04pm
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you could really jazz that up with beads! maybe even stick seasonal toys on the end of it (rubber duckies, shamrocks, turkeys etc..) for theme parties.

posted by vespabelle on June 23rd 2008 at 8:11pm
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I think it looks pretty awesome. One of my favorite things about being in Europe was how unpredictable (at least compared to the U.S.) flushing mechanisms were. Pull chains and buttons and handles and things on the top, side, and walls. I'm nerdy like that, though. But I had secret dreams of rigging up a pull chain system in the wooden toilet tank top of the last place I lived...

posted by happify on June 24th 2008 at 6:59am
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awesome. same thing happened to my toiled last year and i was relieved that my engineer dad was there to save the day. he used a long red ribbon that had come with a gift box, and it held up until i could get it fixed by the super.

posted by saintmims on June 24th 2008 at 7:43am
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BRAVO! wonderful solution to a very annoying problem. Luckly though, those replacement flusher thingies are cheap (mine are around $4 each) so I now keep a spare one on hand just incase!

posted by Monica on June 24th 2008 at 8:02am
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While I applaud an ingenious reaction to a broken mechanism until you had time to get to the store, I also think y'ought to have fixed it proper by now. Hilarious broken-handle toilets as conversation pieces.. really now.

posted by K T G on June 25th 2008 at 6:46am
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I appreciate your ingenuity & sense of humor, Elizabeth--I was losing faith in AT's ability to relate to the rest of us. I am so happy you haven't found a $300 designer toilet lever to replace this with!

posted by bright_as_yellow on June 25th 2008 at 12:06pm
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I thought I was so clever replacing my broken toilet chain with zip ties - you rock! I blogged about it and included your post:
http://www.stacksandstacks.com/blog/2009/05/06/works-for-me-wednesday-zip-ties/#more-1753

posted by Clutter Control Freak on May 6th 2009 at 1:55pm
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