40 Photos Of "Ingenious" Solutions To Everyday Problems

This is Redneck Engineering at its best.

Have you ever been tempted to fix something around your house without calling the expensive repairmen? They want to do everything by the book, using proper parts and procedures. Yet, it’s often fixable with items you can find around the house…

[ADVERTISEMENT]

Repairmen can be quite annoying with their warnings, precautions, and special tools. Why can’t you heat your house by placing a fan next to the open oven?

[ADVERTISEMENT]

The Reddit community called r/RedNeckEngineering is devoted to those crazy fixes we attempt ourselves. Some of them are truly wild and shouldn’t be attempted—ever, under any circumstances. Take a look. Just look; don’t try.

1. "Local Chinese Restaurant. The Entire Kitchen Is Walled Off With Plastic. There’s A Cardboard Flap To Pass Money, And The Box On The Right Acts As An Airlock With Two Flaps To Pass The Food Through. It’s All Plastic Sheet, Cardboard, And Duct Tape"

1. reddit.com
[ADVERTISEMENT]

2. Parking Sensor Substitute

2. Parking Sensor Substituteimgur.com
[ADVERTISEMENT]

3. Better Stand Back…

3. Better Stand Back…reddit.com

Innovation and Problem-Solving

The ingenuity displayed in everyday problem-solving reflects core aspects of human creativity and resourcefulness.

Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s research on creativity highlights that individuals often utilize their environments and available resources in innovative ways.

Such solutions not only address immediate problems but also foster a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy.

Engaging in creative thinking can significantly enhance one’s problem-solving skills and overall mental well-being.

4. Interesting Dispenser

4. Interesting Dispenserreddit.com

5. I Stand Corrected.

5. I Stand Corrected.reddit.com

6. "Ran Out Of Washers So Drilled Through Some Pennies"

6. reddit.com

Encouraging a mindset that embraces creativity can lead to more effective solutions in everyday life.

According to research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, environments that promote collaboration and open-mindedness enhance creative output.

Individuals and teams can benefit from brainstorming sessions and collaborative workshops that inspire out-of-the-box thinking, ultimately leading to innovative solutions.

7. Who Needs Boats?

7. Who Needs Boats?reddit.com

8. "Beep, Beep"

8. reddit.com

9. Across This Picture And Wanted To Share"

9. Across This Picture And Wanted To Sharereddit.com

10. "That'll Do For Now, He Said. That Was 4 Years Ago"

10. reddit.com

11. Don’t Stop

11. Don’t Stopreddit.com

12. Remote Teaching

12. Remote Teachingreddit.com

13. Switch Relocated

13. Switch Relocatedreddit.com

14. Now What?

14. Now What?reddit.com

15. Best Lock Ever

15. Best Lock Everreddit.com

The most significant difference between now and 2013, when r/RedneckEngineering was created, is its expansion. The creator mentioned that he used to be in charge of most of the posts, but the community has become self-sustaining over time.

In the thread, you’ll see all kinds of strange, improvised gadgets and very problematic workarounds. Most posts usually come from people discovering “low-budget workarounds to everyday problems, with a few high-effort engineering projects and other submissions sprinkled in.”

16. "A Whole Crap Load Of Amish Guys Moving A Barn"

16. reddit.com

The founder of the r/RedneckEngineering community states that "redneck engineering" is open to interpretation, but he explained that it's also "the kind of thing you know when you see it."

For example, "It can range from something as common as using a hand mirror to replace a side-view mirror to something complex like building a backyard water slide with a loop-de-loop." Community members give "bonus points if it would make an OSHA inspector cringe."

17. Gate Fixed

17. Gate Fixedreddit.com

18. Moving Your Home

18. Moving Your Homereddit.com

19. "Are Russians The Rednecks Of Europe?"

19. reddit.com

20. "Installed My Anti-Tailgater Device Today... Now I Just Need To Find Something For Folks Who Cut Me Off..."

20. reddit.com

21. "Steering Wheel Broke, Needed To Finish The Yard. Thankfully, I Know How To Drive A Stick"

21. reddit.com

22. "Found This Fork In My Brother's House And Asked Him Why He Had Done It.... Then He Ran Upstairs To Grab His iPad"

22. reddit.com

23. Burglar Protected.

23. Burglar Protected.reddit.com

24. Just Cruising

24. Just CruisingAshleyJPL

25. "We Needed To Disassemble A Shelf In An Office And We Didn’t Have A Mallet. Rubber Bands + Hammer = Mallet"

25. reddit.com

26. "My 12-Year-Old Son Modified His Bike With Carpet For Barefoot Riding"

26. reddit.com

27. Separate Climate Areas.

27. Separate Climate Areas.SmittySav

28. Big Prius

28. Big Priusreddit.com

29. This One Is Actually Great.

29. This One Is Actually Great.reddit.com

30. "Redneck Security System"

30. reddit.com

31. Cooling Off

31. Cooling Offreddit.com

32. You Shall Not Pass...

32. You Shall Not Pass...reddit.com

33. Flex Seal

33. Flex Sealreddit.com

34. "Landlord Decided To Turn Down The Heat Today In My MN Apartment As It Reached -40°. But The Idiot Must Have Forgotten He Pays My Electric And Doesn't Realize That I Value My Comfort Over Safety Or Energy Conservation."

34. reddit.com

35. "Man Puts Chicken On Top Of Squeegee To Eat The Spiders Trapped In The Ceiling, Natural Pest Control"

35. reddit.com

36. "Bought A Used Toy For My Kids At A Garage Sale. I Guess They Didn’t Have Any C Batteries. But They Did Have An AA Battery And A Wood Dowel Though"

36. reddit.com

37. "I’m Bad For Using Whatever Tool Is Handy As A Hammer, Usually A Crescent Wrench. My Husband Learned A Bit Of Welding And Redneck Engineered This For My Birthday"

37. reddit.com

38. "When You Ask A Welder To Fix Something For You"

38. reddit.com

39. Emergency Stop?

39. Emergency Stop?reddit.com

40. Leveling

40. Levelingreddit.com

Psychological Analysis

These clever solutions highlight the human capacity for innovation, which is often driven by necessity.

By fostering an environment that values creativity, individuals can enhance their problem-solving abilities and find joy in overcoming challenges.

Analysis generated by AI

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

Creativity is a vital component of problem-solving, with psychological studies affirming its importance in everyday life.

According to the American Psychological Association, fostering creativity not only leads to practical solutions but also enhances emotional resilience.

Encouraging innovative thinking can transform challenges into opportunities for growth.

More articles you might like