On Friday, Google crunched its search data and compiled a global top 10 list of “how to” queries. According to the data, “how to…” searches have increased by more than 140% since 2004, and much of that search interest is directed towards how to “fix” things—whether it’s a lightbulb, window, washing machine, or even the toilet. In fact, “How to fix…” is consistently near the top of the list of most common queries, year after year, around the world. That’s why the Google Trends team teamed up with award-winning designer, Xaquín González Veira —formerly of “The Guardian”, “National Geographic” and “the New York Times”—to create its latest visual: How to fix a toilet…and other things you couldn’t do without Search. The data visualization shows household items people ask Google how to fix, and how those searches vary by country. For instance, in the United States, the top “how to fix” items are doors, followed by windows, toilets, washing machines and refrigerators. While in Japan, the order is: windows, doors, washing machines, and toilets. The visual also showcases data for the top searched “how to’s” around the world. The top ten are: Check out the interactive guide here, to explore more of this fascinating data.
