Polyethylene tarps are usually purchase for covering something up, but there are so many inventive ways to use them. They are economical and recyclable, so you never need to worry about what you use them for. When they become worn, they can be easily set in the recycle bin and replaced. This material is resistant to water, mildew, rot, acid, and tearing making them ideal for a variety of applications that help you to stay safe, increase your fun, and make life easier all the way around.

Around Home:

Polyethylene tarps have many different practical uses around the home. Gardeners and do-it-yourself landscapers love to use them for all different types of chores around the yard. As they clean out weeds and grass from their flowerbeds and bushes, they can toss the unwanted materials onto the poly and move it around the yard as they go. They can gather up the sides of the poly tarp, drag it to the compost heap, and dump it off to eliminate the heavy lifting and mess often associated with these tasks.

To make this even easier, you can thread the rope through the grommets all the way around the outside of the poly material and pull it tight to create a sack. Many gardeners also use this style of tarp to cover their plants to protect them from frost early in the growing season or weigh them down to kill an area of grass in order to make new flowerbeds.

At Work:

Construction sites, do-it-yourselfers, and homeowners in general can also make use of a well-constructed tarp. You can cover outdoor projects such as decks and patios before they are finished to protect the wood from the sun and rain. They can be hung over damaged windows or other sections of the house to keep out the elements as well as unwanted residents such as rodents and insects.

Surfaces such as wet cement can be covered with poly tarps to protect them from rain or debris until it dries. Painters like to use the poly coverings to divert the wind or protect bushes and flowerbeds when painting outdoors; the poly is light enough that it won't crush the plants underneath and the paint can't soak through. When you aren't using your tarps around home or at work, they make great temporary covers for a variety of equipment and materials around the yard and work site to keep them dry and clean.

Emergencies:

Poly tarps are great to have around in the case of an emergency or natural disaster. During hurricanes and high wind events, you can strap them across your roof to protect the shingles. Emergency and disaster response units also find these blue covers effective in fighting floodwaters. A poly tarp is a valuable component of a personal emergency preparedness kit. When you don't need it, it can keep your other supplies safe and protected, but where they really come in handy is during and after an emergency.

These coverings make an excellent temporary shelter because they are completely waterproof and windproof. In the cold, poly works well as a blanket because they hold in the body heat making them a great addition to a winter travel kit. Tarps are heavier and stronger than many blankets, and therefore, are great personal protection against tornadoes and can be used to carry out the injured.

At Play:

As mentioned, kids love to use these large coverings to make all sorts of tents and shelters to play in. Many families also use them underneath their kiddie pools so that the they don't get a hole. If you buy a large enough one, the kids can step on it when they get out of the pool so that they don't get their bare feet poked or dirty.

If you go camping, hiking, or traveling through the back woods, a tarp is light and easy to take along. They help to improve the water and wind proofing of your tent and can create a dry place to eat. They make a great awning when tied to a few trees to keep firewood dry or to create some shade so you can enjoy relaxing outside.

Tarps are a great tool with many different uses making them ideal to have with you when you're having fun, working around the yard, or working hard on the job. They are available in almost any size, color, and are even available with a special coating such as flame retardant, anti-static, and mildew resistant to work for any application. Best of all, polyethylene tarps are an affordable solution, and once they are no longer usable, they can be recycled and to turn into new ones