With the government ban on the use of light-weight plastic bags from retailers due to take effect very soon in Queensland, the reuse and recycle message is back in the forefront of conversation. World-wide, the oceans are choking in plastic and although tonnes of rubbish each year are recycled, tonnes more end up in land-fill or are dumped in our waterways and oceans.
Don’t Discard – Re-purpose
It makes sense, then, to look at other ways we can reuse products that no longer serve a purpose, rather than throwing them out. With a little imagination, many items can be re-purposed. Take mini-blinds, for example, which have been a favourite for many years and have other uses when their window dressing days are done.
This is an approach that we can fully support, as it is the philosophy on which our business is based. At Blind Concepts, we offer blind cleaning and repair services to customers who prefer to get some extra mileage out of their blinds instead of buying new ones. Not only does this make economic sense, but also it reduces the amount of material that is dumped each year.
Recycling Sometimes Takes Imagination
Sometimes, it just takes a little imagination for us to see the potential in recycling, and this is certainly the case with mini-blinds. Use the slats to create permanent identifying markers for your plants. Cut the slats to size, and then use either paint or a permanent ink to write the plant name on the slat, then push it into the soil.
Old Blind Slats a Substitute for Masking Tape
Doing a quick touch-up painting job and finding that you have no masking tape? For small jobs, hold a slat against the wall and paint along its length for a straight, professionally applied swish of paint. Swap for a dry slat when you move to the next section. It’s quick and easy.
Many Craft Uses for Slats
For people who enjoy craftwork, wooden slats are perfect for spreading glue. Whether you are doing a project of your own or helping your children create a holiday scrapbook, you will get an even spread of adhesive with no mess or sticky fingers. For the ultra-creative, bond a circle of slats to the back of a plain, round mirror, trim them to size then paint. You now have a wonderful feature piece for an empty wall.
Keep Slats in Storage for Immediate Use
When you take down your old mini-blinds, pull them apart and store them out of the weather. If you do this immediately, your slats will be on hand for any use that comes up. You will have the convenience of a ready resource and you will find multiple opportunities to use it.