6 Unusual Uses for Shade Cloth
With summer around the corner, I was thinking about the few things I need to do in the garden before the heat hits. Looking at the placement of my roses, I thought to myself, I will have to move those as the blooms didn’t cope well with the afternoon sun last summer. With a crowded garden, a few kids randomly running through and a dog that likes to dig, where to put them….?
Then like a flash it came to me, shade cloth, I can erect a little canopy for the afternoon sun and still have my lovely roses where they are. Right, Google: shade cloth! After a quick search I found a supplier with some great information on their site and decided on the block out percentage and colour, dark green to blend with the fence, can’t have the garden clashing now can we…
Problem… They only sell it in rolls of about 50 meters. It’s too good a price not to but what am I going to do with a spare 45 meters of shade cloth??
Given that I don’t intend building a greenhouse any time soon, I set to work scanning the house for uses for shade cloth, thought I’d share my murmurings…
1. Fly wire alternative
For those of you with older style fly wire security doors, shade cloth can be a great alternative to fly wire. Not only does this offer more privacy, for persistent and annoying, door knocking sales people (it’s really hard to see through) it is a fine weave so the insects can’t get through AND on top of that if your front door gets the afternoon sun, quality shade cloth offers UV block out (I would recommend a 90% block out for this one). It also doesn’t degrade and wear the way fly wire does.
2. Washing line canopy
Ok so you have a lovely windy day, you know if it keeps up all day that overflowing washing basket will be empty (for once) and you will have crisp dry sheets ready for everyone’s beds. Only there is a belligerent family of magpies that have made digs in the nectarine tree that hangs over your washing line and they seem get the runs every decent washing day…. You can attached some shade cloth over the old hills hoist and protect your washing whilst still letting some sun, warmth and most importantly the wind through.
3. Picnic/BBQ mat
How many times have you turned up to your local park for a family BBQ or a catch up picnic with friends only to find out that the old wooden tables are putrid, covered in bugs and bird poop… Why not take along a few meters of shade cloth and use is as a table cloth! It’s so much easier than cotton or linen table cloths, no taking a filthy table cloth home and having to wash it afterward, just a quick shake and if it gets really grotty you can run it under the tap, a shake and its dry, that simple!
4. Winter sport car protection
Most people with kids will at some stage have winter sports to contend with. This is generally an early morning pilgrimage to the local ground/ court. It’s a cold, soggy experience that is just another reason for us to crave warmer months BUT we still love it… What we don’t love is the mess in the car afterward, mud clumps that tend to dry and eventually break up (I give up vacuuming the car out about the 4th week in). Cut some shade cloth squares and place over your carpet floor mats and (dependant on how dirty your kids get) on the car seats. This will keep your seats clean and will pick up the big clumps of mud and dirt without them getting ground into your carpet mats.
5. Car sun shade
There is nothing worse on a hot day than getting into a hot car. You feel instantly sticky and touching the surfaces can be hazardous!! Wouldn’t it be great to be able to park in the sun and not have a scolding hot dash and steering wheel? Shade cloth comes in a variety of UV block out values and makes a fantastic windscreen sun shade! Just cut a piece slightly longer than the length of your windscreen and close it in your door jams to hold it in place or if you’re feeling really inventive, you can cut small holes, sew the edges to prevent tearing and insert some suction cups through the holes to attach to your windscreen.
6. Make a mural!
Is your fence looking a bit tired? Does it drag you down every time you look out the window? Why not make a mural for your fence out of shade cloth? Choose a nice warm day, get the kids in their bathers, layout a length of shade cloth and variety of coloured paints (watercolours are probably best) and set them to work on their very own version of the Sistine chapel for the garden! Once they’ve finished leave the shade cloth in the sun to dry and take the kids to the other side of the yard and hose them down. This activity will keep them amused for a few hours and you end up with a wonderful piece of artwork to dress up that drab fence!
So as you can see shade cloth has a variety of uses around the home, yes ok some are a bit wacky but life wouldn’t be as much fun if it was normal all the time now would it…
About the Author
The team at Site Shade supplies shade cloth across Australia. Whether you need some for your garden or to help control dust on your building site, we’ve got you covered.
