Make Do and Mend: Eco-friendly Home Maintenance Tips
With the promise of spring in the air, it’s time once again for those household maintenance jobs like checking for water leaks and fixing them, dealing with paint peeling in the bathroom, and mending loose fence palings.
Winter can be harsh on our homes, making regular maintenance vital for healthy living. Yet, homeowners trying to balance their quest for greener living and budgetary considerations often find it daunting. Could the solution lie in this forgotten initiative from World War 2?
On 1 June 1941, the British government began rationing the sale of new clothes. Fearing this would affect public morale, they simultaneously launched ‘Make Do and Mend,’ a program encouraging people to form sewing groups or learn to give new life to existing clothes. It was embraced by the population, as they turned Dad’s old suit into fresh pants for Junior, or redesigned Mum’s dresses for the young ladies at home.
Taking inspiration from this approach, how can we 'make do' using eco-friendly home maintenance methods, all without sacrificing quality? Let’s consider plumbing as an example.
In the unfortunate instance where pipes in your home are broken or damaged, you can call on no-dig plumbers to reline rather than replace pipes. They do this by inserting a special liner into the damaged section and repairing it from within the host pipe. This eliminates the need for excavation with heavy machinery, since it’s all done via existing plumbing access.
Pluming and Pipe Relining
The environmental benefits of pipe relining include:
Reduced waste disposal since the existing pipe is used
Minimal digging, so there’s less disturbance to ecosystems and damage to tree roots
Water contamination is avoided; the relining process seals cracks that could potentially leak pollutants
Smaller carbon footprint due to less use of heavy machinery
Relined pipes are more resistant to corrosion and tree root intrusion so the infrastructure lasts longer
Suitable for domestic and commercial water, stormwater and sewerage pipes.
Using eco-friendly paints
Nothing says spring like a freshly painted room! If a section of your home requires a facelift, eco-friendly paints will make it safer, especially for family members with asthma or allergies.
Eco-friendly paints don't contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but rather comprise natural compounds like beeswax, balsam and citrus extracts. They tend to be more expensive, however, and are manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner. Whether you opt to do your own painting or hire a professional, check that the paints have eco-friendly certification.
‘Making do’ in the backyard
Good maintenance doesn’t stop in the house. Why not extend the ‘make do and mend’ approach to backyard checks of fences, cleaning gutters, and looking for signs of rodents, roaches or termites? The sooner you detect, and resolve pesky issues, the less time and effort it costs, which ultimately helps us to live more healthily and sustainably!