Unless you spill something on plastic sheeting, expose it to chemicals that can't be removed, or rip it badly, you can reuse plastic sheeting again and again. Storing it correctly helps keep it in great shape and makes it last longer. The storage conditions it has to be in are pretty easy to create, although you do have to be sure that the conditions remain stable.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

Direct sunlight can cause almost anything to deteriorate. Ultraviolet rays bathe furniture, rugs, curtains, and yes, plastic, in color-fading, material-cracking light. While clear plastic might not fade in color because it has no color to begin with, it can become brittle and crack. It can also discolor, which might not be so important if you're just using the sheeting to protect items from rain or from dusty floors. But it still looks bad, and the risk of holes forming means that avoiding storing the sheeting in direct sunlight is necessary.

Dust Off the Sheeting After Use

Don't assume that, because the sheeting wasn't exposed to dirt or anything else that could sully the material, you can just roll it up after use and put it away. The sheeting should be at least dusted off as you fold it or roll it up. If you notice dirt sticking to the material, or if you see that the material got wet, clean that up and ensure the plastic is dry before you seal it up or stow it away. You do not want the dirt hardening and becoming difficult to remove, and you certainly don't want mildew forming on the plastic.

Try to Avoid Bunches and Creases

If you fold the plastic up after use, you'll likely see some bends and curves the next time you unfold it — that's fine. But you want to fold the plastic as neatly as possible (or roll it up) so that none of the plastic is crumpled into bunches. Those can increase the risk of the plastic becoming weaker if anything is placed on top of the folded plastic (because the creases formed from the weight of the other objects pressing down on the bunched-up plastic can make the plastic weaker at those points).

Light-duty plastic sheeting isn't that expensive, but with the focus on reducing plastic use growing, conserving what you have and buying new plastic sheeting only when needed can be a more sustainable strategy. No doubt you'll have to buy more occasionally, and that's fine. However, preserving what you have is also a great way to conduct business. Contact a company like Dow Caide Supply for all your plastic sheeting needs.