First of all, can you believe how cheap the contestants made drop cloths look on HGTV Design Star! I kid of course. Well, sort of. Drop cloths are cheap, but they don't have to look like it. If you slap a drop cloth from the package directly to the window (especially with some pieces of a taxi cab bag tied to it, a la Design Star), it's going to look cheap. If you reuse them in creative ways, they can look fantastic!
This French chair was upholstered in a bleached drop cloth.
Slipcovers were made out of drop cloths for all of my dining room chairs...
...the pair of wing chairs in my family room and the sofa in my living room (yet to be revealed.)
I used a little leftover fabric to make a slipcover for an ottoman in my guest room as well.
I wrote a post about working with drop cloths in a home decor application, but I have learned something new since then. Jamie left a comment for me with a link to an article about neutralizing bleach. I had no idea you needed to neutralize bleach. Apparently, it will stay active in the fabric until it is neutralized. Now, I've been bleaching my white cotton twill slipcovers for years and I have never had any of them shred or fall apart, but it is better to be safe. There were several products the article recommended, but hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) was the most readily available, so I bought a couple of bottles from the grocery store.
I wrote a post about working with drop cloths in a home decor application, but I have learned something new since then. Jamie left a comment for me with a link to an article about neutralizing bleach. I had no idea you needed to neutralize bleach. Apparently, it will stay active in the fabric until it is neutralized. Now, I've been bleaching my white cotton twill slipcovers for years and I have never had any of them shred or fall apart, but it is better to be safe. There were several products the article recommended, but hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) was the most readily available, so I bought a couple of bottles from the grocery store.
I had no idea there were so many uses for hydrogen peroxide! Not only does it neutralize bleach, but it can be used to kill bacteria on cutting boards, tooth brushes, in bathrooms, and it's a great stain remover. So, I added about a cup to the wash with my bleached drop cloths to neutralize the beach. I have no idea how to know if it worked...does anyone have any further tips on this?
I did learn that hydrogen peroxide in a stronger solution (35%) can be nasty stuff, so it's better to purchase the 3% solution.
I know it's extra work to wash, bleach, and neutralize, but this fabric is ideal for slipcovers and upholstery. It's durable, washable, and neutral. It's also cheap, so if you mess up, it's not a big deal.
So, happy bleaching, neutralizing, slipping, and upholstering!
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