The season of winter has passed and a
few months of spring, summer and fall will be coming soon! We get to
come out of hibernation and spend time outdoors. This is also the
season for the few sewing enthusiasts, to consider updating their
outdoor furniture. Do you update your patio furniture covers?
One of the problems faced with being
outdoors are the elements of weather. It can get humid, wet from
rainfall and/or morning dew along with exposure to the sun and can
quickly damage the fabrics on our outdoor decor. It's time to pull
out some available products specific to handling the elements of
weather especially water-proofing.
Water proofing products are in the
realm of science and chemistry with the production of designing a
product to withstand water (A great career to consider, if I may
add!) Many artists understand the importance of including steps, to
safeguard the longevity of their work and slow deterioration.
Products that can help provide that shield of water-proofing can be
found in marine, crafts, RV, furniture upholstery, and auto store
sections. There may be other outlets, please leave a comment to let
others know! Thank you :)
A point to keep in mind with adding any
chemicals to our projects is the surface will change and these
products will or can be, costly. Remember to take a scrap piece of
fabric and test the product FIRST. Allow your scrap to thoroughly dry
and again, check the results. It's best to find out early if we are
going to like the final results or try another product. Maybe a good
time to ask if there are 'sample' products in smaller ounce
bottle?
The following are products that can be
found and are available in a store near you or online. Checking
reviews and researching product sites, new reapplications of
spraying, appears to be necessary after some time has passed. So, we
must pay attention to eventual 'wearing off' of first applications of
water-repellants, to our outdoor projects but they are re-newed
after new applications. Now, that's great news. How many of us
are guilty of 'falling in love' with our fabric choices?
One product brand that's recognizable
amongst us 'artists' is Mod Podge. They have a product called
'Plaid Fabric Mod Podge'. It is a glue and sealer in one.
Apply a thin coat to fabric with a brush and it's washable in cold
water, air dry or gentle cycle dryer after 72 hours of air drying. I
rather like air drying since there's a distinct 'aroma' that's quite
lovely but that could just be me, since I live in the forest?
A second product is 'Thompson's
Water Seal Fabric Seal'. It's specifically designed for outdoor
decor such as cushions, umbrella's and pillows. It will prevent color
fading and mildew since it has 'UV inhibitors and sealant' to
block moisture. It's not designed for 'high foot traffic' items nor
certain 'synthetic' fabrics. It allows fabrics to 'breathe' so it
doesn't cause discoloration, stiffness nor stickiness. I think
they've sold me!
A third product is 'Aqua Armor'
and is availabe at Amazon, for online shopping. It provides
water-proofing protection for many types of fabrics. It has been
used on clothing, awnings, fabric gazeboes and patio furniture. It
won't cause discoloration, no stiffness, provides water-proofing,
allows fabrics to breathe. Research into reviews shows that it may
require several coats and the spray pump nozzle may clog. There are MANY other water-proofing products available.
Fabric sealants for water-proofing has
found it's way for many home uses. In depth research finds those
products made with silicone provide the best water repellant qualities. We know it's used in bathroom construction therefore must
be a great product. There is also one more method!
A few may not want to be using
chemicals for water-proofing their projects. Another method is the
use of bee's wax. Use a double-broiler method to melt and mix approximately 1/4 c
bee's wax and 3/4 c olive oil. Once melted, remove from heat, let
cool and harden. Spread this mixture on your fabric or item to
provide water-proofing protection. This is only one alternative and am sure there are many other 'recipes' to choose. A last note, there may be discoloration due to
the oil, so again, do a TEST on scrap piece of fabric first! most of all, have FUN! :)
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hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave
your comments, share your own observations, share with others who may
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(C) 2014, all rights reserved. Gin G. creates and posts articles
online about Crazy Quilts, business development, second income
idea's. Gin G. Is a graduate in business development, Nursing, and
passionate about arts and crafts.
