How to Bleach Drop Cloth to Make it Soft and White

Have you tried bleaching drop cloth with little success? Let me share my tips with you!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The drop cloth I use can be found here: amzn.to/2fz8vkl
UPDATE MUST READ: I have heard from several readers that the brand of drop cloth you buy makes all the difference. I did not know this, since I have only ever used this brand from Amazon (linked above). Other brands turns gray and off white.
UPDATE PART TWO: Thanks to Lori, a lovely reader of my blog, I now know why some other brands won't turn white. The drop cloths I recommend from Amazon are 100% cotton, so bleachable. Some brands are made with 50% polyester, so unbleachable. I knew people were having trouble with other brands, but now I actually know why!
UPDATE PART THREE: It was brought to my attention by a reader that you should not use this large amount of bleach if you have a septic system.
I will show you how to bleach drop cloth to make it ready for all your DIY projects.
Its the perfect fabric for slipcovers, pillows, curtains and more.
forgot to mention Let the washer agitate a little before letting it sit all day, to fully incorporate the bleach. Also, I will probably let it agitate periodically throughout the afternoon/evening without letting it finish the cycle until tonight! More info available here:
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[@FarmhouseonBoone]

Hey everyone! I do want to point out that at the time of making this video I didn’t know that it was crucial to get 100% cotton drop cloths. I learned this through listening to a lot of reader questions and from people finding out the hard way. I have always (unknowingly) bought 100% cotton so I didn’t know this was an issue. I linked my exact source in the description above and on the blog post. If you’re getting drop cloths from the hardware store this is likely the reason you are having problems getting them white.

[@paigebrown8743]

How transparent is the bleach drop cloth? My chairs are town with dark leaves and I don't want to see that pattern anymore!!

[@TM2U]

Paige Edwards Try painting the fabric prior to using the new cover. :)

[@KJ7JHN]

I do very little sewing. Would a drop cloth be decent material for a 5th graders pants? I've got a $50.00 gift card, and think this may be a solution. What do you think?? - dad.

[@KJ7JHN]

I'd also recommend using an enameled steel bath tub for soaking that much bleach. The inner tub of your washer should be okay, but the nylon outer tub may become brittle due to the oxidation.

[@BeaBea1963]

Can you dye the drop cloths colors?

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

Excellent ideas! I might suggest that you fill your washer first, add the bleach, let it agitate thoroughly, and THEN put the fabric in. I had a tie-dye shop in the 70s and we always wet our fabric first before putting it in bleach or dye so spots won't soak up the water on dry fabric and leave dark or light areas. xojennyinseattle

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

DrummerlovesBookworm great tips! Thank you!

[@KimmieB.]

DrummerlovesBookworm That’s exactly what she said to do and exactly what she did ?????

[@judichristopher4604]

Great IDEA

[@CarlasCorner62]

@@KimmieB. pay attention lol she said she puts the cloth in then fills it up with hot water...when it's done filling she ads 1/2 a jug of bleach per half of the 9x12 dropcloth. That's why she said she has to catch it before it cycles so she don't forget to put the bleach in!!

[@leesa9615]

@@KimmieB. no actually it wasn’t 😊

[@catherinerintamaki8617]

Does work the comment about filling with water and bleach first let it agitate then add fabric. Let it sit, agitate a few times a day tgen run it through its cycle. Final rinse, add white vinegar and baking soda for softness. They will come out beautiful and fluffy. I made a shower curtain and curtains. All your tips work well....it just takes time and patience. Thank you.

[@catherinelarkin247]

I am glad you are showing this. I am an artist and am using a drop cloth to make "work clothes." I was looking into denim or duck at the cloth store and was shocked by the price. Then I realized that the drop cloths were much more affordable, and I can make clothing that I can get lots of use from. I also have a drop cloth on a bed as a bedspread, and also as curtains in one room. I really do not mind the natural canvas look. I will probably skip the bleaching as It seems natural for me to have a canvas on my furniture since I am an artist.

[@hhhhhhhhh61]

Hi there, Thanks for putting out such a great video! I love your energy! Just a few helpful tips. I'm a textile artist and a few things that might help everyone with this project. I love working with drop cloths, especially heavy 100% cotton ones, im goingto check out your link. I usually leave them natural but can understand the allure of pure white. If you have a front loader it's actually even better. All you have to do is add your fabric, let your washer fill with hot water and laundry soap, and agitate for a bit say 5 mins, to make sure the cloth is completely saturated. Laundry soap helps the cloth get wet faster, thus allowing the bleach to penetrate the fibres faster (especially with these drop cloth as they are often treated to be water proof. You guys in the states Dawn original blue dish soap is actually the best for prepping cloth to accept dye. It removes all the finishers from the manufacturing process, or at least it used to be. I have never used it in my fl washer, so watch the ammont, you don't want to get swamped with bubbles, I'd start with a table spoon). Pause your load and add your bleach (just pour it into the soap dispenser section, not the bleach one if you have that, or it will hold the bleach till a certain time in the cycle and you'll have to keep a close eye so it doesn't get rinsed out ... ) and let it agitate some more for say min or so. Then simply pause your wash for as long as you want. Every hour or so you can turn it back on and let it run for just a minute ... you will NOT need as much bleach in the front loader. It uses way less water than a top loader, therefore its a more concentrated solution. To prevent the fibres from breaking down too much in the future, ie. years later; as the bleach will continue to work even after it's been washed, run the load with the bleach in it to the end of cycle so the bleach is rinsed out*. Then fill/wash the load again but this time with vinegar instead of the bleach in equal measure, (no soap) ie. You used one cup of bleach in the whiteing load, now use one cup of just VINEGAR in this neutralizing load. The vinegar neutralizes the bleach and preserves the fibers from breaking down any further. DO NOT MIX BLEACH WITH THE VINEGAR vise versa, (and especially not with ammonia, bad fumes) or it would just neutralize the bleaching action and possibly cause fumes or injury. Let it soak for twenty mins and then let the cycle finish. This will give you perfectly bare cloth ready for all of your creative juices, or just a perfect blank canvas! *If it's not as white as you'd like it before going onto the neutralizing step try placing it out in the sun to dry. That is if you have acces to sunny outdoors ... lol! Just remember wet cloth always looks darker than dry cloth ...

[@sharondean4143]

I used the cotton drop cloth you recommended for 24 hours and a gallon of bleach still didn’t work very upset

[@cangel201]

Thank you for so many helpful tips

[@squoctopus]

Ok this is my brilliant idea - I filled about halfway my recycling bin with water (from the hose) added a jug of bleach (I don't know if it needed that much but I had two jugs and bleach is cheap) and my 9x12 drop cloth. Stirred it around with my flagpole every few hours and left it sitting in the sun on the driveway. I put the flagpole under the lid to vent it, just because I thought it might be a good idea. I left it overnight and it bleached very well but I decided to repeat the process to see if it would get whiter. I also ordered some bluing for the future just to see. So far I'm happy with the results because:. I don't have to smell bleach, have lots of room in the bin, can put in as much water and as big a dropcloth as I want, don't need hot water, and it cleans and disinfects the bin and cleans my driveway when I tip it over. Downside (not to me, since I didn't mind leaving it out there all night): It probably takes longer.

[@angiewalton1]

I’ve always used unbleached drop clothes for inexpensive curtains! I can’t wait to try bleaching them for a lighter look! Brilliant!

[@sabatham]

I was just looking at the pictures and thinking I like the color of the drop cloth before bleaching as well...

[@suzannegrace9006]

Me too!

[@shericreates]

Did you try bleaching? Mine didn’t work.

[@grantthornley7321]

Great idea in how to transform low cost material into one that you would pay much more for. From the comments below, here is some background information about the use of chlorine and some tips which might help in the bleaching process. The active ingredient within the bleach which whitens the fabric is called sodium hypochlorite. Different brands of bleaches can have different concentrations of sodium hypochlorite so the amount of bleach you add for whitening may differ based on the brand you buy. Labels on the bleach bottle will specify the concentration of sodium hypochlorite in it. As a rule of thumb typical bleach is between 5-6% of sodium hypochlorite (the higher the percentage, the better it will work). To note, as the ingredient within the bleach that causes the fabric to whiten is sodium hypochlorite, there is no real benefit in purchasing a bleach which contains other and possibly more expensive additives within it (i.e. fabric softener). When working with bleach, wear waterproof, protective gloves since bleach is caustic having a high pH of around 11. Sodium hypochlorite is an "oxidiser" meaning that whether in a vapour or liquid form, it will attack all organic materials it comes in contact with. As such, even though at a low concentration of 5-6% sodium hypochlorite, its vapours can cause eye and throat irritation. If possible perform the bleaching process outside or if not possible, in a very well ventilated area. Anyone with a respiratory issue or concern, should always wear a respirator fitted with a organic vapor filter. Whitening of the fabric is a result of the sodium hypochlorite "burning" off or removing the organics contained within the fabric. Typically, the more organics you remove, the whiter the material becomes. As such it is therefore beneficial to wash the drop cloth first before starting the bleaching process as to remove as much of the initial oils, greases and organics on the fabric that would otherwise only be consumed by the bleach without the effect of whitening. The use of hot water is also beneficial in speeding up the bleaching process, as it well help in dissolving (solubilizing) some of the organics within the fabric. For sodium hypochlorite to work in removing organics from the fabric, it needs time to react (also referred to as the contact time). The amount of contact time required for bleaching will depend upon on the amount of organics to be removed, how "white" someone wants the fabric to be, if hot water is used or not and lastly the concentration of sodium hypochlorite used within the bleach. As a rule of thumb, 8-10 hrs can be used assuming the drop cloth was washed prior to the bleaching process and hot water is used. To help aid in the bleaching process, the soaking fabric should be turned and mixed to ensure good contact with the bleach. At the end of the bleaching process, make sure that the fabric is well rinsed to remove any bleach residuals. As an option after thoroughly rinsing, a fabric softener could be used. Hope the above comments were helpful for this great idea.

[@arielleking5673]

This video is a little over three years old by the time of my current comment (July 9th, 2020). I tried the recommended drop cloth in this video, CCS Chicago Canvas. I purchased the 9'x12" foot drop cloth canvas. Of note the 9'12"ft canvas drop cloth I purchased had no seam down the middle. I used a combination of no name lavender scented bleach and left over clorox bleach that I already had on hand to make a total of 2/3rds bottle of the "big bottle of bleach" (approximately 1.6 L of bleach). I soaked it in my top loader washing machine with the hot water setting for about 8 hours then dried it at the hottest temperature in my dryer. I did not measure it prior to the bleaching process but reportedly it starts at 11'6 per the amazon product information: however, after my bleaching process it measures 9' 6 1/2". Surprisingly quite a bit of shrinkage. Hopefully this is useful information for anyone who attempts this process in the future. I have a HUGE couch to make a slipcover for so I plan to repeat this process. Overall I am very pleased with the result and the overall cost of the finished product. Thank you for this video that provided me with the idea.

[@carriem7832]

I like the natural color of the drop cloth so I just made my window shades whereas I can drop them down from the top giving privacy in our bedroom to the lower half of the window...yet have air or sunlight on top..Also I made natural drop cloths into floor rugs and stenciled soft colored leaves along the edge for a border... I’m an artist and I use drop cloths for my murals and for stretched canvas for paintings......staple the cloth to a frame the size you want and apply several coats of white paint or background color you want and it will make the material shrink and make it taunt. Decorate it the way you want and you have your one of a kind painting...outside my barn studio I’ve hung a canvas painting of three Jake Russell pups to remember my Father by...he had an ornery one and loved him dearly...I sprayed it with outdoor clear acrylic spray and it’s been on the wall two years even winter and still looks good.

[@bluelunevideos]

I just did this last night with perfect results. Since I have a brand new HE washing machine I thought I would share what I did. First I washed the drop cloth on a hot cycle to rinse out any sizing and to get it wet. Then I filled my cast iron bath tub half full with the hottest water I could and added half a gallon of bleach. After putting in my drop cloth pieces I tried to push out as many fabric bubbles as I could. Every hour or so I would go stir things up. After about four hours I could still see some blotchy-ness so I drained the tub and started over with fresh hot water and the rest of the gallon of bleach. After three hours I drained the tub and tossed the drop cloth back into the washing machine for a final wash. I threw in some bleach in the cycle, because why not? Also I did buy the drop cloth from the link Lisa provided in the description. I think the trick is 100% cotton drop cloth, a lot of bleach and at least 7 hours of soaking. Thanks for the tutorial Lisa.

[@courtneystrahler3235]

Hi! I recently stumbled onto your channel and I can't stop watching! Please keep posting. I'm currently transitioning to a modern farmhouse look and you've already been so helpful. 😊😊

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

Hey Courtney! I'm so glad you found me. :) So happy the videos have been helpful for you!

[@ClipZ_Gaming_1]

It’s not about brand, it’s about whether or not it has polyester in it. Polyester=no bleaching and no shrinking. 100% cotton=bleaching and tons of shrinking. I learned this the hard way.

[@momgrandma5496]

So totally agree about the top-loading machines. I have a huge white open weave cotton tablecloth that I use for dinner parties, believe me when I say everything has been in contact with it. I would throw it in my top loader, with cold water and bleach, agitate, sit overnight, all stains gone. We got a front loader, tried to do the same thing, nada, my poor tablecloth, plus those machines get smelly and moldy...yuck! I have a ten-year old heavy duty washing machine again, I Love It! On to video #2.

[@jullymarquez1359]

my question answered! I love you! You are the best, i love farmhouse decor, always had a sewing machine because i had a sewing class in middle school but never got around to do what i want but now i am. i am a new subscriber. I also buy raw milk and raw butter ever since i found out i was pregnant and wanted the best for my baby so i always wanted to ferment and you do that too!

[@annieb1012]

Echoing Megan Wright from a couple of months ago, I'd love to see you do a video on dyeing your drop cloth fabric. And as to top-loading vs. front-loading washers: I've had a front-loader for the last twelve years, and am looking forward to buying a top-loader again in the course of my upcoming move. While the front-loader is unarguably more water-efficient where regular laundry is concerned, I have missed the soaking-occasionally-in-plenty-of-water capability of the top-loaders. Soaking a quilt or sleeping bag (with the occasional gentle stir), bleaching drop cloths, and so on - these are not ordinary laundry functions, and it is not very convenient to soak things for hours in a laundromat! So I'll opt for another top-loader whose water level I can preset, and choose the least amount of water for each load I run. Thanks, Lisa, for all your excellent demonstrations!

[@janyenyo]

Wish I had my Mom's old wringer washer!!

[@annieb1012]

@@janyenyo There ya go!

[@loriscook5231]

I bought some beautiful synthetic white lace curtains from a charity shop. They were very cheap as they were nicotine stained and smelt of smoke. I had a large new plastic dust bin, I filled that up with bleach and water, mixed well and soaked the curtains for about a week. I stirred it daily with a broom handle ( all done outside ) There are lots of large plastic containers, most of us already have storage bins that would be big enough.

[@squoctopus]

Oh I thought I was so brilliant and now I see you figured this out a year ago! Well YOU are the brilliant one!

[@sharonjackson9994]

Love your blog and videos. I am doing the bleaching technique on the dropcloth and maybe you said this in your blog or video but I found if you wash the dropcloth before you bleach it (already halved) that it takes the bleach much better. I washed it in HOT water. I found this out after the first one. If you already mentioned this than please disregard :)

[@valkyriesardo278]

That is a valuable tip. The manufacturer might have used some sort of mild chemical during production that could interfere with bleach. They would assume the consumer might want to launder a drop cloth, but not anticipate some other purpose. My mom raised me to prewash and preshrink any machine washable fabric I would sew for a garment. That removes any unseen contaminants and ensures that the fabric is suitable for purpose.

[@heavenj7]

It’s impossible to get it a nice white!! And I did it all!! I’ve found…Cheaper faux linen table clothes! For like 11 that are white or a natural linen color idkw I was thinking but it’s impossible to do the bleaching of the heavy drop cloth in the tub 🛀

[@staceyhernandez4276]

Just wanted to provide feedback on my experience so far. Ordered 4 packages using the link provided through Amazon. I put two packages in the tub with hot water, 1 bottle of bleach, mixing, stiring often. I could tell the color difference right away between the two packages. So far, 5 hours, one is not whitening at all, the other one totally working. I looked at the other two packages...not opened yet, I can tell the color difference. Same brand, same packaging, same sku number. Very weird. I've requested replacement for two packages. When I get those, I will look at the coloring and hopefully end up with at least 2 or three packages of drop cloth that will turn white with bleach. I'll return what I don't use. Something different between the items for sure. Not your fault at all Lisa, no worries. I'm making it through all your videos, thank you so much for sharing!

[@shericreates]

Stacey I too bought through the link. I soaked 1/2 I ripped for 5 days in bleach, the strong bleach that kills the 99.9 viruses. Someone else posted you need to look at the ingredients because there is a difference. Still no luck. I bought two packages and nothing. Ugh! Can’t afford to buy more. M

[@kimberlybellefontaine1215]

You can also bleach these in big tubs outdoors. I watched another blogger do it that way & they turned out beautifully ! Took a few more steps but still very doable ...

[@eviep2]

Would you please tell what blogger that was?

[@kimberlybellefontaine1215]

Evie F I’m sorry ... I watch sooo many, I honestly have no idea who it was:(. I seem to remember it was someone who I just randomly came across one day while initially going through the IG and you tube accounts I follow. Sorry, I wish I could be more helpful !

[@nn47301]

The safety features on "new" washing machines make it impossible to do this. You can't fill an empty tub, once you close the top and the drum begins to fill with the hot water the safety features will not allow you to open the lid again until the entire cycle is done and the water has drained. I absolutely hate the "new" washing machines.

[@frst78]

Break the safety latch. You'll have to jab something in the hole to get it to run afterwards but it's worth it to us.

[@mandygault2573]

Hate the new ones. Buy as basic as I can find. On/off!! Open lid with pause button.

[@kathrynmyer]

What if you are on a septic system?

[@erikasmyser1074]

One day the electric company came to switch out my meter and I forgot they were coming and put something in the wash with pre soak. When the electricity went out, the water stayed in and didnt auto drain until I turned the machine back on and started a cycle. Now, when I want to soak longer than the amount of time the machine's soak cycle is, I let the drum fill for the soak and then flip the washing machine breaker.

[@nn47301]

@@erikasmyser1074 Good idea! 👍Isn't it amazing how in order to do the things we used to do with the old technology we have to find clever ways around the new technology. I thought all this new tech stuff was supposed to make life easier!

[@Levantine68]

Ah drop cloths are called dust sheets in the UK. What a clever idea.

[@christinerazo7306]

I have washed a dropcloth in hot water and regular soap and a normal load it comes out soft and no bleach thanks for your time and videos!

[@1963gamoV]

I am amazed how drop cloth is so cheap in America! In Sweden they cost like linnen.I will buy linnen then and I don't have to bleach it :) I still love your videos you are very inspiring.

[@staceykersting705]

Top load washers are SO much better, IMO! U can interrupt the cycle and 'presoak' overnight. Everything will come out immaculate. U can also add forgotten items one the cycle starts. They also take less time! Oh, yeah...the cost saving part! I bought a second hand washer for $50. It died after 15 yrs. Called the same guy, and he brought me another one free!

[@LG-sw1ge]

The extra large pieces of fabric are hard to handle and their very stiff. I usually wash them in hot water a few times without bleach and dry in a hot dryer to pre shrink. Important to do it a few times to really pre shrink the raw cotton. After that I precut my project pieces and leave a generous seam allowance, finally I start the bleaching process with the smaller pieces. I get a large plastic tub from Menards and do it outside, heating water in my big stainless steel soup pot on the camp stove. Just stir the fabric around well once an hour or so until the color is lifted, if you need to reheat just ladle some of the bleach water back into the stockpot( I use a sauce pan for that) and reheat on the camp stove and add back to your plastic tub with the fabric finally dump the water outside. Way less messy and no danger of ruining my tub, I do have a front loader. I love white slip covers and they are so much easier to care for because you can use more bleach, oxy clean, bluing or sunshine to keep them very white even with kids and dogs.

[@Mixdplate]

Good tutorial except, you should not allow bleach or bleach water to sit in your stainless steel washer tub for long periods. Bleach can eventually cause staining and pitting to stainless steel. It's better to use a large light colored plastic container with lid for the soaking. Then "carefully" transfer the cloth to the washer and run through a full wash cycle. Line drying in full sun will help a lot too!

[@AVirtuousWomanProb-]

I am a bit frustrated presently. My drop cloth was soaking in my top loader for almost 24 hours...it never turned white. 😞 My thoughts are that this is due to the cheap bleach used- Walmart brand. I've decided to rinse and soak again in Clorox bleach instead. I sure hope it works🤞🏾

[@alexiaetcetera]

did it work? i also used the cheap walmart one and it never turned white..lol

[@nothanks6931]

Did you use as much bleach as she suggested

[@everydayhomemakingVB]

You may have already figured this out, but the dropcloth needs to be 100% cotton to bleach. Some other brands are part polyester and won't bleach.

[@kathleenfranklin6928]

What size bleach bottle do I buy for entire drop cloth , I hear you say use half and half but you do not mention size ? Thanks

[@murraymadness4674]

hmm, a 55 gallon drum, or a kiddie pool? does it have to agitate to work? and what about dyeing it into a color like yellow or green

[@tiC12668]

Oh I thank you so much for introducing drop cloths to me! It’s so pretty! Your method is just so simple! I can sew some many things out of it!

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

seriously the easiest thing & they look so nice!

[@TheCherylGiesbrecht]

I tried this method 3 times, and they all didn't even turn a shade lighter. So frustrating! I even put a full gallon of bleach in the water the last time! I used 100% cotton drop cloths and followed your instructions to the letter. Does the brand of bleach matter? What brand do you use?

[@ambercrombie789]

I adapted your "recipe" to bleach my painter pants. Wow. Thx.

[@denisejacqueline5586]

Yeah last night I used lemon bleach from the dollar store.. soaked it all night and it didn’t change at all. Lol so I’m going to try again today with regular bleach. Hopefully it comes out this time!🙂

[@jenniferthorndyke7379]

Denise Jacqueline use Clorox brand and make sure it soaks for a long long time.

[@lindielee8944]

Denim and one hundred percent cotton rip straight. I've used both for quilting.

[@kaylahevans8334]

Do you know if it will soften without bleach? I’m doing drop cloth curtains soon and prefer the natural color of the canvas.

[@lalathebenificent1335]

Hi! I looked at your blog and didn't see if you wrote about dyeing the DC gray with Ritt. Is this something your wrote about or made a video? Thank you!

[@lynsmith2698]

I bet a big slop bucket (the big plastic buckets with rope handles that are used with livestock) would work. I think thats what i am going to try

[@sherimonk6104]

Try put the hot water and bleach before you add the drop cloth in the mixture. If you add some power dish washing soap helps too. Make sure you run enough water to just cover the drop cloth. Push the cloth down in the water until it's covered. With this method you probably want have to use as much bleach. When your filling the washer all the way with water your diluting. This way you can do this while your sleeping and not have to worry about the smell as much. Hope this helps!! I use this method when whitening my whites.

[@Nicole-fj3pt]

I cannot wait to try this! Has anyone ever told you that you look like Scarlet Johansson? 😉

[@coffeync]

Bleach can erode metal finish of tub hardware.

[@sallymichaelsdesigns3045]

I have to laugh Lisa , I soaked half my drop cloth in bleach for 12 hours, doing all the things .... with no results . Then noticed all the updates in this video lol. Just ordered two 100% cotton canvases from your Amazon store. I can’t wait to get them and try them later this week.

[@TM2U]

Use a large heavy duty plastic bin and industrial bleach. Soak and rinse outside 3 hrs follow up with a vinegar soak and rinse.

[@WakandaBabe]

Thank you! informative and to the point.

[@Blueiswhereiwanttobe]

Did you noticed lots of shrinking? Thanks

[@TM2U]

Lili Perez Yes it will shrink.

[@meganwright2738]

Love it!! Could you please do a video on dyeing them?? I would love to bleach then dye grey to make a slipcover for our sectional sofa!!!

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

Yes, I am totally planning to soon!

[@mmeemee1160]

I've got an cream pair of linen pants. I'd prefer them a crisp white. Do you think this technique would work on them?

[@marywisner1390]

I used the bathtub method. I bought the recommended cloth. All cotton. 2.5 gallons of bleach in half full tub. I left it sit half a day and overnight. It is bleached. But it is off white. Not white. Can white be achieved?

[@grandmasewhappyhomestead187]

When you wash them again down the road if you add a little bleach to it do you find it weakens the fabric? Can you usually just wash the slipcover without bleach and any stains will come off or do you have to bleach it again with a little bit

[@drdianneLc]

How about using a large plastic tote? It could be done outside in an area that it would not harm the lawn, as on a driveway or gravel area. It would help get rid of those pesky, unwanted weeds (not the ones you’d eat or use medicinally).

[@antnicki]

Hi. Just watched you video on bleaching drop cloth. Could I fill the tub with water and bleach? When the cycle starts to wash, turn off the machine and then put the drop cloth in so the bleach is mixed with the water first?? Nicolette

[@orysiaduda2340]

Nice video...is the seam along the 9’ or 12’ length. I’m trying to figure out my measurements for making curtains. Also how big was your bleach bottle - 1 or 2 gallon? Thanks from Ree who’s sewing Covid-19 curtains in Philly!

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

one gallon!

[@L.Young612]

Water plays a huge factor in the bleaching process. If I tried to use bleach in my water, the drop cloth would turn orange due to the high iron levels in my water. I am stuck with the original color unfortunately.

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

I hadn't considered that! Thank you so much for the tip!

[@L.Young612]

Farmhouse on Boone One of the few downsides of having well water.

[@ljmpublishingllc3312]

I've purchased turquoise dropcloths at Harbor Freight for about $4 for a size that makes one full-length drape panel. Of course, that room has turquoise decorations in it, so I didn't have to bleach them. You might check for other colors of dropcloths that might meet your needs. Good luck!

[@FormerDelusional]

I've seen other KZbinrs soak their cloths in a tub of bleach and water outside for an hour before washing. If well water is an issue maybe grab a couple of gallons of water from the dollar store.

[@judichristopher4604]

Do you have copper pipes? I hate copper pipes... it makes blond hair... redish... UGH

[@terrijuanette486]

I wonder if you could do it in one of those large plastic lidded bins from Costco? I could put it outside in the back and let it soak outside - no bleach in the house is a good thing for me. Also, could I 'save' the majority of the bleach water for another use? That would be helpful for both the environment and the pocketbook.

[@judichristopher4604]

YES... Great Idea

[@janyenyo]

I bought a huge tub for this purpose, put it in my bathtub and turned on the fan, opened the windows, no kids at my house so I didn't worry about the fumes so much

[@shericreates]

So did you try it in a plastic bin? I seem to not be able to soak in my machine. It keeps draining out. Love the idea of reusing the bleach again

[@shericreates]

@@janyenyo Did you try the bin? Did it work? I would like to do the same.

[@lauragunter6028]

Awesome! :) Have you tried a turkey deep fryer to heat water and soak? Then you don't have the fumes inside. I am going to try it. Also there is commercial grade bleach that is much stronger than regular bleach. It can be purchased from home improvement stores

[@randyw4984]

I have a drop cloth in now from the place you recommended. it has been in for at least 16 hours, first I used half a bottle of Clorox I added more this morning...it is lighter but not white.I am expecting this test panel to fall apart LOL. I just ran out and bought a no-name dollar store bleach and added more of that! I just want this to work before I throw in the piece of fabric I really want to use. The struggle is real ya all!

[@janyenyo]

I bought 3. drop cloths, runners 4X 12, 2 worked well, can't get the 3rd to come white yet and its been 2 days!! Hot water and bleached twice, oh well, it was generic bleach

[@randyw4984]

@@janyenyo pffftt I guess its a hit or miss deal when you order.I did order from the chicago company recommended.. the fabric turned out nice just not white...

[@lindabalzano2746]

Hi. I’m not sure if you read comments on older videos, but I just found you and subscribed. 😊 I tried this method after ordering the cloths you linked on your channel and I’m so disappointed! After following instructions to the letter, soaking all evening and overnight, nothing happened. I will try again with a whole bottle of bleach. All I can think is that they changed the fabric content of the clothes since the video was made - or I gave up too soon (10 hrs with occasional agitation) or didn’t use enough bleach (1/3 large bottle). I am enjoying your videos though 😊. Thanks!

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

Hope you have better luck your next try!

[@lindabalzano2746]

Thanks. I’m sure I didn’t use enough bleach the first time. The second time they came out perfectly.

[@solb101]

Does drop cloth soften on first wash without bleach? They’re pretty rough canvas out of the wrapper.

[@caniceco3415]

I️ can't wait to try this. Thanks for the tips!

[@vegasjill21]

I might have to try this!! Couple questions...if you hadn't ripped it in half, would that seam be on the horizontal or vertical. Meaning is the seam parallel with the 9 ft or the 12 ft? Also, does it allow a lot of sun to shine thru...or is it pretty thick? Thanks for the vid!!

[@arielleking5673]

Just bought the 9 x 12 ft canvas that she recommends and there is no longer a seam down the middle as of July 9 2020 and it is still bleachable. I'm making a couch cover so ultimately I cut it down the middle anyways.

[@stephenmoesbauer4637]

Watched your video, went straight out and got my drop cloth, BUT I purchased lemon bleach, which was thick bleach. Big mistake, my drop cloth has come out a creamy colour, (which I'm thinking I'm going to now dye light grey ) and won't work for the project I wanted it for. Trina

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

Aww darn! :(

[@Blueiswhereiwanttobe]

Do the fabric shrinks after bleaching?

[@nicoleculp4636]

You can purchase a galvanized aluminum garbage can with a lid instead of using the bath tub

[@jamief1970]

So I tried this today.... followed steps.... used link. All day in washer. NOthing:( So sad this didn't work. Will try again tomorrow.

[@Beencouraged777]

Wear a respirator, open windows if doing this in tub

[@linechouinard628]

I have a question...I need 5' to 6' wide without the stitch in the middle..is the drop cloth can be use either way?

[@valkyriesardo278]

Can anyone describe how drop cloth acts with dog hair? My dogs are my family so I'm content to let them share cushioned furniture. I'll be making machine washable slipcovers but I want to choose a fabric blend and weave with dog hair in mind. I know a velour holds onto fur like a long lost friend. Is drop cloth a tight weave?

[@AmoristEclectic]

I don't care if they are white, just soft. But could you put them in those large hardware buckets to bleach them or would the bleach eat the plastic bucket? Not sure how big half a drop cloth is. Also, saw the no sew duvet covers, which brought me here. Has anyone see a video for that? Thanks in advance.

[@103Catherine]

love all the tips and hints

[@Lord_RavnFar_Tannerwise]

is there a way to soften the canvas without bleach as i am highly allergic to bleach. not concerned about getting it white as im dying it a greenish brown type color, what im doing specifically is making a canvas Anorak type pull over jacket but i need to soften the fabric to get my sewing machine to go through the fabric more efficiently

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

Yes just wash it on hot and dry it. If it isn't soft enough after that, repeat.

[@Lord_RavnFar_Tannerwise]

Farmhouse on Boone thanks. 😀

[@heatherinparis]

Hi Lisa.....is there a lot of shrinkage with this method? Could you estimate what percentage?

[@valkyriesardo278]

Cotton shrinks. An experienced sewer will preshrink cotton fabric before cutting and sewing. It is sufficient to run the fabric through one hot water wash cycle with laundry soap and cold rinse. Lisa is letting the drop cloth soak in hot water for many hours. When that's done, Lisa's cloth will be about as shrunk as it is ever going to get. I'd be surprised if it shrinks more than an inch or two in length and width.

[@mariahh7906]

When you color dye your drop cloth, do you have to bleach it first? Thanks.

[@debraccollins]

I am wanting to know the same thing. Have you attempted to dye the drop cloth yet and if so what were the results?

[@SM-yd8hq]

This is so bad for our water systems. The natural colour softened by washing it a few times is very environmentally friendly.

[@ceciliapramberg8760]

I was searching for a comment like this. I am really surprised to see a tip like this on this channel without any comment on the environmental issues with using bleach. Simply - do not use it!

[@MyKitchenCorner]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING ALL YOUR TECHNIQUES AND TIPS.

[@nini_nunez]

Hello! I made some curtains out of drop cloth I purchased over the weekend, but I cannot get them to bleach the same color. They are both from the same retailer, same brand, 100% cotton. Please help!

[@patballentine113]

I would not be able to bleach the drop cloth in my house because I have a septic tank and drain field. You cannot put harsh chemicals into it or it won't work right. So I have bought my white slipcovers.

[@judichristopher4604]

I have had a septic tank for 50 years... and use Bleach all the time... I put Vinegar in the toilet too... never had a problem... WOW... ... I'm wrong... we have our washing machine disconnected and the water runs out on the yard... BUT.... I do use Bleach everywhere else and it goes into the septic tank... It shouldn't hurt it...

[@kathrynmyer]

I think a big dose of bleach would mess up a septic system!

[@raraavis7782]

I don’t know if you still read comments on older videos...but I honestly think the fuss people are making about you using chlorine bleach is way over the top. I mean yes, it should be handled with care, certainly, but neither it’s manufacturing nor the end products that end up in the drain are particularly harmful to the environment. And those comments that ‚it’s not even allowed in Europe‘ are complete bullshit. I’m German and I can assure you that chlorine bleach is available in every drugstore here and no one is overly concerned about using it judiciously for certain household tasks. Peroxide bleach just doesn’t work the same. It’ll remove most stains, but it doesn’t bleach the same way and it’s not as effective as an disinfectant either. It’s just that old ‚oh it’s not ‚natural‘, so it must be bad‘ thing at play...which is bullshit.

[@judichristopher4604]

Right On Rara!!!!

[@cassv350]

Damn girl. I first found u on making bread. Then, recipes, and now here. I got some great wingback chairs that the material is of high quality and looks pretty new but ugly to me. So, I bought them at the thrift store 110 for both. Super good condition, so yeah, gotta have them. Mind you, I saw them. 2 was ago. I knew they wouldn't sell, waited to see if I was right, and yup, they were still there. Ok, wish me luck, so I will try it your way.

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

Let us know how they turn out...

[@cassv350]

I'm going to start in Jan. I realized my old singer couldn't handle the job, but last year, I purchased a brother that does a lot of different stitches, but..... I kept looking at different videos and realized I heeded a heavy-duty sewing machine for this project, so yup had to buy a third machine . It's a singer again. it's a very simple model, but it's for the heavier materials. Then there needles and threads, one or two other items I had to get. So I guess now I'm really ready. Kinda scared 😱 now, tho. Wish me luck.

[@tracyhill6607]

Hi, I tried this and it worked for the most part. What do u do if one came out splotchy. I did them all the same but one just didnt come out as good. Any help would be great!!

[@denisedanel7062]

Tracy Hill I believe she said to do the entire process over again and the second time more than likely blotch will come out

[@debraccollins]

I'm more interested in dying the drop cloth to a specific color. Do I need to bleach it before attempting to dye it?

[@ClaraLea]

I don't know if you're still going to try this project, but I thought I would let you know that if you bleach it first, you'll get a truer color. If you leave it natural, it will work, but the color will be less vibrant. Just depends what you want to achieve! The big thing is that when you're dyeing fabric, you'll want to have LOTS of space and agitate it often so that dye doesn't pool in pockets and end up uneven on the finished product.

[@t.l.c.4410]

Have you ever used the lighter weight drop cloths from home depot? If so what are your thoughts on those?

[@janicekahalley2173]

Can you use a high efficiency washer?

[@rootedlivinghomestead3021]

Do you have suggestions then for if we have a septic tank?

[@judichristopher4604]

We have a 60 year old septic tank and use Bleach all the time..

[@V5Bs]

Can you tell me what size your washer is? The inside barrel?

[@jessicalogan8452]

I got the drop cloth she linked, and it does not have the seam down the middle. Maybe the manufacturers changed this recently? Not complaining, just stating.

[@jamiekimble]

What kind/size safety pins would you recommend?

[@deborahnellmcclendon7872]

I didnt know to cut it in half so i stuffed the whole 9x12 in my washer with a whole lot of bleach. I'm hoping it bleached it

[@saraortiz3160]

I would add the bleach with the water 1st and then add the drop cloth.

[@patriciarall3515]

I bought the same drop cloth as you followed the link they did get lighter but not white I did everything to your instruction why no success?

[@linechouinard628]

I need that fir my rv seating back cover!!

[@pauladaly1560]

Front loaders are the worst.

[@lisadee0276]

Paula Daly they really are. The gasket around the door constantly gets moldy and slimy.

[@nikkitobin8356]

I found that out the hard way ... NEVER AGAIN

[@someryl2067]

I think I am going to use a huge crawfish pot. Boil the water, add bleach, add the drop cloth?

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

I haven't done that but it might work...

[@naanaa1111]

How many times do you have to repeat the process to make it white? Where is the link to the ones you buy?

[@smoothsailingmp]

Wouldn't you fill the tub with hot water first, then dunk and thoroughly saturate the 1/2 dropcloth and then when thoroughly sure you have all of the dropcloth wet add bleach and stir? Try putting Vicks just inside your nostrils before even opening the bleach bottle

[@Soo_Blessed]

My friend has a whole house full of white couch carpet throw pillows throws. She Scotchgards everything! Everything she brings in her house and it all looks sooo pristine I can't get over it Do you know if it's possible to Scottgard the dropcloths??

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

I think it is :)

[@AVirtuousWomanProb-]

I wish someone was honest enough to warn us that all drop cloth are not equal. I had to fail twice at bleaching, then finally go to Pinterest to find out that not all drop cloths can be bleached. Now I will go and buy 100% COTTON drop cloth. SMH😞💔

[@tiffany_holmes]

Just wanted to let you know I bought the same drop cloths and the seam is off to the left side on mine maybe two feet off the edge :(

[@judichristopher4604]

WOW!!! Send it back... Not good

[@alicem7869]

Can you tell exactly how much bleach since we don't know what size of bleach bottle you are holding

[@FarmhouseonBoone]

www.farmhouseonboone.com/how-to-make-drop-cloth-perfectly-soft-and-white

[@kimhefley1683]

Love your channel. But my concern is how toxic bleach is. I switched to Oxyclean and use peroxide instead because of that. I wonder if those would work on the drop cloth

[@greciaalonso1117]

Ok so i bought a drop cloth from lowes 6X9 feet forma $11.99 dls And It says is pliable cotton and also do not bleach. So I guess it will get a ligh color. Because right now it has this dark color dirty color. I'll be updating in 3 hrs. Once i wash it. But i just want a light cremy color.

[@suzannegrace9006]

My drop cloths are heavy linen made in Afghanistan, you said canvas, mine are from a big box store.